title: Assessment of open versus laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy in lymph node-positive early gastric cancer: a retrospective cohort analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy (LAG) is still limited for early gastric cancer (EGC) with low possibility of lymph node (LN) metastasis, due to the concern for incomplete LN dissection and controversial long-term outcomes. We assessed oncological outcomes of laparoscopy-assisted versus open gastrectomy (OG) for patients with LN positive EGC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 2003 and 2007, 204 patients underwent surgery for LN positive EGC. We evaluated adequacy of LN dissection and early and long-term outcomes after OG (n = 162) and LAG (n = 42).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Operative time was longer but hospital stay was shorter for LAG than OG. Postoperative complications occurred in 14 patients (8.6%) after OG and 1 patient (2.4%) after LAG (P = 0.316). Mean number of retrieved LNs and number of retrieved and metastatic LNs for each station did not differ between the two groups. During median 35 months of follow-up, 14 patients (8.6%) developed recurrence after OG, compared with 4 patients (9.5%) after LAG (P = 0.769). Overall 5-year disease-free survival was 89.9% and 89.7% after OG and LAG. Status of LN metastasis was the only independent prognostic factor for disease-free survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LAG is an oncologically safe procedure even for LN positive EGC. Adequate LN dissection and comparable long-term outcomes to OG can be achieved by LAG.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Yeong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: An
authors.forename: Geon-Ung
authors.initials: GU
authors.lastname: Heo
authors.forename: Jae-Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Cheong
authors.forename: Woo Jin
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Hyung
authors.forename: Seung Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Sung Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Noh
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005743:Gastrectomy; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007902:Length of Stay; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D015996:Survival Rate