title: Changing pattern of postoperative body weight and its association with recurrence and survival after curative resection for gastric cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the pattern of body weight change after gastrectomy for gastric cancer and its association with prognosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  From February 2001 to June 2005, 1554 patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer were included. The pattern of body weight change according to the preoperative body mass index was analyzed and compared with recurrence, survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Body weight in 1057 (68.0%) patients stabilized before 6 months. As preoperative BMI is low, weight was stabilized on early time after surgery (p<0.001). There were 228 (14.7%) recurrences of 1554 patients. One hundred and fifty three (9.8%) patients experienced recurrence within 2 years after gastric cancer surgery whereas 75 (4.8%) patients experienced recurrence 2 years after operation. Weight loss was associated with poor prognosis and weight loss more than 30% at postoperative 6 months was significantly associated with early recurrence (p=0.020, OR=6.524).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Body weight measure after gastric cancer surgery would be a simple but important method during follow-up period. Physician should pay attention to patients if they experience severe weight loss at 6 months after gastrectomy for gastric cancer due to the possibility of early recurrence.
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Center, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Eok
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jun Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Keun Won
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Byungho
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.forename: Chan Gyoo
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sook Ryun
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Myeong-Cherl
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kook
authors.forename: Young-Woo
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss; D055815:Young Adult