title: Limited subtotal gastrectomy for early remnant gastric cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Detection of early remnant gastric cancer (ERGC) is increasing as a result of the development of endoscopic technology and a surveillance program. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of limited subtotal gastrectomy (SG) surgery for ERGC compared to total gastrectomy (TG).
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed a database of 72 consecutive patients with remnant gastric cancer who underwent laparotomy at the National Cancer Center Hospital East between January 1993 and December 2008. Thirty-five patients with a preoperative diagnosis of ERGC underwent curative resection: 13 SG and 22 conventional TG. Patients and tumor characteristics, operative results, and postoperative assessments 1 year after surgery were compared between the two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Operating time, blood transfusion, and hospital stay were similar in the two groups. In the SG group, blood loss and postoperative recovery of body weight tended to be better than in the TG group. There was no dumping syndrome in the SG group, while this occurred in three patients in the TG group. The levels of hemoglobin and total protein were higher 1 year after remnant gastrectomy in the SG group than in the TG group. No recurrence of gastric cancer was detected in the SG group during median follow-up of 99.2 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In comparison to TG, limited SG surgery for ERGC improved the postoperative course, with no recurrence of cancer. Therefore, SG is a safe and effective treatment for ERGC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, 6-5-1 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, 277-8577, Japan, ryu37072002@yahoo.co.jp.
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hosokawa
authors.forename: Masaru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Konishi
authors.forename: Yatsuka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sahara
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
authors.forename: Shinichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Naoto
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gotohda
authors.forename: Yuichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Taira
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate