title: Prognostic significance of the number of examined lymph nodes in node-negative gastric adenocarcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we investigated the prognostic significance of the number of examined lymph nodes in node-negative gastric adenocarcinoma (GC).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1194 node-positive and 1030 node-negative GC patients undergoing potentially curative gastrectomy was enrolled in this study. Patients were stratified into 3 groups according to the number of examined lymph nodes: group 1, ≤ 15; group 2, 16-25; group 3, >25.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with node-negative GC had significantly favorable survival compared with those with node-positive. Among patients with node-negative T2-T4 disease, the percentage of locoregional relapse was higher in those with <25 examined lymph nodes than in those with ≥ 25 examined lymph nodes. The number of examined lymph nodes affected the overall survival rates for patients with node-negative T2-T4 GC but not for patients with T1 lesions. Tumor size, tumor location, the number of examined lymph nodes, T status, and the presence of perineural invasion were significant prognostic factors as determined by multivariate analysis in node-negative GC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No survival benefit of examining ≥ 15 lymph nodes was noted for patients with node-negative T1 GC. Extensive lymphadenectomy in patients with node-negative T2-T4 lesions in whom the number of examined lymph nodes was >25 had favorable survival.
authors: Department of General Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, 5, Fushing Street, Kweishan Shiang, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan. Electronic address: hsujt2813@adm.cgmh.org.tw.
authors: J-T
authors: JT
authors: Hsu
authors: C-J
authors: CJ
authors: Lin
authors: C-M
authors: CM
authors: Sung
authors: H-C
authors: HC
authors: Yeh
authors: T-H
authors: TH
authors: Chen
authors: T-C
authors: TC
authors: Chen
authors: K-C
authors: KC
authors: Chiang
authors: T-S
authors: TS
authors: Yeh
authors: T-L
authors: TL
authors: Hwang
authors: Y-Y
authors: YY
authors: Jan
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Gastric cancer; Lymphadenectomy; Node-negative; Number of examined lymph node; Prognostic factor