Lymph node metastasis in early gastric cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To discuss the clinicopathological factors for lymph node metastasis (LNM) in early gastric cancer (EGC), including age, gender, location, size, macroscopic type, depth of invasion, histological type, and lymphatic invasion, and the regulation of LNM in EGC.


METHODS
The data used in this review were mainly from PubMed articles published in English. The search terms were "early gastric cancer" and "lymph node metastasis".


METHODS
Articles were selected if they reported the clinicopathological factors and regulation of LNM in EGC.


RESULTS
The prognosis of EGC is better than advanced gastric cancer, with over 90% 5-year survival rate. The main risk factors for LNM in EGC are tumor size, macroscopic type, depth of invasion, histological type, ulceration, and lymphatic invasion.


CONCLUSIONS
LNM in EGC is a critical factor for assessment of prognosis and determination of therapeutic strategy. Endoscopic mucosal resection or endoscopic submucosal dissection should be considered when patients have low risk of LNM.
Department of General Surgery, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China; School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.
Rong
R
Chen
Department of General Surgery, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China; School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.
Qingsheng
Q
He
Department of General Surgery, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China.
Jianxin
J
Cui
Department of General Surgery, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China; School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.
Shibo
S
Bian
Department of General Surgery, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China; School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China. Email: chenlinbj@vip.sina.com.
Lin
L
Chen
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery