title: Comparison of the counts of station-specific lymph nodes retrieved in laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy of early experience with those in open distal gastrectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study is to compare the number of retrieved lymph nodes according to lymph node stations in laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) of the early experience of a new surgeon with that in open distal gastrectomy (ODG).
  
  
  METHODS
  From May 2008 to August 2012, clinicopathologic data of gastric cancer patients subjected to LADG or ODG at a single institution by one surgeon were retrospectively reviewed. The surgeries were stratified as follows: early LADG (initial 30 LADGs), late LADG, and ODG. Station-specific counts of lymph nodes retrieved served for group comparisons.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Gender distribution (male:female ratio) was not different among the three groups (early LADG, 16:14; late LADG, 19:4; and ODG, 38:30). Mean lymph node retrieval in the early and late LADG groups (39.1 and 45.6, respectively) fell significantly below that of the ODG group (53.0) (P<.001). Compared with the ODG group, fewer station-specific lymph nodes were retrieved via LADG, both early (stations 3, 8a, and 11p) and late (station 11p).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgeons inexperienced in LADG for gastric cancer should be particularly diligent in lymph node dissection at stations 3, 8a, and 11p. Even with more experience (>30 LADGs), lymph node dissection at station 11p merits special attention.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Surgery, University of Ulsan College of Medicine , Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Moon-Won
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Hye Seung
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Dong-Seok
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome