title: Clinical and Oncological Value of Preoperative BMI in Gastric Cancer Patients: A Single Center Experience.
abstract: Introduction. The impact of preoperative BMI on surgical outcomes and long-term survival of gastric cancer patients was investigated in various reports with contrasting results. Materials & Methods. A total of 378 patients who underwent a surgical resection for primary gastric cancer between 1994 and 2011 were retrospectively studied. Patients were stratified according to BMI into a normal group (<25, group A), an overweight group (25-30, group B), and an obesity group (≥30, group C). These 3 groups were compared according to clinical-pathological characteristics, surgical treatment, and long-term survival. Results. No significant correlations between BMI and TNM (2010), UICC stage (2010), Lauren's histological type, surgical results, lymph node dissection, and postoperative morbidity and mortality were observed. Factors related to higher BMI were male gender (P < 0.05), diabetes (P < 0.001), and serum blood proteins (P < 0.01). A trend to fewer lymph nodes retrieved during gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy in overweight patients (B and C groups) was observed, although not statistically significant. There was no difference in overall survival or disease-specific survival between the three groups. Conclusion. According to our data, BMI should not be considered a significant predictor of postoperative complications or long-term result in gastric cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, Unit of General Surgery and Surgical Oncology, University of Siena, Policlinico "Le Scotte", Viale Bracci, 53100 Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Costantino
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Voglino
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, Unit of General Surgery and Surgical Oncology, University of Siena, Policlinico "Le Scotte", Viale Bracci, 53100 Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Mare
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, Unit of General Surgery and Surgical Oncology, University of Siena, Policlinico "Le Scotte", Viale Bracci, 53100 Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ferrara
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, Unit of General Surgery and Surgical Oncology, University of Siena, Policlinico "Le Scotte", Viale Bracci, 53100 Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Franco
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, Unit of General and Mini-Invasive Surgery, University of Siena, Policlinico "Le Scotte", Viale Bracci, 53100 Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Roviello
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, Unit of General Surgery and Surgical Oncology, University of Siena, Policlinico "Le Scotte", Viale Bracci, 53100 Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marrelli