title: Current status and scope of lymph node micrometastasis in gastric cancer.
abstract: Recently, lymph node micrometastasis has been evaluated for its prognostic value in gastric cancer. Lymph node micrometastasis cannot be detected via a usual pathologic examination, but it can be detected by using some other techniques including immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay. With the development of such diagnostic techniques, the detection rate of lymph node micrometastasis is constantly increasing. Although the prognostic value of lymph node micrometastasis remains debatable, its clinical impact is apparently remarkable in both early and advanced gastric cancer. At present, studies on the prognostic value of lymph node micrometastasis are evolving to overcome its current limitations and extend the scope of its application.
authors: Department of Gastroenterologic Surgery, Korea University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Chang Min
authors: CM
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Gastroenterologic Surgery, Korea University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. ; Department of Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Sung-Soo
authors: SS
authors: Park
authors: Department of Gastroenterologic Surgery, Korea University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. ; Department of Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Jong-Han
authors: JH
authors: Kim
keywords: Lymph nodes; Micrometastasis; Stomach neoplasms