Background: The therapy for early gastric cancer (endoscopy, gastric r
esection, D1/2 dissection) is controversial. Materials and methods: In
a retrospective study (4/86 - 12/95) we analyzed the prognosis of 57
early gastric cancer patients with respect to pathological findings an
d surgical therapy. Results: The RO resection rate was 100 %. In 7 % m
ultifocal tumor growth was seen. The 5-year survival rate was 70 %. LN
-metastases were found in 12 % of all cases, more often in pT1b than i
n pT1 a tumors (17 vs 9 %) and more often in large carcinomas than in
small carcinomas (> 1000 mm(2): 27 %; < 300 mm(2): 0 %). Long-term sur
vival was significantly better in pNO patients than in patients with L
N metastasis (P = 0.020). Conclusion: Prognosis of early gastric cance
r after curative resection is good.