THE ROLE OF SURGERY IN THE TREATMENT OF PRIMARY GASTRIC LYMPHOMA

Background: The aim of the study was to analyze the results of surgica l treatment in early and advanced primary gastric lymphoma and to eval uate predictive factors for longterm outcome. Material and methods: A retrospective study of 92 patients resected for primary gastric lympho ma was conducted. Sixty-eight (74%) patients underwent a curative rese ction, 10 (11%) patients had palliative resection and 14 (15%) patient s were deemed unresectable: 33 patients (36%) had a stage IE tumor; 12 (13%) stage IIEI, 22 (24%) IIE2 and 25 (27%) stage IVE. Results: Foll ow-up ranged from 1 to 336 months (mean 44 +/- 70 months, median 18 mo nths). Cumulative actuarial 10-year survival rate was 49.1%. Ten-year actuarial survival rates were 78.9% for stage IE and 100% for stage II El whereas 5-year survival rates were 0% for stage IIE2 and 21. 7% for stage IVE (P<0.00001). Conclusion: Surgical treatment is the front li ne therapy for IE and IIEI stages of primary gastric lymphoma.