SIGNIFICANT RISK-FACTORS OF RECURRENCE IN MUSCULARIS PROPRIAL CARCINOMA OF THE STOMACH

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study is to elucidate significant ris k factors of recurrence in muscularis proprial gastric cancer (MPGC). METHODOLOGY: Seventy-three patients who underwent curative gastrectomy for MPGC were divided into 14 patients with postoperative recurrence (Group 1) and 59 patients without recurrence (Group 2). A retrospectiv e study of Group 1 compared the clinicopathological features with Grou p 2. RESULTS: There were no significant differences of age, gender and operative method including frequency of lymph node dissection between Group 1 and Group 2. Although tumor size, gastric location and histol ogical type did not significantly differ between the two groups, the r ate of Borrman type in Group 1 (71.4%) was significantly higher than i n Group 2 (42.4%). Significant risk factors of recurrence in pathologi cal findings were the presence of secondary lymph node metastasis or m ore, lymphatic and venous involvement. Median survival in Group 1 (28. 8 months) was significantly worse than in Group 2 (59.0 months). The 1 -year, 3-year, and 5-year survival rates between Group 1 versus Group 2 were 71.4% versus 98.3% (p<0.01), 28.6% versus 96.7% (p<0.01), and 7 .1% versus 95.0 (p<0.01), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Prognosis of the postoperative recurrence in MPGC was very poor. More careful prophylac tic treatment against recurrence of MPGC should therefore, be prescrib ed in patients with the aforementioned risk factors of recurrence.