Results of surgical treatment of gastric cancer

Background/Aim: The extent of gastric resection and the role of lymphadenec tomy in the treatment of gastric cancer are controversial. Methods: This st udy evaluates the results of radical gastric resection (D2 lymphadenectomy) in 375 patients with a gastric carcinoma operated according to a prospecti ve protocol, Results: Total gastrectomy was performed in 196 and a subtotal gastrectomy in 179 patients, with an operative mortality of 3.5 and 2.8%. The presence of lymph node metastasis was related to the depth of the tumor in the gastric wall. The cumulative 5-year survival was dependent on the d epth of tumoral invasion in the gastric wall and also on the presence of ly mphatic metastasis. Curative resection had a significantly better 5-year su rvival (72%) than noncurative resection (26%). Conclusion: Although it is d ifficult to prove the benefits of extended lymphadenectomy in the surgical treatment of gastric carcinoma, the results of these series seem to support its usefulness. Copyright (C) 1999 S. Karger AG, Basel.