Protocol of lymph node dissection in case of gastric cancer

Since 1984 we have been using the opportunity to registrate the dissected l ymph nodes at different locations of the lymph nodes and the carcinoma in c ase of D-2 dissection by means of a lymph node dissection protocol. The tot al rate of lymph nodes by the several patients is an indirect sign for the quality of the lymph node dissection and the preparation work of the pathol ogist. In about 17 % of all cases the number of all found lymph nodes by th e pathologist was lower than 15 and so an exactly classification in the N-c ategory was not possible. In case of an exactly lymph node dissection on on e hand side the prognosis for the patients life can be improved and on the other hand side an exactly pathological classification is an opportunity to estimate the prognosis better than.