Node-positive mucosal gastric cancer: A follow-up study

Background: Lymph node metastasis from mucosal gastric carcinoma is rare an d the prognosis of the patients has seldom been reported. Methods: Forty-five patients with node-positive mucosal gastric cancer were studied. They accounted for 2.5% of 1770 patients with mucosal gastric can cer who underwent gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy at the National Cancer C enter Hospital, Tokyo. The clinicopathological features were studied and th e current clinical status was sought. Results: The majority of patients (87%) were treated with D2 lymphadenectom y. The metastasis was confined to the perigastric nodes (pN1 by Japanese cl assification) in 30 patients (67%). The number of positive nodes was less t han seven (pN1 by TNM) in 42 patients (93%), Two patients had para-aortic n odal metastasis. The median follow-up period was 11 years. Four patients di ed of definite or possible recurrent disease and the disease-specific 5- an d 10-year survival rates were 95 and 89%, respectively. Conclusions: Although nodal metastasis is an important prognostic factor fo r gastric cancer, the prognosis was excellent as long as the primary tumor was confined to the mucosa and was treated with gastrectomy and lymphadenec tomy.