Impact of Lymph Node Count on Survival in Gastric Cancer Surgery
Author Information
Author(s): Huang Chang-Ming, Lin Jian-Xian, Zheng Chao-Hui, Li Ping, Xie Jian-Wei, Wang Jia-Bin
Primary Institution: Fujian Medical University Union Hospital
Hypothesis
The number of dissected lymph nodes (LNs) affects the survival of gastric cancer patients after distal subtotal gastrectomy.
Conclusion
Removing at least 15 LNs for stage I, 25 LNs for stage II, and 30 LNs for stage III patients during surgery is recommended to improve long-term survival.
Supporting Evidence
- The number of dissected LNs was one of the most important prognostic indicators.
- Survival rate at 5 years was 85.0%, 66.0%, and 42.5% for stages I, II, and III disease, respectively.
- A significant correlation was found between the number of metastatic LNs and retrieved nodes.
Takeaway
The more lymph nodes doctors take out during stomach cancer surgery, the better the chances of living longer.
Methodology
A retrospective study analyzing the survival of 634 patients who underwent curative distal gastrectomy from 1995 to 2004.
Potential Biases
Potential biases in patient selection and the retrospective nature of the study.
Limitations
The study is retrospective and may have biases related to data collection and patient selection.
Participant Demographics
467 male and 167 female patients, ages ranging from 22 to 87 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website