Current status and recent advances of lymph node micrometastase in patients with gastric cancer

Abstract

There is still a certain recurrence rate after extensive lymphadenectomy even to patients with node-negative gastric cancer. It promotes the researchers to use a more sensitive and effective way to track tumor cells which are missed, especially lymph node micrometastases. With the development of detection technology, the diagnostic rate of micrometastasis is significantly increased. There are so many controversies about the impact of lymph node micrometastases that no consensus on the clinical treatment can be reached. In recent years, with the rise of endoscopic therapy, how to balance the relationship between the quality of life and the safety makes the research of micrometastases more urgent. Key words: Stomach neoplasms; Lymph nodes; Neoplasm metastasis