Laparoscopic sentinel node biopsy guided minimally invasive surgery for the treatment of early gastric cancer

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and clinical efficacy of minimally invasive surgery combined with sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy for early gastric cancer (EGC). Methods The clinical data of 39 EGC patients undergoing minimally invasive surgery combined with sentinel lymph node biopsy from December 2008 to January 2014 were analyzed retrospectively. Results 36 SLN negative EGC patients received endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), and 3 SLN positive EGC patients underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy with D2 dissection. The mean number of SLN was (2.8±1.0). The SLN detection rate and accuracy of determination of lymph node (LN) status were both 100%. The rate of LN metastasis in patients with EGC was 8% with no false negative rate. In ESD group, local recurrence and liver metastasis developed in one each cases. Meanwhile 1 patient in laparoscopic group sufferd postoperative liver and lung metastasis. Total disease free survival was 95%. Conclusions Minimally invasive surgery combined with sentinel lymph node biopsy for EGC is both safe and feasible. Key words: Stomach neoplasms; Sentinel lymph node biopsy; Laparoscopy