Prognosis Of Early Gastric Cancer Research Articles

Early Gastric Cancer: Clinical Characteristics and Results of Surgery

Background: Early gastric cancer (EGC) is associated with better prognosis than advanced cancer of the stomach. Unfortunately, EGC accounts for a minority of operated gastric cancers in Europe. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics of EGC and the outcome after surgery. Methods: The study group comprised 94 EGC patients having undergone surgery at Helsinki University Central Hospital between April 1983 and July 2007. Results: The overall 5-year survival rate of EGC patients was 92.4%. Tumor location in the upper part of the stomach and mixed histological type impaired the prognosis (p = 0.043 and 0.008, respectively). The probability of lymph node metastasis was significantly higher when the tumor infiltrated gastric submucosa rather than mucosa (p = 0.012). Existence of lymph node or distant metastases decreased the survival rates (both p < 0.001). Total gastrectomy, pancreatic resection, and extended D2 lymph node dissection increased the complication rate, but did not have effect on survival. Conclusion: The overall prognosis of EGC is favorable. The survival rates of EGC decreased when the tumor was located in the upper part of the stomach or was of mixed histological type, or the patient had lymph node or distant metastasis.

Relationship between clinicopathologic factors and prognosis of patients with early gastric cancer.

Objective To investigate the relationship between various clinicopatholngic factors and prognosis of early gastric cancer. Methods The clinical data of 459 patients with early gastric cancer who had undergone gastrectomy combined with extended (D2) lymphadenectomy at Zhongshan Hospital from January 2002 to October 2007 were retrospectively analyzed. Survival was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and clinicopathologic factors such as age, sex, tumor size, gross morphology, tumor differentiation, depth of invasion, lymphatic vessels involvement and lymph node metastasis were analyzed using the Cox regression model. Univariate analysis was done by Log-rank test. Results Univariate analysis demonstrated that tumor size and differentiation, depth of invasion, lymphatic vessels involvement and lymph node metastasis significantly affected survival in patients with early gastric cancer (χ2 = 8.476, 6.210, 4.014, 14. 197, 55.027, P < 0.05). The status of lymph node metastasis was an independent predictor of survival in patients with early gastric cancer, and the more metastatic lymph nodes detected, the greater the influence on the prognosis. Conclusions Lymph node metastasis is the most important factor influencing the prognosis of early gastric cancer. Appropriate lymph node dissection is necessary, especially for patients with risk factors associated with lymph node metastasis. Key words: Gastric neoplasms, early; Lymph node metastasis; Prognosis

Characteristics of lymph node metastasis and prognostic analysis in 157 early gastric cancer patients

To explore the pattern of lymph node metastasis and its influence on the prognosis of early gastric cancer(EGC). The pattern of lymph node metastasis and the 3-,5-year survival rates in 157 EGC patients undergone surgery from October 1995 to October 2005 were analyzed retrospectively. The SPSS 11.5 statistics software was used to perform univariate and multivariate analysis. Twenty-two cases had lymph node metastasis among 157 EGC patients(14%). Two mucous cancers(2.4%) and 20 submucosal tumors(27.0%) had lymph node metastases (P<0.01). Lymph node metastasis was not seen in minute gastric cancer(diameter < or =0.5 cm). Lymph node metastasis rates were 6.4% in the cancers with diameter 1.1-2.0 cm and 21.5% in the cancers with the diameter >2.0 cm(P<0.01). Besides, lymph node metastasis rate of well-differentiated EGC was 0, of moderate differentiated EGC 11.1%, and poor-differentiated EGC 0.9%(P<0.01). Of 9 cases with vascular cancer embolus, 4 had lymph node metastases. Logistic regression analysis showed that tumor size, vascular cancer embolus, histopathological type and depth of invasion were independent factors of lymph node metastasis in EGC. The 3- and 5-year survival rates of EGC patients with lymph node metastasis were 81.6 % and 79.5% respectively, which were much lower than those without lymph node metastasis(95.7% and 93.2%, P<0.01). Lymph node metastasis in EGC is mainly correlated with depth of infiltration, tumor size, vascular cancer embolus and differentiation. For EGC treatment, choice should be made reasonably based on the risk of lymph node metastasis.

Factors Affecting Prognosis in Early Gastric Cancer

Purpose: Treatment strategies for early gastric carcinoma (EGC) should be based on achieving a complete cure, but clear indications for limited surgery have not been established. We investigated surgical outcomes for early gastric cancer to determine the optimal? treatment strategy for EGC. Materials and Methods: Subjects included 881 patients who underwent curative surgery for EGC between 1986 and 2003. Retrospective uni & multi-variate analysis for prognostic factors, factors affecting lymph node metastasis, and risk factors for cancer recurrence were analyzed. Results: In multivariate survival analyses, age, operation method, macroscopic appearance and lymph node stage proved to be independent prognostic factors. Lymph node metastasis, depth of tumor invasion, tumor size, lymphatic and venous invasion were also significant risk factors in multivariate analyses. In multivariate analyses for cancer recurrence, depth of tumor invasion and lymph node metastasis proved to be significant risk factors. Conclusion: Appropriate surgical treatment with lymph node dissection is necessary for EGC patients with risk factors for lymph node metastasis.

Early Gastric Cancer: Diagnosis and Less Invasive Treatments

The prognosis of early gastric cancer (EGC) is excellent worldwide. Incidence of EGC shows considerable geographic variation, and in high prevalence areas where diagnostic skills are adept, EGCs are not frequently overlooked. In these countries, less invasive, function-preserving treatments such as endoscopic mucosal resection and pylorus-preserving gastrectomy have become standard options. The criteria to apply conservative treatments are being expanded along with the technological improvement. Though its natural history is relatively long, EGC could be a fatal disease and should be carefully treated. Lymph node metastasis is the most important prognostic factor that should be considered in treatment selection and follow-up planning of EGC.

What is the Prognosis for Early Gastric Cancer with pN Stage 2 or 3 at the Time of Pre-operation and Operation

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine whether it is possible to evaluate patients with pN2 or pN3 early gastric cancer (EGC) as being in an advanced stage before and during the operation. Materials and Methods: 4,430 patients underwent a gastrectomy for cancer from 1990 to 2003. Eight of the 552 patients with EGC included pN2 or pN3. The estimated clinical and surgical stage before and during the operation were compared to the pathological results, and a follow-up of progression was done. Results: The patients were evenly distributed among all age groups with seven men and one woman. The pre-operative estimate of T1 by CT was 25% (2/8). In the main, the cT stage was over estimated. The estimate of over N2 was 50% (4/8). One patient was preoperatively staged as la sT1 during operation was 57.1% (4/7), and the estimate of over N2 was 67% (4/6). Two patients were intraoperatively evaluated as Ia. Only one patient survived over 5 years, and the mean survival of these patients was 15 months . Conclusion: It was generally possible to evaluate patients with EGC of over pN2 as being in an advanced stage before and during the operation. Although very rare (2/552, 0.04%), there were EGC patients whose stages were not predictable at all. Therefore, more precise preoperative and intraoperative staging methods are warranted.

PT1N3 Gastric Cancer

Purpose: Various minimally invasive surgical techniques, such as an endoscopic mucosal resection and a laparoscopic gastrectomy, are becoming common practice for some cases of early gastric cancer (EGC) defined in terms of the depth of invasion being limited to the mucosa or submucosa. However, there are rare cases of early gastric cancer with massive lymph-node metastasis. Materials and Methods: From 6 university hospitals of Korea, 2,772 EGC cases were resected during the various period of analysis (1,432 cases of mucosal cancer and 1,340 of submucosal cancer). Results: As control data, we used the data from a single institute, CHA University Hospital. There were nine cases of early gastric cancer (9/2,772, 0.32%) with N3 lymph node metastasis defined by more than 15 lymph nodes being metastasized according to the UICC-TNM classification (pT1N3, stage IV). Two cases were mucosal cancer (2/1,432, 0.1 4%), and seven cases were submucosal cancer (7/1,340, 0.52%). Metastasized lymph nodes varied in number from 18 to 52. There were three male and six female patients with a mean age of 57. This is a totally reversed sex ratio compared to the usual gastric cancer or EGC. Among the total of 9 EGC patients, there were 5 who had superficial spreading carcinomas with surface areas larger than . This is a significantly higher proportion compared to the general EGC population. When we compared the tumor size according to the LN status, the N3 group was definitely larger than the other groups. 78% of the pT1N3 cases showed lymphatic invasion, which is very high compared to the 4.7% in general EGC cases. Among the 9 cases, 6 patients had too short a follow-up period to evaluate the correct prognosis, but there was one patient with a non-curative resection and two patients with early recurrence. Although the sample size is small and the follow-up period is short, we can expect a very poor prognosis when we consider the common prognosis of EGC that is widely known and accepted. Conclusion: From these results, we can a conclude that the risk factors for pT1N3 gastric cancer are female patients, submucosal invasion, larger tumor size, and lymphatic invasion. However rare, the existence of pT1N3 gastric cancer needs to be taken into consideration, especially during the diagnosis. Furthermore, minimally invasive treatment for EGC needs to be chosen with great precaution. Since the prognosis of pT1N3 gastric cancer is expected to be poor, aggressive adjuvant chemotherapy may be necessary.

Early gastric cancer: follow-up after gastrectomy in 159 patients.

The postoperative course of 159 patients with early gastric cancer operated on between 1974 and 1987 was followed for a median of 7.3 years. The cumulative 10-year survival rate(s.e.) calculated using follow-up data to the end of 1989 was 90.6(2.7) per cent excluding operative death and that from causes other than gastric cancer, or 86.3(3.0) per cent when operative mortality was included. The overall 10-year survival rate(s.e.) was 77.3(3.7) per cent. Univariate analysis showed a significant difference in survival rates between cancers confined to the mucosa and those with submucosal invasion (P = 0.02), between patients with and without lymph node metastases (P = 0.05) and between those < or = 50 and > 50 years of age (P = 0.02). Using Cox multivariate analysis and a stepwise procedure for eight variables (sex, age, depth of invasion, lymph node metastases, presence of ulceration, location, histological type, type of surgery), age and histological type had the most significant effect on survival. Seven operative deaths were recorded. Eleven patients died from recurrent cancer and one is still alive with a gastric remnant recurrence. Other causes of death were metachronous primary cancer (six patients), cardiovascular disease (two), pneumonia (three), sepsis (one) and car accident (one). Although the prognosis of early gastric cancer is relatively good in western countries, patients should be carefully followed over a long period for late recurrence and for metachronous cancer, which has a high incidence.

Problems in the definition and treatment of early gastric cancer

Radical operation with extensive dissection of lymph nodes (R1, 48 patients; R2, 196 patients; R3, one patient) was performed in 245 out of 247 patients with early gastric cancer. The 5-year survival rate was only 73.2 per cent in the 34 patients with lymph node metastases (31.8 per cent). Analysis of factors influencing recurrence revealed that not only lymph node metastases but also the depth of cancer invasion could affect prognosis in early gastric cancer. This study suggests that radical operation with complete dissection of the first and second group of lymph nodes (R2 resection) is a safe and appropriate treatment even for early gastric cancer. We propose that the definition of early gastric cancer be modified to 'carcinoma with invasion confined to the mucosa or submucosa and without evidence of lymph node metastases'.

Clinicopathological analysis for recurrence of early gastric cancer.

Although the prognosis of early gastric cancer (EGC) is considered to be satisfactory, some patients experience disease recurrence after curative resection. This study was aimed at evaluating the recurrence rate, the recurrence patterns and the prognostic factors for recurrence of EGC as well as treatment results after recurrences. We investigated follow-up records of 1452 EGC patients on whom curative operations were performed at Seoul National University Hospital from 1986 to 1995 with special reference to cancer recurrence. Twenty-one patients showed recurrences with a 1.5% 5-year cumulative recurrence rate. Four cases were locoregional recurrences, two were peritoneal recurrences, nine were distant recurrences and six were mixed type recurrences. The 5-year survival rates of T1N0, T1N1, T1N2 and T1N3 were 99.3, 96.8, 72.7 and 0%, respectively (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed a significantly high correlation between positive lymph node metastasis and recurrence (P < 0.001). Median survival after recurrence of EGC was 4.3 months. Median survival after recurrence was 5.8 months after chemotherapy and 3.1 months after conservative management (P = 0.69). Although the recurrence of EGC is very rare in general, EGC with lymph node metastasis has a higher possibility of recurring, especially with >6 positive lymph nodes. Even after curative resection of EGC, patients with EGC with >6 positive lymph nodes should be closely followed and be considered as candidates for adjuvant treatment.

Pathologic features and long-term results in early gastric cancer: report of 116 cases 8-13 years after surgery.

One hundred sixteen patients who underwent surgery for early gastric cancer (EGC) at Careggi General Hospital in Florence between 1987 and 1992 were studied with regard to clinicopathologic features, incidence, and recurrence of the disease. The overall 5-year cumulative survival rate was 87.5%, and the disease-specific 5-year survival rate was 88.2%. EGC was limited to the mucosa in 43 patients (37%), while it infiltrated the submucosa in 73 others (63%). At the time of surgery, 9.5% of patients were found to have lymph node metastasis, always concomitant with submucosal invasion. There was 1 postoperative death (0.8%); 16 patients (13.7%) died of tumor recurrence, and 20 (17.2%) died of unrelated causes. Analysis of recurrence showed an intestinal histotype in 13 patients (81.2%), submucosal infiltration in 14 patients (87.5%), a Pen-A growth pattern in 8 patients (50%), and lymph node involvement in 3 patients (18.7%). The Cox proportional hazard model indicated that age and depth of wall invasion were statistically significant. The best predictor of survival appears to be the depth of invasion within the gastric wall. The claim by several investigators that prognosis for EGC is also associated with the presence of lymph node involvement is not supported by the present study. The postoperative 5-year survival rate in node-negative patients was 88.8% compared to 81.8% in node-positive patients (p = 0.296).

Early Gastric Cancer

Early Gastric Cancer (EGC) is a carcinoma limited to the gastric mucosa or submucosa without the involvement of any lymph node. In Indonesia, the prevalence of EGC in 1980 was 2.2% and 1.7% for Jakarta and Medan, respectively. From 1980-1987 in Surabaya, the prevalence was 9.1% from all gastric cancers. Gastric mucosal abnormalities include atrophic gastritis, which is frequently accompanied by achlorhidria or hipochlorhidria and pernicious anemia, and the presence of an ulcer or polyp were believed to be precarcinogenic factors. Environmental factors, life style, age, sex, genetic factors, race, as well as dietary factors, especially intake of foods containing N-nitrosa (N-nitrosa compound) might play a role as risk factors for EGC. H.pylori infection also causes an increased risk for EGC. The diagnosis of EGC is based on physical examination, occult blood in stool sample, cytology, double contrast roentgenologic examination, gastroscopy, gastrobiopsy, and radioactive phosphor. There are no tumor markers specific for EGC. Histologically, EGC is classified into intestinal and diffuse infiltrative EGC. In 1962, the Japanese Research Society for Gastric Cancer made a classification for EGC based on gastroscopy, fluoroscopy, histopathology and microscopic examinations. In Japan, detection for EGC was performed by spraying the gastric mucosa with methylen blue during endoscopy, which will stain intestinal mucosa and spare normal mucosa. Early detection of EGC in Japan was performed through mass screening of people ages 40-50 years with recent dyspepsia, by means of endoscopy, biopsy, and upper GI tract radiological examinations. Endoscopic Ultrasonography (EUS) is the most accurate tool to determine EGC staging, particularly those with non-ulcerative lessions. The choices of treatment for EGC are surgical therapy or Endoscopic Mucosal Resection (EMR). EMR is a localized therapy, and it is indicated for EGC without metastases, for patients unwilling to undergo operation, or for those who are bad candidates for operation. The prognosis for EGC does not depend upon microscopic classification, but mostly on the depth of gastric mucosal invasion, spread to regional lymph nodes, and the presence of distant metastases. By establishing the diagnosis of EGC, the prognosis is usually better, for the treatment can be given at an earlier stage. Key words: Early gastric cancer, diagnosis, treatment

Immunoreactivity of Monoclonal Antibody BW835 Represents a Marker of Progression and Prognosis in Early Gastric Cancer

The Thomsen-Friedenreich (TF) antigen is a well-known human pan-carcinoma antigen. It represents a carbohydrate core disaccharide (Galβ1-3GalNAc) which is predominantly bound to mucin peptide cores. Its immunoreactivity depends on changes in glycosylation which lead to a reduction in the carbohydrate chain length and the exposure of core carbohydrates. In the present study, we investigated 208 gastric adenocarcinomas with respect to their immunohistochemical reactivity applying two monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). MAb specifically detecting TF antigen (A78-G/A7) and MAb BW835 were included. The latter reacts with a certain glycoform of the MUC1 peptide core, characterized by core-type glycans like TF. A78-G/A7 epitopes were detected in 68.8% and BW835 epitopes in 57.7% of the carcinomas. BW835 immunoreactivity correlated with the presence of lymph node metastases. Both A78-G/A7 and BW835 staining were significantly stronger in tubular/papillary cancer (WHO classification) and intestinal-type cancer according to Laurén. In univariate survival analyses of all patients studied, BW835 immunoreactivity was a marker of an unfavorable prognosis (p < 0.05). The presence of A78-G/A7 and BW835 epitopes exerted a negative effect on the subgroup of pTNM stage I carcinomas. These results indicate that TF and MUC1-TF immunoreactivity defines a ‘high-risk’ subgroup of stage I patients in gastric cancer.

Recurrence of Early Gastric Cancer

Purpose: The prognosis for early gastric cancer (EGC) is favorable, and the 10-year disease-specific survival rate is reported to be around . The absolute number of recurred EGC is too small to assess the risk factors, so recruitment of a large number of cases for statistical analysis is very difficult. We carried out this study to analyze the incidence and the patterns of recurrence of EGC and to identify the clinicopathological risk factors for recurrence of EGC. Materials and Methods: The authors retrospectively investigated the follow-up records of 1418 patients who underwent a curative resection for EGC from Jan. 1984 to Dec. 1999 at the Korea Cancer Center Hospital and analyzed them with special reference to cancer recurrence. Results: In this retrospective study of 1418 cases, 43 patients died of a recurrence of gastric cancer, and 105 patients died of unrelated causes. The five-year and the ten-year overall survival rates were and , respectively, while the five-year and the ten-year diseasespecific survival rates were and , respectively. The recurrence patterns of the 45 recurred EGC were hematogenous metastasis (19 cases), lymph node (L/N) metastasis (8 cases), locoregional recurrence (2 cases), peritoneal seeding (3 cases), and combined form (13 cases). The mean time interval to recurrence was 38.6 months, and the number of delayed recurred cases after 5 years was 10 (). Of the clinicopathologic factors, depth of invasion, L/N metastasis, macroscopic type, lymphatic invasion, and vessel invasion, were significant risk factors in the univariate analysis. However, in the multivariate analysis, only L/N metastasis was an independent prognostic factor. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, L/N metastasis is an independent prognostic factor. Thus, in patients with node-positive disease, adjuvant therapy might be considered, and long-term close follow-up might facilitate early detection and treatment of recurrent disease due to delayed recurrence.

Evaluation of gastric biopsies for neoplasia: differences between Japanese and Western pathologists.

Cited variations in the evaluation of gastric endoscopic biopsies for neoplasms between pathologists in Japan and those in the United States and Europe (the West) may have stemmed from several causes. The five-tiered group classification of the Japanese Research Society for Gastric Cancer (JRSGC) for interpretation of biopsies is not used in the West. Some differences may also exist in the morphologic criteria to reach a diagnosis of dysplasia or carcinoma. The goals of this study were to test the Western and Japanese classifications of gastric dysplasia and adenocarcinoma and to assess the differences between four Japanese and seven Western pathologists. One hundred biopsies, 20 from each of the five categories of the JRSGC scheme as determined by one observer, were collected. The Japanese observers used the JRSGC system, expressed in Roman numerals, whereas Western pathologists used a five- or six-tiered scheme expressed in diagnostic terms. Pairwise agreement was evaluated using k statistics within both groups. Consensus diagnosis on each biopsy was accepted as the opinion of the majority. The sensitivity and specificity of each reviewer for a certain diagnosis were also assessed. The intragroup agreements were moderate for both the Japanese (mean k = 0.663) and the Westerners (mean k = 0.652). The pairwise agreements between Japanese and Western observers were low (mean k = 0.542). Overall, the sensitivity was low for all Japanese observers for the diagnosis of dysplasia (38.7% vs 92.5%), and the sensitivity for the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma was high in both groups but higher among the Japanese observers (93.9% and 85.2%, respectively). Overall, the Japanese-Western interobserver agreement was moderate. The JRSCG scheme did not translate into higher interobserver agreement among Japanese observers. The sensitivity for the diagnosis of gastric adenocarcinoma was high for both groups, but the specificity was low among the Japanese. The cause seemed to be centered around the diagnosis of dysplasia in the Western system, which was a lesion frequently interpreted as carcinoma in Japan because of the different definitions of carcinoma in each system. Such a discrepancy might be important because it may explain some of the differences in the prevalence and prognosis of early gastric cancer between Japan and the West. An international effort is needed to harmonize morphologic criteria and analyze whether therapeutic consequences may stem from such discrepancies.

Early gastric cancer: diagnosis, surgical treatment and follow-up of 45 cases.

The 5-year survival rate of early gastric cancer (EGC) is 85%-100% after "curative" resection, as compared to 20%-30% in advanced gastric cancer (AGC). Because of this relatively high cure rate, the interest in the diagnosis and therapy of EGC has been steadily increasing. The present study, based on 45 EGCs, is aimed at a critical evaluation of the diagnostic procedures and surgical options. Forty-five patients with early gastric cancer (27 men and 18 women; median age, 62 years; range, 28-84) were diagnosed and operated on. They represented 22.5% of all patients with gastric cancer (200) treated in the period July 1987 to January 1998. Forty-one patients were from the northeastern part of Italy. The most frequent symptom was epigastric pain (84%). Barium upper gastrointestinal radiography findings were strongly suggestive of malignancy in 41 cases (91%). Preoperative histopathological diagnosis of adenocarcinoma was performed in 43 cases (95.5%). In two cases (4.5%) severe epithelial dysplasia (associated with ulcer) was the first diagnosis, but the final diagnosis on the basis of the resected specimens was a well differentiated adenocarcinoma. The primary surgical procedure included i) subtotal distal resection (37 cases) with Billroth 11 (33) and Billroth I (4) reconstructions; ii) total gastrectomy (3) for proximal neoplastic extension; iii) proximal gastric resection (2) for cardial cancer; iv) degastro-total gastrectomy (3) for cancer of the stump. Two patients, previously treated with conservative surgery, underwent degastro-total gastrectomy for neoplastic microfocal extension to the margin of resection and for early anastomotic recurrence, respectively. Mural infiltration was limited to the mucosa and submucosa in 27 and 18 cases, respectively. Lymph node metastases were found in three mucosal and five submucosal tumor cases, involving either the first or the second echelon. No operative deaths or postsurgical complications occurred in this series. In the follow-up period (median, 36 months; range, 3-120) four patients died due to other causes; one developed liver metastases, another developed oropharyngeal cancer and two died of biopsy-proven lung cancer without evidence of gastric cancer recurrence. The clinical presentation of EGC is aspecific. Preoperative endoscopy with biopsy remains the most sensitive diagnostic procedure. For treatment, subtotal distal gastric resection with lymphadenectomy is the "gold standard" but in some instances total gastrectomy may be indicated. Accurate pathological examination establishes the depth of infiltration, as well as the superficial extension of tumors and the lymph node status. Although the prognosis of EGC is favorable, a medium-term follow-up should be planned.

Les cancers superficiels de l'estomac: expérience chirurgicale et étude des facteurs de pronostic chez 102 patients

Study aim The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the characteristics, treatment and prognosis of early gastric carcinoma in a series of 102 patients. Methods Between 1973 and 1994, 102 patients (68 males, 34 females) with a mean age of 65 years, were operated on for an early gastric carcinoma. Mean follow-up was 7 years. Survival was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Prognosis was determined with univariate and multivariate analysis according to Cox model. Results The carcinoma was limited to the mucosa in 57 patients (56%) and extended to the submucosa in 45 (44%). There was a lymph node invasion in 17 patients (16.5%). The postoperative mortality rate was 5.8% ( n = 6). Secondary deaths occurred in relation with the gastric cancer in 10.4% ( n = 10). The 5-and 10-year actuarial crude survival rates were 84% and 68.6%, respectively. Univariate analysis of prognosis factors showed a significant survival difference according to the age ( P = 0.001), submucosal extension ( P = 0.03), lymph node invasion ( P = 0.0005) and type of gastric resection performed ( P = 0.03). With multivariate analysis of prognostic factors, advanced patient age and lymph node metastases were the only statistically significant independent prognostic factors ( P = 0.0002 and P= 0.002, respectively). Conclusions Prognosis of early gastric cancer is usually excellent. Patients with high risk of recurrence may be identified in relation with prognostic factors and mainly with lymph node invasion.

Early stomach carcinoma--pathologic-anatomic findings and prognosis

The therapy for early gastric cancer (endoscopy, gastric resection, D1/2 dissection) is controversial. In a retrospective study (4/86-12/95) we analyzed the prognosis of 57 early gastric cancer patients with respect to pathological findings and surgical therapy. The R0 resection rate was 100%. In 7% multifocal tumor growth was seen. The 5-year survival rate was 70%. LN-metastases were found in 12% of all cases, more often in pT1b than in pT1 a tumors (17 vs 9%) and more often in large carcinomas than in small carcinomas (> 1000 mm2: 27%; < 300 mm2: 0%). Long-term survival was significantly better in pN0 patients than in patients with LN metastasis (P = 0.020). Prognosis of early gastric cancer after curative resection is good.

Early Gastric Cancer as a Possible Cause of Cauda Equina Syndrome and Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation

Abstract: Early gastric cancer is an important gastric malignancy which is defined as adenocarcinoma confined to the mucosa or submucosa of the stomach with or without simultaneous metastases involving regional lymph nodes. The prognosis of early gastric cancer is generally good with a 5‐year survival rate of about 95%. Distant metastases and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) usually occur in the advanced stage of gastric cancer but are relatively rare in early gastric cancer. Cauda equina syndrome has never before been reported as the initial presentation of gastric cancer, and to our knowledge, up to 1993, only 17 cases of early gastric cancer with synchronous liver metastases had been reported. Bone metastases with DIC and adrenal metastasis are both rare in early gastric cancer. Herein, we present a case of early gastric cancer with an initial presentation including cauda equina syndrome and DIC. Synchronous hepatic, adrenal gland, pulmonary, bone and bone marrow metastases were found two days after admission. The patient had a fulminant clinical course and died 45 days after the diagnosis. A small focus (0.8 × 0.5cm) of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma located in the mucosa and submucosa at the gastric lower body with extensive lymphatic permeation around the primary focus and duodenum were noted at autopsy. Cancers with an unknown primary accounted for 4.9% of cancers presenting with disseminated intravascular coagulation. Our experience disclosed that early gastric cancer is a potential cause of cauda equina syndrome and disseminated intravascular coagulation.

Chronological changes of characteristics of early gastric cancer and therapy: experience in the Cancer Institute Hospital of Tokyo, 1950-1994.

Gastric cancer, the leading cause of death from cancer in Japan, has long been studied. We received our first patient with early gastric cancer in 1950 and have since treated 2382 patients with this cancer up to 1990. The percentage of early gastric cancers diagnosed has been on the increase following the improvement in diagnostic skills and the establishment of mass screening. At present, more than half of the gastric cancers presenting are in the early stages. Chronological changes in diagnoses of early gastric cancer are characterized by the increased findings of (a) small tumors less than 4 cm in diameter (b) depressed-type carcinoma (c) lesions of the upper part of the stomach, and (d) undifferentiated-type adenocarcinoma. The standard method of treatment for early gastric cancer was standard radical operation in the 1970s. In the 1980s endoscopic mucosal resection and limited operation were adopted and their use has been increasing annually. The prognosis for early gastric cancer is quite favorable (the 5-year survival rate is more than 90%), and it is regarded as a disease with good prognosis. To obtain still better therapeutic results, it is essential to increase the proportion of early gastric cancers where endoscopic mucosal resection or limited operation is indicated, and improve the techniques of those procedures.