• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.213-218
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• 2004

Purpose: The superficial spreading type of early gastric cancer has different clinicopathologic features from other types of early gastric cancer in terms of its invasiveness and lymph-node metastases. Therefore, we attempted to elucidate the pathological features, surgical procedures and patients prognoses. Materials and Methods: Clinical information was reviewed for patients who had undergone a gastrectomy for gastric cancer during an 8-year period ($1995\~2002$) at Dankook University Hospital and Ulsan University, with an average follow-up of 48 months. Three hundred (300) superficial spreading lesions were analyzed with respect to macroscopic type, lymph-node (LN) metastasis, recurrent pattern, survival rate and method of surgical operation. In addition, the clinicopathological features of the superficial spreading type were compared with those of 739 other patients with small-sized cancer. Results: In both groups, the IIc-type macroscopic lesion, the elevated subtype to be more specific, occurred most frequently. There was no significant difference in the method of surgery between the groups. The submucosal invasion was $39.8\%$ in small-sized cancer, and $61.7\%$ in superficial spreading cancer (P=0.005). The incidence of LN metastasis was $11.3\%$ in early gastric cancer, $7.8\%$ in small-sized cancer and $20.0\%$ in superficial spreading cancer (P=0.005). The incidence of lymphatic invasion was $4.6\%$ in small-sized cancer and $13.0\%$ in superficial spreading cancer (P=0.009). The incidence of recurrence was $1.4\%$ in small-sized cancer and $3.6\%$ in superficial spreading cancer. The overall 5-year survival rate was $84.8\%$ in superficial spreading cancer and $93.0\%$ in small-sized cancer (P=0.052). The 5-year diseasefree survival rate was $94.7\%$ in superficial spreading cancer and $87.5\%$ in small-sized cancer (P=0.053). Conclusion: The superficial spreading type of early gastric cancer tends to be more invasive and to show a higher incidence of lymph-node metastasis than small-sized early gastric cancer. A wide resection with extensive lymph-node dissection seems to be an appropriate treatment for a superficial spreading type of early gastric cancer.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.13-18
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• 2010

Purpose: Omental infarction (OI) following laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy (LAG) for gastric cancer could become more common in the future because the indications for LAG are expected to expand. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical characteristics of OI following LAG. Materials and Methods: Three hundred ninety patients who underwent LAG for T1 or T2 gastric cancer from April 2003 to November 2007 were enrolled. OI was diagnosed by two radiologists using the patients' abdominal 16 row-detector CT scans. The clinicopathologic characteristics were retrospectively evaluated in the omental infarction (OI) group and the non-omental infarction (non-OI) group using the gastric cancer database of Dong-A University Medical Center and the medical record. Results: Nine omental infarctions (2.3%) of 390 LAGs were diagnosed. All the OIs could be discriminated from omental metastasis on the initial or follow up CT images. The location of the omental infarctions was on the epigastrium in 3 patients and in the left upper quadrant in 3 patients. The mean size of the OIs was 4.1 cm. Most patients with OI had no signs or symptoms. The body mass index of the OI group was higher than that of the non-OI group (P=0230), and OI was more common in patients who underwent total gastrectomy than in the patients who underwent subtotal gastrectomy (P=0.0011). Conclusion: Laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy (LAG) with partial omentectomy for gastric cancer can be a cause of secondary OI. Omental infarction after LAG has different clinical characteristics and CT findings that those of other omental infarctions or postoperative omental metastases. Further multicenter study will be needed to evaluate in detail the clinical features of omental infarction after LAG.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.136-142
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• 2009

Purpose: This clinical study was conducted to evaluate the predictive value of tumor markers for recurrence and the clinical significance of false positive findings after curative gastrectomy in patients with gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: Two hundred ninety patients with gastric cancer who underwent gastrectomy with curative intent were evaluated retrospectively. We analyzed the correlations between changes in tumor markers (CEA, CA 19-9, AFP, and CA-125) and clinicopathologic data, and basis for changes in tumor markers without recurrence during the follow-up period. Results: The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of tumor markers for recurrence were 75.0%, 64.6%, 23.1%, 94.8%, and 65.9% respectively. Among 36 patients with recurrences, 10 patients (27.8%) had elevated tumor markers prior to positive findings on imaging studies, while 13 patients (36.1%) had concomitant elevation in tumor markers. At least 1 of the 4 tumor markers increased in 90 of 290 patients during the follow-up period; however, there was no evidence of tumor recurrence. Twenty patients had persistently elevated tumor markers, while the tumor marker levels in 70 patients returned to normal level within $9.08\pm7.2$ months. The patients with pulmonary disease, hepatobiliary disease, diabetes, hypertension, or herbal medication users had elevated tumor markers more frequently than patients without disease (P<0.001). Conclusion: Although detecting recurrence of gastric cancer with tumor markers may be useful, false positive findings of tumor markers are common, so surgeons should consider other chronic benign diseases and medical conditions when tumor markers increase without evidence of recurrence.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.207-214
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• 2009

Purpose: Subtotal distal gastrectomy has been accepted as the standard treatment for early gastric cancer that's developed on the gastric body. EMR and ESD have been introduced to minimize the incidence of postgastrectomy syndrome, but these procedures can not detect lymph node metastasis and they have a risk for gastric perforation. Segmental gastrectomy has recently been applied for treating early gastric cancer, but its usefulness has not been clarified. The aim of this study was to compare segmental gastrectomy and distal gastrectomy with Billroth I reconstruction for treating early gastric cancer that's developed on the gastric body. Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective review of all the patients who were diagnosed as having early gastric cancer that developed on the gastric body at Chungnam National University Hospital from January 2004 through July 2007. During this period, 41 patients received segmental gastrectomy and 40 patients underwent subtotal distal gastrectomy. All the patients were studied via a biannual review of the body systems, a physical examination, endoscopy, computed tomography and the laboratory findings. Results: There were no significantly differences of the clinicopathologic characteristics between the two groups. The changes of the nutritional status (Hb, TP, Alb and TC) and the body weight change were not significantly different between the 2 groups. There were significantly more residual food in the SG group than that in the SDG group (RGB classification, Residual>Grade 2), but there were no differences for epigastric discomfort (P>0.05). Esophagitis developed at a similar rate for both two groups (LA classification, >Grade A), and bile reflux was found in only one patient of each group. Conclusion: We expected the reduction of esophagitis and gastritis and the improvement of nutritional status according to the type of procedure. Yet the results of our study showed no significant differences between the two study groups. More patients and a longer follow up time are needed for determining the advantage sand disadvantages of segmental gastrectomy.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.96-103
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• 2009

Purpose: Lymph node metastasis is an important factor in determining prognosis and therapeutic options for early gastric cancer (EGC) patients. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C and D are known as lymphangiogenic factors, and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 is thought to play a role in lymph node metastasis in gastric carcinoma. This study was designed to determine whether the expression of VEGF-C, VEGF-D, and COX-2 is associated with clinicopathologic factors, especially lymph node metastasis in EGCs invading the submucosa. Materials and Methods: Tissue samples were obtained from 85 Patients undergoing standard gastrectomy with lymph node dissection between 1991 and 2007 in the Department of Surgery of Daejeon St. Mary's Hospital in Daejeon, Korea. All patients were diagnosed with gastric cancers and submucosal invasion. We examined the expression of VEGF-C, VEGF-D, and COX-2 using immunohistochemical methods. Results: Of the 85 patients, 16 (18.8%) had lymph node metastasis. VEGF-C, VEGF-D, and COX-2 were positively expressed in 34.1% (29/85), 22.3% (19/85), and 37.6% (32/85) of the patients. VEGF-C and COX-2 expression was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). A positive correlation existed between VEGF-C and COX-2 expression (P< 0.001). Conclusion: VEGF-C and COX-2 expression is associated with lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer with submucosal invasion. VEGF-C and COX-2 may thus be predictive markers for lymph node metastasis in EGC patients with submucosal invasion.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.9-19
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• 2008

Purpose: Gastric cancer is the most common malignant tumor in Korea. We reviewed the cases at our institution to identify the survival rates and clarify the prognostic factors of patients with gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 6,918 patients who had received a diagnosis of gastric cancer, and they underwent surgery at Korea Cancer Center Hospital during a 15-year period from 1991 to 2005. Results: The overall 5-year survival rate was 66.8%. The univariate analysis revealed that age, location of tumor, gross type of tumor, the histology according to the WHO classification, the Lauren classification, depth of invasion (T stage), lymph node metastasis (N stage), distant metastasis (M stage), the type of surgery, the UICC TNM stage, postoperative complications, adjuvant chemotherapy, lymphatic invasion, venous invasion and perineural invasion were the significantly different factors of the survival rates. The multivariate analysis revealed that age, Borrmann type 4, the histology according to the WHO classification, depth of invasion (T stage), lymph node metastasis (N stage), distant metastasis (M stage), the type of surgery, UICC TNM stage, postoperative complications, adjuvant chemotherapy and lymphatic invasion were the independent prognostic factors. Conclusion: We have shown a statistically significant association between the survival rates after operation for gastric cancer and the clinicopathologic factors. Early diagnosis of gastric cancer, appropriate surgeryand adjuvant therapy might improve the quality of life and the survival rates of gastric cancer patients.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.85-90
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• 2008

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of D2 lymphadenectomy in elderly patients with gastric cancerby comparing the surgical outcomes and postoperative courses between an elderly group and a control group undergoing the same procedure. Materials and Methods: Clinical information was reviewed for 1251 patients with gastric cancer who underwent gastrectomy between May 2004 and May 2007. Patients were classified into the following two groups: an elderly group (older than the average life span in Korea) and a control group (younger than the elderly group). Clinicopathologic features and postoperative courses after D2 lymphadenectomy were reviewed and compared between the two groups. Results: There were a total of 120 (9%) elderly group patients among all those reviewed, and 86 (72.2%) of them underwent D2 lymphadenectomy. There was 27.5% postoperative morbidity in the elderly group, which was significantly different from thecontrol group (12.8%, p=0.003). However, on multivariate analysis, ASA score and combined resection were independent predictive factors of postoperative complications, while age was not predictive. Conclusion: Older age is not a predictive factor of postoperative complications in itself, and D2 lymphadenectomy can be safely performed in elderly patients with gastric cancer, provided they have good ASA scores and do not undergo accompanying combined resection.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.160-165
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• 2008

Purpose: With the introduction of H. pylori eradication and proton pump inhibitor, the operative treatments for the acute or chronic complications of peptic ulcer, such as perforation, bleeding and stricture, have decreased. Also owing to the development of non-operative treatment such as interventional endoscopic treatment, the surgical approach to the acute complications, like perforation and bleeding, has diminished. The non-operative treatments for the stricture and obstruction of chronic peptic ulcer in part related to discontinuation of medication have not been satisfactory. We analyzed the clinical outcomes of the patients who underwent operative treatment for outlet obstruction with peptic ulcer. Materials of Methods: From January 1994 to December 2007, we reviewed 31 patients who had been operated on at the National Medical Center for peptic ulcer obstruction. We excluded the cases of adhesive obstructions that were caused by a former ulcer operation and also the cases of obstructions found during emergency operations for treating perforation and bleeding. We classified the surgical treatment group into the bypass operation group and the surgical resection group. We evaluated the effects of the operations by the Visick score. The recurrences were confirmed only by the endoscopic observation of peptic ulcer. Results: The number of patients in the bypass operation group was 6 (19.4%) and that of resection group was 25 (80.6%). The mean age was 57.5 (25~81) years. The number of male patients was 29 (93.5%) and the number of females was 2 (6.5%). The mean symptom duration was 29.6 months. There were 19 smokers (61.3%), 6 NSAID users (19.4%) and 7 H. pylori positive patients (22.6%). Two patients underwent endoscopic balloon dilatation with no success. The locations of lesion were the stomach, the duodenum and both in 9, 20 and 2 cases, respectively. There were operative complications in 13 cases (41.9%), recurrent ulcers in 2 cases (6.5%), and reoperations in 4 cases. The mean Visick score was 1.8 (1~4). There were no statistically significant clinicopathologic differences between the bypass operation group and the resection group. The two groups had 1 case each of recurrence. Although the bypass group had a greater complication rate (83.3%) than the resection group (32%), this was not statistically meaningful (P=0.175). The mean Visick score was 3.0 in the bypass group and 1.6 in the resection group, so the resection group was better (P=0.001). Conclusion: For a case of chronic peptic ulcer with outlet obstruction, even though it has been reported that endoscopic balloon dilatation worked well, surgery is still regarded as an important treatment. If you consider the patients' satisfaction and the difficulty of diagnosing malignant ulcers, surgical resection should be recommended more often than a bypass operation.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.101-105
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• 2005

Purpose: Some gastric cancer patients in whom the cancer has infiltrated up to the muscularis propria (mp) have a good postoperative course similar to that of early gastric cancer (EGC) patients (this does not match the general classification of gastric cancer). Therefore, we performed a retrospective analysis of 125 patients with mp gastric cancer based on the degree of mp invasion. Materials and Methods: The clinicopathologic features of 125 cases of mp gastric cancer were subdivided according to depth of invasion, and were retrospectively reviewed and compared with the surgical features of 222 patients with gastric cancer invading the submucosa (sm). For each tumor, using the section that showed the greatest extent of invasion, we evaluated the degree of tumor invasion into the mp layer at a magnification of $\times$100. The patients were classified into 2 groups: mp1, the tumor was limited to the first of the 3 mp layers, and mp2, the tumor had expanded beyond the first layer. Results: Patients with mp1 (n=50) had a significantly lower incidence of lymph node metastasis, and a smaller tumor size than patients with mp2 (n=75) (P=0.01 and P=0.029, respectively). The 5-year survival rate of mp1 patients was significantly better than that of mp2 patients ($95.3\%\;vs.\;77.6\%$, P=0.0282), but was similar to that ($91.2\%$) of the 222 sm patients. The 5-year survival rate of mp patients without lymph node metastasis (n=55) was significantly better than that of those with lymph node metastasis (n=70)($93.3\%\;vs.\;78.2\%$, P=0.0192). Patients with mp1 had a significantly higher incidence of lymph node metastasis ($42.5\%\;vs\;23\%$, P=0.006) than patients with sm. Conclusion: There were clear differences in clinical features between the mp1 and the mp2 patients. Subdivision of mp gastric cancer according to the depth of invasion may enable a more precise prognosis and a more pertinent treatment plan for mp patients. In particular, as the clinicopathological findings and surgical outcomes for mp1 patients were akin to those of the sm patients, mp1 patients may require treatment analogous to that administered to patients with sm gastric cancer. (J Korean Gastric Cancer Assoc 2005;5:101-105)

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.97-102
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• 2006

Purpose: The prognosis for patients with a Borrmann type IV gastric cancer is extremely poor despite an aggressive surgical approach. We evaluated the clinicopathological features for Borrmann type IV cancers to find treatment strategy. Materials and Methods: The 1098 patients with advanced gastric cancer who underwent surgical resection between 1990 and 2001 were analyzed. These patients were divided into two groups: 81 patients with a Borrmann type IV carcinoma, and 1017 patients with all other types of gastric carcinomas. Results: Patients with a Borrmann type IV carcinoma were younger than those with other types, and female was prevalent (p=0.000). Of the patients with a Borrmann type IV gastric carcinoma, 68 patients (84%) were classified as stage III or IV at the initial diagnosis. The histologic type was commonly undifferentiated and serosal infiltration; nodal involvement and lymphatic invasion were more frequent in patients with a Borrmann type IV than in those with other types of cancer. Multivariate analysis confirmed that the extent of lymph node metastasis was a negative prognostic factor for Borrmann type IV gastric carcinomas. The curability for a Borrmann type IV carcinoma was only 53.1%, and peritoneal dissemination rate was 25.9%. The predominant pattern of recurrence for a Borrmann type IV gastric carcinoma was peritoneal dissemination, and it was significantly different with other types (93.1% vs 55.8%, P<0.05). The 5-year survival rate of patients with a Borrmann type IV gastric carcinoma was significantly lower than those of patients with other types of cancer, even though a curative resection had been accomplished (26% vs 63%, p<0.005). The 5-year survival rates of patients with a Borrmann type IV carcinoma following a curative resection were 44.9%, 24%, and 0% for stages II, III and IV, respectively (p<0.05). Conclusion: Because the prognosis for patients of a Borrmann type IV gastric cancer is extremely poor despite a curative resection, preoperative and/or intraperitoneal chemotherapy should be considered. And diagnostic laparoscopy and peritoneal cytology may be used to play an important role in accurate staging workup. (J Korean Gastric Cancer Assoc 2006;6:97-102)