Hideo Hosoi

Comparison of Surgical Results of D2 Versus D3 Gastrectomy (Para-Aortic Lymph Node Dissection) for Advanced Gastric Carcinoma: A Multi-Institutional Study

Curative gastrectomy is a promising approach for the treatment of gastric cancer; however, the optimal extent of lymph node dissection for advanced cancer remains controversial. The aim of this multi-institutional study was to evaluate the feasibility of D3 gastrectomy (para-aortic lymph node dissection) for advanced gastric cancer. The surgical results of D2 and D3 gastrectomy (para-aortic lymph node dissection) were retrospectively compared. A series of 580 advanced gastric cancer patients were registered between 1992 and 2000. Of these, 430 underwent D2 gastrectomy and 150 underwent D3 gastrectomy. Survival time, prognostic factors, postoperative morbidity/mortality, and pattern of recurrence were compared. There was no significant difference in survival time between D2 and D3 patients. However, the survival times of D3 patients with tumor diameters measuring 50 to 100 mm or with pN1 disease were significantly longer than those of the corresponding D2 patients. Analysis of the survival of patients with tumor diameters measuring 50 to 100 mm revealed that D3 gastrectomy conferred a survival advantage only to patients with pN2 disease. The incidence of lymphatic recurrence was lower in D3 patients with 50- to 100-mm tumors than in the corresponding D2 patients. D3 gastrectomy might be beneficial in patients with advanced pN2 gastric cancer within the group with tumors measuring 50 to 100 mm. A randomized controlled trial of patients with 50- to 100-mm tumors should be performed to test the validity of this preliminary result.BackgroundCurative gastrectomy is a promising approach for the treatment of gastric cancer; however, the optimal extent of lymph node dissection for advanced cancer remains controversial. The aim of this multi-institutional study was to evaluate the feasibility of D3 gastrectomy (para-aortic lymph node dissection) for advanced gastric cancer. The surgical results of D2 and D3 gastrectomy (para-aortic lymph node dissection) were retrospectively compared.MethodsA series of 580 advanced gastric cancer patients were registered between 1992 and 2000. Of these, 430 underwent D2 gastrectomy and 150 underwent D3 gastrectomy. Survival time, prognostic factors, postoperative morbidity/mortality, and pattern of recurrence were compared.ResultsThere was no significant difference in survival time between D2 and D3 patients. However, the survival times of D3 patients with tumor diameters measuring 50 to 100 mm or with pN1 disease were significantly longer than those of the corresponding D2 patients. Analysis of the survival of patients with tumor diameters measuring 50 to 100 mm revealed that D3 gastrectomy conferred a survival advantage only to patients with pN2 disease. The incidence of lymphatic recurrence was lower in D3 patients with 50- to 100-mm tumors than in the corresponding D2 patients.ConclusionsD3 gastrectomy might be beneficial in patients with advanced pN2 gastric cancer within the group with tumors measuring 50 to 100 mm. A randomized controlled trial of patients with 50- to 100-mm tumors should be performed to test the validity of this preliminary result.

Significance of long-term follow-up of early gastric cancer.

BackgroundTherapeutic outcomes for most patients with early gastric cancer are favorable. However, mortality among these patients remains a concern. Improvements in therapeutic outcomes are being sought by studying the timing and causes of death. Here, the results of surgery were evaluated to assess the appropriate treatment and follow-up schedule for early gastric cancer.MethodsA total of 1169 patients with early gastric cancer underwent curative gastrectomy between 1992 and 1999. Survival time, prognostic factors, cause of death, and time of death were evaluated retrospectively.ResultsMultivariate analysis of disease-specific survival identified lymph node metastasis as an independent prognostic factor. The anatomical extent of lymph node metastasis and the number of metastatic lymph nodes influenced the rate of recurrence. Multivariate analysis of overall survival identified age as a prognostic factor. A total of 91 patients (7.8%) from the study group died: 56 from comorbid diseases, 21 from gastric cancer, and 14 from other second primary cancers. Death from gastric cancer was frequently observed within 5 years of surgical resection, whereas death from other diseases usually occurred after 5 years. Patients who died as a result of diseases other than gastric cancer tended to be older.ConclusionsAppropriate lymph node dissection is necessary for patients with early gastric cancer, particularly those with risk factors associated with lymph node metastasis. Meticulous follow-up protocols that can detect second primary cancers, together with the development of treatments for comorbid diseases, are required to improve survival.

A Case of Meningeal Carcinomatosis of the Ascending Colon Cancer.

症例は70歳の男性. 上行結腸癌の診断で内科入院中より頭痛を訴えていた. 頭部CT検査上は脳内への転移を疑わせる所見は認めなかったが, 小脳溝に沿って造影剤の増強効果を認めた. 開腹所見では広範囲のリンパ節転移と腹膜播種を認める進行癌であった. 術後3日目より徐々に傾眠傾向となってきたため, 髄膜転移を疑い, 腰椎穿刺を施行したところ, 髄液中に癌細胞を認めた. 意識障害とともに肝機能障害が急激に進行し, 全身状態が悪化し, 術後12日目に死亡した.大腸癌による髄膜癌腫症はまれな疾患であり, 高度に進行した癌に多く, 予後不良である. 今回, われわれは急激な経過をたどった上行結腸癌による髄膜癌腫症の1例を経験したので文献的考察を加え報告する.