J.Jpn. Surg. Soc.. 102(10): 764-769, 2001

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Feature topic

SURVIVAL BENEFITS OF AND INDICATIONS FOR EXTENDED SURGERY FOR ADVANCED GASTRIC CANCER

The surgical management of locally advanced gastric cancer remains controversial. It is also unclear whether the postoperative survival rate could be improved by extended lymph node dissection. The aim of this paper is to determine the survival benefit of and the indications for extended surgery. Lymph node metastasis in the paraaortic area frequently occurs in locally advanced cardiac cancer. In our previous studies, the paraaortic lymph nodes above and below the left renal vein were confirmed to be the terminal destination of lymphatic flow in the upper abdominal cavity. Paraaortic lymph node dissection is essential for curarive resection in some cases of advanced gastric cancer. The 5-year survival rate in patients who undergo paraaortic lymph node dissection is nearly 15% according to the literature. Patients with metastasis of the paraaortic lymph nodes on only one side and with fewer than four involved nodes clearly benefit from paraaortic lymph node dissection. It is indicated in cases with metastasis or suspected metastasis of the left or right cardiac lymph node or N2 lymph node station. There is little survival benefit from combined resection of involved organs (T4 disease) and it should only be performed in a select group of patients. Extended surgery for locally advanced gastric cancer, however, is feasible and has acceptable operative morbidity and mortality rates.

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