Staging of gastric cancer: correlation of lymph node size and metastatic infiltration.

Authors:
  • TZT K Zirbes
    T K Zirbes
  • WSW Schröder
    W Schröder
  • SBS E Baldus
    S E Baldus
  • DLD G Lindemann
    D G Lindemann
  • HDH P Dienes
    H P Dienes
  • AHA H Hölscher
    A H Hölscher
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Abstract
The assessment of lymphatic metastases is an important factor in the staging of gastric cancer. Lymph node size has been used as one criterion for possible nodal metastasis. Although enlarged regional lymph nodes are generally interpreted as metastases, few data are available that correlate lymph node size with metastatic infiltration.In a prospective morphometric study, the regional lymph nodes from 31 gastrectomy specimens of consecutive patients with primary gastric adenocarcinoma were analyzed. The lymph nodes were counted, the largest diameter of each node was measured, and each node was analyzed for metastatic involvement by histologic examination. The frequency of metastatic involvement was calculated and correlated to lymph node size.A total of 1253 lymph nodes were present in the 31 specimens examined for this study. A mean number of 40 lymph nodes (range, 20-53) were found in each specimen. Of these 1253 nodes, 922 (74%) were tumor-free and 331 (26%) contained metastases. The mean diameter of th...