Extended lymphadenectomy against early gastric cancer.

Fifty-three patients with early gastric cancer, operated upon by the same surgeon, were analyzed at a district hospital in central-Europe. The incidence of early gastric cancer was 17% (53/317). The lesions were restricted to the mucosa in 29 cases and invaded the submucosa in 24. Lymph node involvement was found in eight cases (15%), all with submucosal invasion. Generalized tumor recurrence occurred in two cases, both with lymph node involvements pN-2. The actual-five-year survival rates were 96% for the mucosal lesions and 86% for the submucosal lesions. Extended lymphadenectomy is essential in the surgical treatment of early gastric cancer. Results achieved previously only in Japan are now achievable elsewhere by applying their methods. We could demonstrate that it is possible to achieve as high survival rates for early gastric cancer in central-Europe as in Japan. We accredit this progress to the extended lymphadenectomy performed in all cases.