Paracortical activity of the regional lymph nodes as a prognostic determinant in gastric carcinoma.

One hundred and thirty eight gastric carcinomas were assessed histologically with special attention focused on the nuclear grade of the tumor, the stromal lymphocyte reaction, and the morphology of the paracortical areas of the regional lymph nodes. Nuclear grade of the carcinoma was closely correlated with the 5-year survival rate of the patient, but no favorable prognostic influence could be attributed to the stromal lymphocyte reaction. The activity of the regional lymph node paracortex was directly positively correlated with the survival and inversely related to the appearance of the nodal metastases which were ominous prognostic signs. The value of the morphology of the regional lymph node paracortex in assessing the criteria of host resistance in association with gastric carcinoma is emphasized.