Abstract
This study evaluated the significance of the number of positive second regional lymph nodes and No.8a metastasis for prognostic factors in 41 n2 gastric cancer patients who underwent curative resection. They were classified into two groups according to the number of metastatic nodes; 1-2, 3 or more. In all n2 cases, there were no significant differences in survival rates according to the number of positive lymph nodes and No.8a metastasis. The five-year survival rate in t1+t2 cases was significantly higher than that in t3+t4 cases, at 54.3% and 12.2%, respectively. In t1+t2 cases, there were significant differences in survival depending on the number of positive lymph nodes and the presence of No.8a metastasis. Patients with 1-2 positive nodes had a significantly higher survival rate than those with 3 or more. The five-year survival rates were 67.3%(1-2) and 20.0%(3 or more), respectively. In t3+t4 cases, there were no significant differences in survival rates according to the number of positive lymph nodes and No.8a metastasis. Depth of invasion is therefore the most impor-tant factor in all n2 cases. In negative serosal invasion cases only, however, the number of positive nodes and No.8a metastasis may provide a prognostic indicator.
