Abstract
Gastrectomy was performed in 626 out of 692 operated cases of gastric cancer. Histologic examination of the resected specimens revealed that the cancer was confined to the mucosal (m) or submueosal layer (sm) in 256 cases, advanced to the muscularis propria (pm) or subserosal layer (ss) in 110, and to the serosa (se) or the surrounding organs (si, sei) in 260. 238 (93%) of m and sm cases were free from lymphnode metastasis. Lymphnode metastasis was noted in 51 (46%) of pm and ss cases. In 229 se cases, 177 (77%) were positive in lymphnode metastasis and 108 (47%) showed metastasis in n2 and n3 degree. Adjuvant chemotherapy fairly improved the postoperative survival rate of the advanced cases with lymphnode metastasis, serosal involvement, or lymph and blood vessel involvement of gastric cancer.
