BACKGROUND: The presence of lymph node metastasis (LNM) is the most important prognostic factor for patients with early gastric cancer (EGC). A D2 gastrectomy has been the gold standard treatment. Strict criteria for endoscopic mucosal resection have been widely accepted in Japan. There are some trials aimed at expanding the indications for local treatment, although there has not been a comprehensive review of the risk of LNM with the lesions of EGC.METHODS: We investigated 5265 patients who had undergone gastrectomy with lymph node dissection for EGC at the National Cancer Center Hospital and the Cancer Institute Hospital. Nine clinicopathological factors were assessed for their possible association with LNM.RESULTS: None of the 1230 well differentiated intramucosal cancers of less than 30 mm diameter regardless of ulceration findings, were associated with metastases (95% confidence interval [CI], 0-0.3%). None of the 929 lesions without ulceration were associated with nodal metastases (95% CI, 0-0.4%) regardless of tumor size. Similarly to findings for intramucosal cancers, for submucosal lesions, there was a significant correlation between tumor size larger than 30 mm and lymphatic-vascular involvement with an increased risk of LNM. None of the 145 differentiated adenocarcinomas of less than 30-mm-diameter without lymphatic or venous permeation were associated with LNM, provided that the lesion had invaded less than 500 &mgr;m into the submucosa (95% CI, 0-2.5%).CONCLUSION: Based on our large series of cases, we have been able to clarify the risks associated with EGC and to propose expansion of the criteria for local treatment. However, accurate histological evaluation of the resected specimens is essential to avoid recurrence for such EGCs that should be cured.

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Background-In Japan, endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is accepted as a treatment option for cases of early gastric cancer (EGC) where the probability of lymph node metastasis is low. The results of EMR for EGC at the National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, over a 11 year period are presented. Methods-EMR was applied to patients with early cancers up to 30 mm in diameter that were of a well or moderately histologically diVerentiated type, and were superficially elevated and/or depressed (types I, IIa, and IIc) but without ulceration or definite signs of submucosal invasion. The resected specimens were carefully examined by serial sections at 2 mm intervals, and if histopathology revealed submucosal invasion and/or vessel involvement or if the resection margin was not clear, surgery was recommended. Results-Four hundred and seventy nine cancers in 445 patients were treated by EMR from 1987 to 1998 but submucosal invasion was found on subsequent pathological examination in 74 tumours. Sixty nine percent of intramucosal cancers (278/ 405) were resected with a clear margin. Of 127 cancers without "complete resection", 14 underwent an additional operation and nine were treated endoscopically; the remainder had intensive follow up. Local recurrence in the stomach occurred in 17 lesions followed conservatively, in one lesion treated endoscopically, and in five lesions with complete resection. All tumours were diagnosed by follow up endoscopy and subsequently treated by surgery. There were no gastric cancer related deaths during a median follow up period of 38 months (3-120 months). Bleeding and perforation (5%) were two major complications of EMR but there were no treatment related deaths. Conclusion-In our experience, EMR allows us to perform less invasive treatment without sacrificing the possibility of cure. (Gut 2001;48:225-229)

These results clarified rates of lymph node metastasis in SICC according to SM depth, and may contribute to defining therapeutic strategies for SICC.

NBI could be the standard examination for the early detection of superficial cancer in the H&N region and the esophagus.