Association between absolute lymphocyte count and overall mortality in patients with surgically resected gastric cancer

Background/Aims@#Lymphocytes are an important component of the cell-mediated immune system. As lymphopenia is reportedly associated with poor prognoses in patients with various cancers, we investigated this notion in patients who underwent curative gastrectomy. @*Methods@#We retrospectively analyzed the association between absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) and prognosis in patients with stage I–III gastric cancer who underwent curative surgical resection. Ever lymphopenic patients were defined as those with ALCs < 1,000/μL at any time post-diagnosis except within 30 days post-surgery. Adjusted multivariable regression models were used to evaluate the associations between lymphopenia and overall mortality, gastric cancer-specific mortality, and disease-free survival. @*Results@#We investigated 1,222 patients diagnosed between January 2011 and December 2015. Fifty-six patients (4.6%) were lymphopenic at diagnosis and nearly one-quarter (24.8%) were ever lymphopenic with a mean minimum ALC of 640/μL. Older age (odds ratio [OR], 1.02) and higher stage (stage III vs. I; OR, 3.01) were positively associated with ever lymphopenia. On multivariable analysis, ever lymphopenia predicted higher overall mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.83; p = 0.008), higher gastric cancer-specific mortality (HR, 1.58; p = 0.048), and shorter disease-free survival (HR, 1.83; p = 0.006). The 5-year gastric cancer-specific mortality rates for ever- and never lymphopenic patients were 10.9% and 3.7%, respectively; their 5-year cumulative recurrence rates were 15.1% and 4.6%, respectively. @*Conclusions@#This study demonstrate that ever lymphopenia is independent prognostic factor for overall mortality and recurrence in patients with potentially curable gastric cancer; hence, ALCs may be a biomarker for predicting the prognoses of patients with stage I–III gastric cancer who had curative gastrectomy.

Association between absolute lymphocyte count and overall mortality in patients with surgically resected gastric cancer

Background/Aims@#Lymphocytes are an important component of the cell-mediated immune system. As lymphopenia is reportedly associated with poor prognoses in patients with various cancers, we investigated this notion in patients who underwent curative gastrectomy. @*Methods@#We retrospectively analyzed the association between absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) and prognosis in patients with stage I–III gastric cancer who underwent curative surgical resection. Ever lymphopenic patients were defined as those with ALCs < 1,000/μL at any time post-diagnosis except within 30 days post-surgery. Adjusted multivariable regression models were used to evaluate the associations between lymphopenia and overall mortality, gastric cancer-specific mortality, and disease-free survival. @*Results@#We investigated 1,222 patients diagnosed between January 2011 and December 2015. Fifty-six patients (4.6%) were lymphopenic at diagnosis and nearly one-quarter (24.8%) were ever lymphopenic with a mean minimum ALC of 640/μL. Older age (odds ratio [OR], 1.02) and higher stage (stage III vs. I; OR, 3.01) were positively associated with ever lymphopenia. On multivariable analysis, ever lymphopenia predicted higher overall mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.83; p = 0.008), higher gastric cancer-specific mortality (HR, 1.58; p = 0.048), and shorter disease-free survival (HR, 1.83; p = 0.006). The 5-year gastric cancer-specific mortality rates for ever- and never lymphopenic patients were 10.9% and 3.7%, respectively; their 5-year cumulative recurrence rates were 15.1% and 4.6%, respectively. @*Conclusions@#This study demonstrate that ever lymphopenia is independent prognostic factor for overall mortality and recurrence in patients with potentially curable gastric cancer; hence, ALCs may be a biomarker for predicting the prognoses of patients with stage I–III gastric cancer who had curative gastrectomy.

Regional Lymph Node Dissection as an Additional Treatment Option to Endoscopic Resection for Expanded Indications in Gastric Cancer:a Prospective Cohort Study

Purpose@#Expanded indications for endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in early gastric cancer (EGC) remain controversial due to the potential risk of undertreatment after adequate lymph node dissection (LND). Regional LND (RLND) is a novel technique used for limited lymphadenectomy to avoid gastrectomy. This study established the safety and effectiveness of RNLD as an additional treatment option after ESD for expanded indications. @*Materials and Methods@#A total of 69 patients who met the expanded indications for ESD were prospectively enrolled from 2014 to 2017. The tumors were localized using intraoperative esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) before RLND. All patients underwent RLND first, followed by conventional radical gastrectomy with LND. The locations of the preoperative and intraoperative EGD were compared. Pathologic findings of the primary lesion and the RLND status were analyzed. @*Results@#The concordance rates of tumor location between the preoperative and intraoperative EGD were 79.7%, 76.8%, and 63.8% according to the longitudinal, circumferential, and regional locations, respectively. Of the 4 patients (5.7%) with metastatic LNs, 3 were pathologically classified as beyond the expanded indication for ESD and 1 had a single LN metastasis in the regional lymph node. @*Conclusions@#RLND is a safe additional option for the treatment of EGC in patients meeting expanded indications after ESD.

Regional Lymph Node Dissection as an Additional Treatment Option to Endoscopic Resection for Expanded Indications in Gastric Cancer:a Prospective Cohort Study

Purpose@#Expanded indications for endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in early gastric cancer (EGC) remain controversial due to the potential risk of undertreatment after adequate lymph node dissection (LND). Regional LND (RLND) is a novel technique used for limited lymphadenectomy to avoid gastrectomy. This study established the safety and effectiveness of RNLD as an additional treatment option after ESD for expanded indications. @*Materials and Methods@#A total of 69 patients who met the expanded indications for ESD were prospectively enrolled from 2014 to 2017. The tumors were localized using intraoperative esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) before RLND. All patients underwent RLND first, followed by conventional radical gastrectomy with LND. The locations of the preoperative and intraoperative EGD were compared. Pathologic findings of the primary lesion and the RLND status were analyzed. @*Results@#The concordance rates of tumor location between the preoperative and intraoperative EGD were 79.7%, 76.8%, and 63.8% according to the longitudinal, circumferential, and regional locations, respectively. Of the 4 patients (5.7%) with metastatic LNs, 3 were pathologically classified as beyond the expanded indication for ESD and 1 had a single LN metastasis in the regional lymph node. @*Conclusions@#RLND is a safe additional option for the treatment of EGC in patients meeting expanded indications after ESD.

The da Vinci Xi System in Robotic Gastric Cancer Surgery: A Comparison with the S System

PURPOSE: The next-generation da Vinci system, the Xi, was introduced in 2015. Its benefits for patients with gastric cancer have not yet been clearly identified. METHODS: A total of 47 patients who had undergone robot-assisted gastrectomy (RAG) for gastric cancer were analyzed retrospectively. Twenty-six (26) patients had undergone RAG by da Vinci S, and the remaining 21 by da Vinci Xi. These two groups' clinicopathological characteristics, operative details, and short-term postoperative outcomes were compared. RESULTS: The median docking time was significantly shorter in the Xi group (5.0 vs. 3.0 min, respectively, p=0.020). Despite the significantly higher rate of the D2 lymph node dissection in the Xi group (76.2 vs. 34.6%, respectively, p=0.011), the median console time showed no significant difference (57.5 vs. 56.0 min, respectively, p=0.404). None of the other operative details or oncologic results showed any significant differences. CONCLUSION: Although the enhanced anatomical access system of the Xi system, clinical outcomes did not be improved, except reducing docking time. Further investigations which can improve clinical outcomes are needed.

Safety of Laparoscopic Radical Gastrectomy in Gastric Cancer Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease

PURPOSE: The surgical outcomes of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients undergoing radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer were inferior compared with those of non-ESRD patients. This study aimed to evaluate the short- and long-term surgical outcomes of ESRD patients undergoing laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) and open gastrectomy (OG) for gastric cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 2004 and 2014, 38 patients (OG: 21 patients, LG: 17 patients) with ESRD underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Comparisons were made based on the clinicopathological characteristics, surgical outcomes, and long-term survival rates. RESULTS: No significant differences were noted in the clinicopathological characteristics of either group. LG patients had lower estimated blood loss volumes than OG patients (LG vs. OG: 94 vs. 275 mL, P=0.005). The operation time and postoperative hospital stay were similar in both the groups. The postoperative morbidity for LG and OG patients was 41.1% and 33.3%, respectively (P=0.873). No significant difference was observed in the long-term overall survival rates between the 2 groups (5-year overall survival, LG vs. OG: 82.4% vs. 64.7%, P=0.947). CONCLUSIONS: In ESRD patients, LG yielded non-inferior short- and long-term surgical outcomes compared to OG. Laparoscopic procedures might be safely adopted for ESRD patients who can benefit from the advantages of minimally invasive surgery.

Long-Term Nutritional Outcomes of Near-Total Gastrectomy in Gastric Cancer Treatment: a Comparison with Total Gastrectomy Using Propensity Score Matching Analysis

PURPOSE: This study sought to examine whether near total gastrectomy (nTG) confers a long-term nutritional benefit when compared with total gastrectomy (TG) for the treatment of gastric cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who underwent nTG or TG for gastric cancer were included (n=570). Using the 1:2 matched propensity score, 25 patients from the nTG group and 50 patients from the TG group were compared retrospectively for oncologic outcomes, including long-term survival and nutritional status. RESULTS: The length of the proximal resection margin, number of retrieved lymph nodes and tumor nodes, metastasis stage, short-term postoperative outcomes, and long-term survival were not significantly different between the groups. The body mass index values, and serum total protein and hemoglobin levels of the patients decreased significantly until postoperative 6 months, and then recovered slightly over time (P < 0.05); however, there was no difference in the levels between the groups. The prognostic nutritional index values and serum albumin levels decreased significantly until postoperative 6 months and then recovered (P < 0.05); the levels decreased more in the nTG group than in the TG group (P < 0.05). The mean corpuscular volumes and serum transferrin levels increased significantly until postoperative 1 year and then recovered slightly over time (P < 0.05); however, there was no difference between the groups. Serum vitamin B12, iron, and ferritin levels of the patients did not change significantly over time, and no difference existed between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: A small remnant stomach after nTG conferred no significant nutritional benefits over TG.

IgG4-related Disease in the Stomach which Was Confused with Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST): Two Case Reports and Review of the Literature

Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is an immune-mediated fibro-inflammatory disorder characterized by specific pathological findings and elevated serum IgG4 level. IgG4-RD in the stomach is rare, and occasionally diagnosed as gastric subepithelial tumor (SET) by endoscopy or computed tomography scan. Two female patients in the age group of 40–50 years were diagnosed with 4 cm sized gastric SET. One underwent laparoscopic gastric wedge resection. Another one had a history of subtotal gastrectomy for early gastric cancer and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura with oral steroids administration. She underwent a completion total gastrectomy with splenectomy for the gastric SET and ITP. The pathology showed storiform fibrosis, and IgG4 was positive in immunohistochemistry (IHC) stain. IgG4-RD is known as a medical disease that could be treated with oral steroids. The difficulty in preoperative diagnosis of the disease occasionally causes unnecessary gastric resection. Thus, preoperative diagnostic methods for IgG4-RD such as deep biopsy with IHC stain or magnetic resonance imaging are needed.

Intracorporeal esophagojejunostomy using hemi-double-stapling technique after laparoscopic total gastrectomy in gastric cancer patients

PURPOSE: To present the feasibility and safety of Roux-en-Y esophagojejunostomy using hemi-double-stapling technique after laparoscopic total gastrectomy. METHODS: We reviewed the outcomes from 58 consecutive patients with gastric cancer who underwent laparoscopic total gastrectomy. The clinicopathological characteristics including postoperative complications were examined. RESULTS: The mean age and body mass index were 57.3 ± 9.7 years and 23.7 ± 2.6 kg/m², respectively. The mean overall total operation was 199.8 ± 57.0 minutes. Intraoperative blood loss was 81.6 ± 56.3 mL and there was no open conversion. The patients' hospital stay was a mean 9.6 ± 2 days. The mean proximal margin of the specimens was 2.7 ± 1.8 cm. There were 3 cases (5.1%) of anastomosis leakage, but all were controlled successfully by endoscopic stent. CONCLUSION: The circular HDST technique is simple and reliable without any significant demerits with respect to safety concerns or difficulty of operation.

Comparison of the Differences in Survival Rates between the 7th and 8th Editions of the AJCC TNM Staging System for Gastric Adenocarcinoma: a Single-Institution Study of 5,507 Patients in Korea

PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to compare the 7th and 8th editions of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging manuals on tumor, node, and metastasis (TNM) staging systems and to evaluate whether the 8th edition represents a better refinement of the 7th staging system, when applied for the classification of gastric cancers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 5,507 gastric cancer patients, who underwent treatment from January 1989 to December 2013 at a single institute, were included. We compared patient survival rates across the disease groups classified according to the 7th and 8th editions of the AJCC TNM staging systems. RESULTS: Stage migration was observed in 6.4% (n=355) of the patients. Of these, 3.5% (n=192) and 2.9% (n=158) of patients showed a higher stage and lower stage, respectively. According to the 8th edition of the AJCC TNM staging criteria, the 5-year overall survival rates of the patients with stage IIIB and IIIC showed a significant difference (40.8% vs. 20.2%, P<0.001) whereas no significant differences in the 5-year overall survival rates were observed according to the 7th edition criteria (37.6% vs. 33.2%, P=0.381). CONCLUSIONS: Restaging stage III cancers according to the 8th edition of the AJCC TNM classification criteria improved survival rate discrimination, particularly, in institutes where the stage III patients were not distinctly categorized.

Comparison Surgical Outcomes between Laparoscopic and Conventional Distal Gastrectomy for Early Gastric Cancer in Obese Patients

PURPOSE: In this study, we explored the safety of laparoscopic gastrectomy in obese gastric cancer patients compared with conventional open gastrectomy based on early surgical outcomes. METHODS: A total of 462 patients who underwent curative gastrectomy for early gastric adenocarcinoma from January 2000 to December 2014 were enrolled. Two obesity cohorts were defined according to a body mass index (BMI) of ≥25 kg/m² versus ≥30 kg/m². Those cohorts were further divided into the laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LDG) and open distal gastrectomy (ODG) groups, and clinicopathologic characteristics were compared with early surgical results. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in clinicopathologic characteristics between the LDG and ODG groups in the BMI ≥25 or BMI ≥30 cohorts. For the overall complication rate, fewer complications were observed in the LDG than ODG group in both cohorts. Among the overall complications, significant differences were observed in the minor complication rates (Clavien-Dindo I or II), but no significant difference was observed in the rate of Clavien-Dindo III or higher complications. For risk factor analysis of postoperative complications, open distal gastrectomy, age >60 years, and BMI ≥30 were independent risk factors for postoperative morbidity among all obese patients. CONCLUSION: LDG may be a better procedure to improve surgical outcomes in patients with obesity undergoing surgery for early gastric cancer in terms of less excessive blood loss, shorter operation time, and lower complication rates.

Outcomes of Non-Operative Treatment for Duodenal Stump Leakage after Gastrectomy in Patients with Gastric Cancer

PURPOSE: We evaluated the clinical outcomes of the non-operative management of post-gastrectomy duodenal stump leakage in patients with gastric cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1,230 patients underwent gastrectomy at our institution between 2010 and 2014. Duodenal stump leakage was diagnosed in 19 patients (1.5%), and these patients were included in this study. The management options varied with patient condition; patients were managed conservatively, with a pigtail catheter drain, or by tube duodenostomy via a Foley catheter. The patients' clinical outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: Duodenal stump leakage was diagnosed in all 19 patients within a median of 10 days (range, 1~20 days). The conservative group comprised of 5 patients (26.3%), the pigtail catheter group of 11 patients (57.9%), and the Foley catheter group of 3 patients (15.8%). All 3 management modalities were successful; none of the patients needed further operative intervention. The median hospital stay was 18, 33, and 42 days, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Non-operative management of duodenal stump leakage for selected groups of patients with gastric cancer was effective for control of intra-abdominal sepsis. This management modality can help obviate the need for surgical intervention.

Significant Differences in the Clinicopathological Characteristics and Survival of Gastric Cancer Patients from Two Cancer Centers in China and Korea

PURPOSE: To compare the clinicopathological data and long-term survival of gastric cancer patients in China and Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who had undergone gastrectomy for gastric cancer between 1998 and 2009 in 2 high-volume institutions in both China (n=1,637) and Korea (n=2,231) were retrospectively evaluated. Clinicopathological variables, overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and surgery-related complications were assessed for all patients and compared between the 2 institutions. RESULTS: Chinese patients included in the study were significantly older and had a significantly lower body mass index (BMI) than the Korean patients. Esophagogastric junction tumors were more frequent in Chinese patients. However, the number of patients with stage I gastric cancer, the number of harvested lymph nodes, and the number of total gastrectomies were significantly higher in the Korean population. Korean patients also presented with fewer undifferentiated tumors than Chinese patients. Furthermore, Korean patients had prolonged OS and PFS for stage III cancers only. BMI, tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, tumor invasion, number of positive lymph nodes, and distant metastases were all independent factors affecting OS and PFS. CONCLUSIONS: Although China and Korea are neighboring Asian countries, the clinicopathological characteristics of Chinese patients are significantly different from those of Korean patients. Korean gastric cancer patients had longer OS and PFS than Chinese patients. Influencing factors included TNM stage, tumor invasion, and lymph node metastasis.

A Comparison of Outcomes of Three Reconstruction Methods after Laparoscopic Distal Gastrectomy

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the short-term surgical and long-term functional outcomes of Billroth I, Billroth II, and Roux-en-Y reconstruction after laparoscopic distal gastrectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively collected data from 697 patients who underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for operable gastric cancer between January 2009 and December 2012. The patients were classified into three groups according to the reconstruction methods: Billroth I, Billroth II, and Roux-en-Y. The parameters evaluated included patient and tumor characteristics, operative details, and postoperative complications classified according to the Clavien-Dindo classification. Endoscopic findings of the remnant stomach were evaluated according to the residue, gastritis, bile (RGB) classification and the Los Angeles classification 1 year postoperatively. RESULTS: Billroth I, Billroth II, and Roux-en-Y were performed in 165 (23.7%), 371 (53.2%), and 161 patients (23.1%), respectively. Operation time was significantly shorter (173.4+/-44.7 minute, P<0.001) as was time to first flatus (2.8+/-0.8 days, P=0.009), time to first soft diet was significantly faster (4.3+/-1.0 days, P<0.001), and postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter (7.7+/-4.0 days, P=0.004) in Billroth I in comparison to the other methods. Postoperative complications higher than Clavien-Dindo grade III occurred in 61 patients (8.8%) with no statistically significant differences between groups (P=0.797). Endoscopic findings confirmed that gastric residue, gastritis, bile reflux, and reflux esophagitis were significantly lower in Roux-en-Y (P<0.001) patients. CONCLUSIONS: Roux-en-Y reconstruction after laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for middle-third gastric cancer is beneficial in terms of long-term functional outcome, whereas Billroth I reconstruction for distal-third gastric cancer has a superior short-term surgical outcome and postoperative weight change.

Laparoscopic gastric tube formation with pyloromyotomy for reconstruction in patients with esophageal cancer

PURPOSE: To analyze the benefit and feasibility of this procedure compared with those of open method. METHODS: Abdominal procedure includes laparoscopic gastric mobilization, celiac axis lymph node dissection, formation of the gastric tube, and pyloromyotomy. The actual procedure performed during open surgery is the same as those of laparoscopic surgery except for the main incision. Minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) was performed on 54 patients with esophageal cancer. The short-term outcomes, including postoperative complications were analyzed and compared with 44 cases of open method. RESULTS: Although the total operative time was not different between 2 groups (349.8 minutes vs. 374.8 minutes, P = 0.153), the operation time of abdominal procedure was shorter in laparoscopic group (90.6 minutes vs. 162.1 minutes, P < 0.001). Operation related complications and hospital stay were not significantly different between the 2 groups. The number of transfused patients was significantly smaller in laparoscopic group (11.1% vs. 27.9%, P = 0.030). CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic gastric tubing with pyloromyotomy is a feasible and safe treatment option for patients with esophageal cancer.

Gastric Metastasis from Ovarian Cancer Presenting as a Submucosal Tumor: A Case Report

Gastric metastasis from ovarian cancer is rarely reported worldwide. In Korea, only 2 such cases have been reported. Here we report a case of a 58-year-old woman with metastatic gastric cancer from an ovarian adenocarcinoma. Endoscopic examination showed that the cancer presented as a submucosal tumor without ulceration. A subsequent gastrectomy confirmed the diagnosis of metastatic ovarian serous adenocarcinoma.

Novel Laparoscopic Gastric Tubing with Pyloromyotomy for Treatment of Esophageal Cancer

PURPOSE: We report on a novel method and outcomes of laparoscopic gastric tubing with pyloromyotomy. METHODS: The abdominal procedure includes laparoscopic gastric mobilization, celiac axis lymph node dissection, formation of the gastric tube, and pyloromyotomy. Between January 2009 and April 2013, our minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) was performed on 54 patients with esophageal cancer. The short-term outcomes, including postoperative complications, were analyzed. RESULTS: There were no cases of conversion to open surgery. Of 54 patients, 52 patients had squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and two had adenocarcinoma. The total operative time was 349.8+/-77.4 minutes, of which 90.6+/-27.6 minutes was required for the abdominal procedure. The mean estimated operative blood loss during the abdominal procedure was 40.0+/-355.5 ml. The postoperative complication rate was 24.1%; three patients died of pneumonia. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic gastric tubing with pyloromyotomy is a feasible and safe treatm ent option for patients with esophageal cancer.

Low molecular-weight heparin for thromboprophylaxis in patients undergoing gastric cancer surgery: an experience from one Korean institute

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the efficacy for preventing venous thromboembolism (VTE) and adverse effects of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) in order to launch a prospective clinical trial in Korea. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 108 consecutive patients who underwent gastric cancer surgery. These patients were divided into 2 groups according to the type of thromboprophylaxis: group A, LMWH combined with intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC); group B, IPC alone. The postoperative outcomes of the two groups were compared. RESULTS: Symptomatic VTE was observed in only 1 patient (0.9%) from group B. Postoperative bleeding was more common in group A than in group B (10.9% vs. 7.5%), although the difference was not significant (P = 0.055). Most bleeding episodes were minor and managed conservatively without intervention. Only a high body mass index was associated with a significantly increased risk of postoperative bleeding (odds ratio, 1.45; 95% confidence interval, 1.12-2.43; P = 0.051). CONCLUSION: A 40 mg of enoxaparin sodium is a safe and feasible dose for prevention of VTE. With the results of this study, we are planning a prospective randomized clinical trial to investigate the clinical efficacy of LMWH thromboprophylaxis in gastric cancer patients in Korea.

At Which Stage of Gastric Cancer Progression Do Levels of Carcinoembryonic Antigen and Carbohydrate Antigen 19-9 Increase? Application in Advanced Gastric Cancer Treatment

PURPOSE: Since there are no proven tumor markers that reflect the course of gastric cancer, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) are commonly used alternatives. However, the degree of progression that corresponds to an increase in these markers, and the values of these markers at different cancer stages, remains unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study enrolled 1,733 gastric cancer patients who underwent surgery and whose pre-operative CEA and CA19-9 levels were known. Survival curves and mean values of the two markers were compared according to the degree of cancer progression: serosa-unexposed (SU), serosa-exposed (SE), direct invasion (DI), localized seeding (P1), and extensive seeding (P2). RESULTS: The 5-year overall survival rates at each stage differed significantly, except between DI and P1 patients (17.1% vs. 10.5%, P=0.344). The mean CEA values in SU, SE, DI, P1, and P2 patients were 5.80, 5.48, 13.36, 8.06, and 22.82, respectively. The CA19-9 values for these patients were 49.40, 38.97, 101.67, 73.77, and 98.57, respectively. The increase in CEA in P2 patients was statistically significant (P=0.002), and the increases in CA19-9 in DI and P2 patients were significant (P=0.025, 0.007, respectively). There was a fair correlation between the two markers in P2 patients (r=0.494, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: CA19-9 can be used to assess DI of gastric cancer into adjacent organs. Both markers are useful for predicting the presence of extensive peritoneal seeding.

The Impact of an Increased Application of Critical Pathway for Gastrectomy on the Length of Stay and Cost

PURPOSE: We developed a standardized critical pathway for gastric cancer surgery and then determined the increase of application, which resulted in an improvement in terms of measurable indices, such as hospital stay and cost. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A critical pathway was revised and used widely from the 2nd quarter of 2009. We collected clinical data, such as length of stay and complication rate, as clinical indices of quality prospectively. The total cost paid at the patient's discharge, as well as the daily hospital income, were calculated and compared by each quarter from January 2008 to December 2009. RESULTS: The application rate of critical pathway was 11.8% and 87.8% in 2008 and 2009, respectively. There were no perioperative deaths. There was no difference in the complication rates between 2008 and 2009 (P=0.45). However, the mean length of stay was significantly different between the 2 years (P<0.05). Although the total cost was not different, the daily hospital income was significantly higher in the latter year (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: An increase in the application of critical pathway for gastrectomy resulted in significant decreases in length of stay and increases in the daily hospital income without a compromise on the clinical indices.