Evaluation of Optimal Lymph Node Dissection in Remnant Gastric Cancer Based on Initial Distal Gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The purpose of this study was to reveal the optimal lymph node (LN) dissection in remnant gastric cancer (RGC) patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 46 RGC patients divided into two groups: patients who underwent initial gastrectomy for benign (group B) and malignant (group M) diseases.

RESULTS: Metastasis was more frequently observed at the left (nos. 2, 4sa, 4sb, 10, and 11p/d) and right (nos. 1, 3, 4d, 7, 8a, and 12a) side LNs of RGC in groups M and B. Modified IEBLD scores (frequency of LN metastasis by median survival time of patients with metastatic LNs) were high at station nos. 10 (4.7), 11p/d (4.3/9.9), and 16 (4.3) in group M and nos. 1 (2.1), 7 (1.9) and mesojejunal (3.0) in group B.

CONCLUSION: After lymphadenectomy for initial gastric cancer, lymphatic flow toward the splenic artery was predominant. Therefore, splenectomy with para-aortic LN dissection is an option.