11 Background: Standard D2 lymph node (LN) dissection for proximal gastric carcinoma includes removing splenic hilar LNs. However, patients with splenic hilar LN metastasis often show a poor prognosis even after curative surgery. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic impact of splenic hilar LN metastasis in proximal gastric carcinoma. Methods: We reviewed prospectively constructed data of 665 patients who underwent total gastrectomy with D2 LN dissection for proximal gastric carcinoma. Clinicopathological features and survivals were compared between patients with and without splenic hilar LN metastasis. The prognostic value of splenic hilar LN metastasis was examined using a multivariate Cox prognostic model. Results: Of 665 patients, 63 (9.5%) with stage III or IV disease had splenic hilar LN metastasis. Splenic hilar LN metastasis was associated with a larger tumor size, B4 gross type, undifferentiated histology, and lymphovascular invasion. The 5-year survival of patients with splenic hilar LN metastasis was significantly worse at each tumor stage (stage III = 45% vs. 66%, p = 0.044, stage IV = 12% vs. 32%, p = 0.017). The 5-year survival of patients with splenic hilar LN metastasis did not significantly differ from that of the distant metastasis group (26% vs. 31%, p = 0.484). Multivariate analysis revealed that splenic hilar LN metastasis is an independent poor prognostic factor when adjusting for tumor node metastasis stage and other prognostic factors. Conclusions: Patients with splenic hilar LN metastasis show a poor prognosis after surgery. More intensive adjuvant treatment and postoperative surveillance will be required for patients with splenic hilar LN metastasis.
Differential Diagnosis between Bone Metastasis and Osteomalacia to the Patient Undergone Total Gastrectomy for Gastric Carcinoma