[Selection of radical operative modalities for proximal gastric cancer]

To evaluate the rationality of different radical operative modalities for proximal gastric cancer.

A total of 366 cases of proximal gastric cancer undergoing radical dissection were screened from data base. According to the operative modalities, they were divided into proximal gastrectomy group (PG) (n = 77) and total gastrectomy group (TG) (n = 289). Through the comparisons of clinical pathologic features, surgical profiles, postoperative complications, postoperative quality-of-life and prognosis in two groups, the rationality of different operative modalities was evaluated.

No significant differences existed in age, gender or carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) value between two groups (all P > 0.05). The rates of tumor diameter ≥ 5 cm, organic infiltration, lymph nodes metastasis, distal organs metastasis, infiltrative type, poorly differentiated tumor in PG and TG groups were 15.6% (12/77) vs 49.8% (144/289), 16.9% (13/77) vs 37.7% (109/289), 67.5% (52/77) vs 79.9% (231/289), 3.9% (3/77) vs 11.4% (33/289), 45.5% (35/77) vs 68.9% (199/289), 32.5% (25/77) vs 57.8% (167/289) respectively (all P < 0.05). Operative duration, volume of blood transfusion, number of dissected lymph nodes and positive lymph nodes, rate of combined organic resection and complications in groups of PG and TG were (256 ± 83) vs (298 ± 86)min, 0 vs 400 ml, 15 ± 12 vs 26 ± 15, 0 vs 3, 15.6% (12/77) vs 43.2% (125/289), 14.3% (11/77) vs 7.6% (22/289) respectively (all P < 0.05). In two groups, the evaluating indices of postoperative quality-of-life showed no significant differences (P > 0.05). In two groups, the median survival time of the cases with tumor diameter < 5 cm, no-organic infiltration, no-peri-tumor lymph nodes metastasis, no-distal organic metastasis had no significant difference (all P > 0.05). However, in groups of PG and TG, the median survival time of the cases with tumor diameter ≥ 5 cm, organic infiltration, peri-tumor lymph nodes metastasis and distal organic metastasis was 15.0 months vs 29.0 months, 15.0 months vs 30.0 months, 34.0 months vs 45.0 months, 4.0 months vs 18.0 months respectively(all P < 0.05).

As compared with radical proximal gastrectomy, radical total gastrectomy improves significantly the prognosis of patients of proximal gastric cancer with organic infiltration, peri-tumor lymph nodes metastasis, distal organic metastasis and tumor diameter ≥ 5 cm.