[Lymphadenectomy: indications--technic--invasion--documentation]

From July 1st, 1982 until December 31st, 1986 359 patients were operated on carcinoma of the stomach. On an average 27.1 +/- 7.2 lymphnodes were removed and of these 9.8 +/- 6.1 lymphnodes were positive. The number of lymphnodes may be increased up to 42.2 +/- 8.8 by extended gastrectomy + splenectomy + left resection of the pancreas, that means by clearing out compartment III. It seems that radical lymphadenectomy of compartment I and II improves prognosis for stage N 1 by adjusting the median survival time to stage N 0.