[Angiographic evaluation of lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer]

Areas of lymph distribution and groups of lymph nodes of the stomach are related to the areas of blood vessel distribution. Angiography is one of the methods to diagnose gastroserous disorders. Out of 164 metastatic lymph nodes in 50 cases of (n+) gastric cancer, the metastasis was recognized macroscopically and histologically in 111 lymph nodes (N. group), and histological metastasis findings was recognized in 53 cases (n group). Mapping of gastric lymph nodes and surrounding blood vessels was performed and preoperative angiograms were evaluated retrospectively in view of the positive lymph nodes. The positive diagnostic ratio of all lymph nodes was expressed as a percent for all metastatic lymph nodes and individual metastatic nodes were evaluated in terms of group, n-number, tumor location, depth of invasion, histologic type of the primary lesion, invasion to intra-serous wall lymph nodes and etc. Conventional diagnosis of the metastatic lymph nodes was made based on the compression and rigidity of the vessels in the angiogram with little correlation with other angiographical findings. In the present study, however, the correlation was clarified and positive lymph node metastasis could be proved by angiogram prior to surgery with considerable accuracy.