Preoperative staging of nodal status in gastric cancer

Abstract

An accurate preoperative staging of nodal status is crucial in gastric cancer, because it has a great impact on prognosis and therapeutic decision-making. Different staging methods have been evaluated for gastric cancer in order to predict nodal involvement. So far, no technique could meet the necessary requirements, which include a high detection rate of infiltrated lymph nodes and a low frequency of false-positive results. This article summarizes different staging methods used to assess lymph node status in patients with gastric cancer, evaluates the evidence, and proposes to establish new methods.

Keywords: Gastric cancer; nodal status; preoperative staging.

Figure 1

Detection of gastric cancer in the greater curvature with suspicious lymph nodes present at the lesser curvature by computed tomography (CT).

Figure 2

Gastric cancer and lymph node detection by endoscopic ultrasound (EUS).

Figure 3

Detection of gastric cancer with regional lymph node involvement and liver metastasis by fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose-positron emission tomography computed tomography (FDG-PET CT).