Early gastric cancer: The importance of early diagnosis on prognosis of gastric carcinoma.

29 Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of early gastric cancer (EGC) in comparison to advanced tumors and its role in patient's prognosis. Methods: This study was related to 1,272 patients admitted with gastric or gastroesophageal junction carcinoma in our department, between January 1988 and December 2008. During this period the incidence of EGC was 12.68% (3.62% T0, 42.75% T1a and 53.62% T1b). Several clinical, pathological and staging parameters were evaluated according to classification in EGC and advanced tumors. Results: Significant differences were observed in location (p<0.001); type of resection surgery (p<0.001) and of lymphadenectomy (p=0.008 for Siewert and p<0.001 for Japanese classifications) with less radical surgery in EGC patients. This type of tumors presented characteristics associated with a better prognosis in the following pathological parameters: tumor dimensions (p<0.001), macroscopic form (p<0.001), Ming's classification (p<0.001), venous invasion (p<0.001) and lymphatic permeation (p<0.001). The 5-year survival rate of this series was 33.7%. There were significant differences in survival curves according to classification in EGC and advanced tumors (73% at 5 years and 26% at 5 years, respectively). Cox-regression analysis identified age, T and lymph node ratio as independent prognostic factors. There was no significant differences in age (cut-off 45 years), but there was significant differences in lymph node metastasis (p<0.001). In 23.87% of EGC there was lymph node involvement, with significant differences (p=0.002) according to the depth wall invasion [T0 (100% N0), T1a (91.5% N0, 8.5% N1), T1b (60.8% N0, 21.6% N1, 13.5% N2, 4.1% N3a)]. Conclusions: The EGC percentage in our series was lower in comparison with other countries with high incidence of gastric cancer. The prognosis of the patients with gastric carcinoma continues to be gloomy mainly due to the late diagnosis and, given that the surgical treatment doesn't seem plausible of achieving a margin of significant additional progression, the need for an early diagnosis emerges if an improvement in patient survival is desired. No significant financial relationships to disclose.