Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was designed to investigate the correlation between the clinicopathologic characteristics and the recurrence pattern of gastric cancer and to define survival difference according to treatment modality after diagnosis of recurrence.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 4184 patients who had undergone radical surgery for primary gastric cancer from 1986 through 1996. Clinicopathologic factors were analyzed for the relationship of each factor with the pattern of recurrence. And the survival after diagnosis of recurrence was compared among the treatment modalities.
RESULTS
Recurrence pattern was confirmed in 1141 patients. Loco-regional recurrence occurred in 291 patients (20.1%), peritoneal recurrence in 383 (26.5%), distant recurrence in 290 (20.1%), and mixed recurrence in 177 (12.3%), respectively. Early recurrence (less than 2 years) occurred in 767 (69.3%), intermediate recurrence (2~5 years) in 286 (25.8%), and late recurrence (more than 5 years) in 54 (4.9%). In multivariate analysis, T stage, N stage, size of tumor and perineural invasion were independent prognostic factors for recurrence. Median survival from diagnosis of recurrence was 24.2 months in the curative operation group, 7.7 months in the chemotherapy group, 7.1 months in the non-curative operation group and 3.3 months in the conservative treatment group, respectively (p=0.000).
CONCLUSION
The clinicopathological analysis of recurrent gastric cancer showed recurrent patterns and prognostic factors. Curative resection is suggested to have survival benefit in recurrent gastric cancer patients, although it was possible in patients with limited extent of disease.

• Keywords: Stomach neoplasm;Recurrence;Recurrence pattern;Survival