OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of different modes of lymphadenectomies in the surgical treatment for early gastric cancer (EGC) in order to provide evidence for reasonable selection of lymphadenectomy for the ECG.

METHODSThe clinicopathological data of 325 EGC patients were reviewed. The lymph node metastasis (LNM) rate of different levels and the efficiency of different modes of lymphadenectomies were analyzed, and the correlation between LNM and clinicopathological features were analyzed either.

RESULTSThe overall LNM rate in the EGC was 14.8%, and the overall LNM degree was 3.0%. In the ECG located in the lower third of the stomach, the rate of first level nodal involvement was 14.5%, which was detected in the No. 3, No. 4, No. 5, No. 6 station of draining lymph nodes for the stomach; and it was 6.9% in the second level lymph nodes which were seen in the No.7 and No. 8a station. There was rare metastasis in the No. 1, No. 9, No. 11p, No. 12a and No. 14v station. In the ECG located in the middle third of the stomach, the rate of first level nodal involvement was 13.8% , which was found in the No. 1, No. 3, No. 5 and No. 6 station, and it was 6.9% in the second level nodes only seen in the No. 7 and No. 8a station. The LNM rate was significantly higher in the lesion larger than 3.0 cm in diameter, or having submucosa invasion, or being poorly differentiated, or with lymphatic involvement than that of the lesion smaller than 3.0 cm in diameter, without mucosa invasion or lymphatic involvement, or being well differentiated (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONBased on our data, it is suggested that the D1 or D1 + lymphadenectomy of the No. 7 station of lymph node may be suitable for the lesion smaller than 1.0 cm in diameter or only located in the mucosa; the D1 + lymphadenectomy of the No. 7 and No. 8a station of lymph nodes may be suitable for the lesion larger than 1.0 cm in diameter, or being depressed type or with submucosa invasion in the middle and/or lower third of the stomach. For the lesion larger than 3.0 cm in diameter, the No. 1 and No. 9 station lymph node should be dissected. It is also suggested that regular D2/ D3 lymphadenectomy should be avoided in the surgical treatment for the early gastric cancer whenever the tumor situation is suitable.