OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinicopathologic features of the patients with node-negative metastasis (pN0) gastric carcinoma confirmed by routine pathologic examination (Ha&E staining),and their relationship with survival.

METHODSThe clinico-pathologic data of 87 pN0 gastric carcinoma patients were analyzed retrospectively. Kaplan-Meier (Log-rank) method was used to compare the survival rate,and Cox regression method was used to screen the independent prognosis factors for pN0 gastric cancer.

RESULTSThere were 69 males and 18 females. D(2) lymphadenectomy was performed in 75 (86.2%), and D(3) in 13 cases (13.8%). Distal gastrectomy was performed in 59 (67.8%), total gastrectomy in 24 (27.6%) and proximal gastrectomy in l4 cases (4.6%). Twenty-three (26.4%) cases received postoperative chemotherapy and 64 (73.6% ) did not. The 5-year survival rate of the 87 pN0 gastric carcinoma patients was 56.5%. There were no differences in survival rate considering age, tumor location, gastrectomy, lymph nodes dissection, differentiation grade, and tumor-stroma relationship (P > 0.05), while the differences were significant in survival rate between the patients with postoperative chemotherapy,lymphatic invasion,venous invasion or not,and different pT staging (all Pa< 0.05). The Cox regression analysis revealed that pT staging and postoperative chemotherapy were independent prognostic factors.

CONCLUSIONpT staging and postoperative chemotherapy are independent prognostic factors. It is necessary to develop a precise staging technique to select a suitable surgical therapy or confirm which patients should accept postoperative chemotherapy in pN0 gastric carcinoma patients.