OBJECTIVETo explore the patterns, intervals, risk factors of recurrent gastric cancer and provide evidences for predicting and prevention of recurrence after curative gastrectomy.

METHODSForty-eight patients with recurrent gastric cancer after curative gastrectomy for gastric cancer who were operated on in our department from August 1994 to August 1999 were enrolled in this study. Their recurrent patterns, intervals and clinicopathologic characters of primary tumors were analyzed retrospectively and compared with 48 cases without recurrence, who were treated homeochronously and chosen randomly. Risk factors correlated with tumor recurrence and recurrent intervals were studied by univariate and multivariate analysis.

RESULTSUnivariate analysis showed that patients with metastases node in pelvic cavity, cancer invasion to serosa or more, Borrmann III or IV types were more occurred in recurrent group (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed the depth of cancer invasion and Borrmann types were independently correlated with tumor recurrence after curative gastrectomy. COX regression analysis showed ascites and depth of cancer invasion were parameters dominating recurrent interval.

CONCLUSIONSBorrmann type is a risk factor of gastric cancer recurrence, while ascites is a parameter dominating recurrent interval, and the depth of cancer invasion is both risk factor of gastric cancer recurrence and parameter dominating recurrent interval.