OBJECTIVETo examine the relationship of biologic behavior and prognosis in patients with gastric carcinoid.

METHODSA total of 26 gastric carcinoid patients proven by pathology from Jan. 1964 to Jan. 2005 were enrolled. All the patients survived after operations. Tumor size, invasion depth, regional lymph node metastasis, liver metastasis, adjuvant chemotherapy and 5-year survival were analyzed retrospectively. A univariate analysis of survival rate with respect to gastric wall infiltration, regional lymph node metastasis, liver metastasis, and adjuvant chemotherapy were accomplished by Kaplan-Meier estimation method. The Log-rank test was used to evaluate the level of significance.

RESULTSThe average age of 26 patients was 58 years. Infiltration beyond the serosa occurred in 18 patients (69.2%), and regional lymph node metastases in 12 patients (46.2%). During the follow-up period, liver metastases occurred in 14 patients (53.8%). Tumor size was not associated with gastric serosa invasion, regional lymph node metastasis, liver metastasis and 5-year survival (P>0.05). Analysis of cumulative survival showed different survival time depending on gastric serosa invasion, regional lymph node metastasis and liver metastasis. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). In patients with gastric serosa invasion, regional lymph node metastasis and liver metastasis, estimated 5-year cumulative survivals were 16.7%, 16.7% and 0 respectively. Their prognosis was poor. Adjuvant chemotherapy was administrated in 10 patients (38.5%) and was not beneficial to prolong the survival time and increase the 5-year survival rate. The difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSurgical resection is the major strategy for the treatment of gastric carcinoid, and adjuvant chemotherapy is not proved to produce obvious effects. The prognosis of gastric carcinoid depends on the tumor infiltration of gastric wall, regional metastasis and liver metastasis.