OBJECTIVETo clarify the clinicopathologic characteristics of micrometastasis in lymph nodes and microinvasion in primary lesion for the treatment options with regard to submucosal gastric cancer.

METHODS1945 lymph nodes and 68 primary tumors resected from 79 patients with submucosal gastric cancer were examined. Two consecutive sections were prepared for simultaneous staining with HE and immunostaining with anti-cytokeratin antibody (CAM 5.2), respectively.

RESULTSThe incidence of nodal involvement in 79 patients with submucosal gastric cancer was increased from 13% (10/79 patients) by HE staining to 34% (27/79 patients) by cytokeratin immunostaining. Micrometastasis in the lymph nodes were found in 17 of 69 patients (25%) with cancer-free nodes examined by HE staining. Microinvasion to the muscularis properia was found in 11 of 68 patients (16%) who were histologically diagnosed as submucosal gastric cancer. Survival analysis demonstrated a worse 5-year survival in the patients with micrometastasis in lymph nodes (82%) and with microinvasion to muscularis properia (73%). A higher incidence of nodal involvement was found in submucosal cancers of large size (> 2 cm; 43%), a depressed type (48%), lymphatic invasion (73%), and deeper submucosal invasion (submucosal 3; 53%). A higher incidence of microinvasion was found with the diffused-type carcinoma (33%).

CONCLUSIONSCytokeratin immunostaining is useful for detecting micrometastasis and microinvasion in submucosal gastric cancer. Tumor size, microscopic type, lymphatic invasion, and the depth of submucosal invasion are strongly associated with lymph node involvement. Micrometastasis in lymph nodes and microinvasion in primary lesion indicate an unfavorable outcome of the patients with submucosal gastric cancer.