Benign regional lymph nodes in gastric cancer on multidetector row CT

• Published in: Acta radiologica (1987) 2012-06, Vol.53 (5), p.501-507
• Main Authors: Park, Hee Sun, Kim, Young Jun, Ko, Su Yeon, Yoo, Moon-Won, Lee, Kyung Yung, Jung, Sung-Il, Jeon, Hae Jeong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Contrast Media; Female; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Lymph Nodes - diagnostic imaging; Lymphatic Metastasis - diagnostic imaging; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Staging; Radiotherapy. Instrumental treatment. Physiotherapy. Reeducation. Rehabilitation, orthophony, crenotherapy. Diet therapy and various other treatments (general aspects); Retrospective Studies; Stomach Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Stomach Neoplasms - pathology; Stomach Neoplasms - surgery; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; Tomography, X-Ray Computed - methods; Tumors
• ISSN: 0284-1851; 1600-0455
• DOI: 10.1258/ar.2012.120054

Background Benign regional lymph nodes (LNs) are sometimes enlarged in gastric cancer patients due to reactive or inflammatory changes. Frequently these enlarged LNs can mimic LN metastasis and lead to overstaging. Purpose To assess frequency of benign regional LNs in gastric cancer patients compared with that in a healthy population and to assess the frequency of benign regional LNs in gastric cancer according to T-staging. Material and Methods Between August 2005 and June 2009, 177 patients with surgically proven gastric cancer without LN metastasis (TanyN0M0) who had previously undergone preoperative multidetector row CT (MDCT) and 168 healthy patients who visited the healthcare center and underwent an abdominal MDCT were included in this retrospective study. An abdominal radiologist evaluated the distribution of regional LNs and measured the short diameter of LNs ≥6 mm, ≥8 mm, and ≥10 mm. The number of enlarged benign LNs was compared between the two groups, and the distribution of LN with regard to T-stage of gastric cancer was also evaluated. Results At least one LN ≥6 mm, ≥8 mm, and ≥10 mm was detected in 64.4% (114/177), 22.0% (39/177), and 4.0% (7/177) of patients in the gastric cancer group, respectively, compared to 29.8% (50/168), 4.2% (7/168), and 0% of patients in the healthy group, respectively. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P