Detection of lymph nodes micrometastasis and its clinical significance in gastric cardia adenocarcinoma

Objective To investigate the micrometastasis characteristics for gastric cardia adenocarcinoma(GCA) patients with negative lymph node by routine pathological examination and evaluate relationship between micrometastasis and clinicopathological features.Methods 323 lymph nodes from 48 GCA patients with negative lymph node by routine pathological examination were examined immunohistochemically for the lymph nodes micrometastasis with anti-CK19 and anti-CD44v6 monoclonal anti-body.Clinicopathological data were analyzed by statistical method.Results Micrometastasis was found in 14 lymph nodes(4.33%) from 9 cases(18.75%).The micrometastasis in lymph node was correlated with the Lauren classification(P0.05),but not correlated with age,sex,tumor size,depth of invasion and differentiation(P0.05).In 45 patients followed up,The 3-,5-year survival rates were significantly lower in micrometastasis group than in non-micrometastasis(P0.01).Conclusions Micrometas tasis is common in lymph node in GCA patients without pathological report of lymphnode metastasis.Detecting of micrometastasis in lymph node is helpful for prognosis judgement of GCA patients.