Short-term prognostic value of tumor diameter in stage 2 and 3 gastric cancer

Objective: To investigate the prognostic value of tumor diameter in the short term of 3 and 5 years in patients operated for gastric cancer. Study Design: A descriptive study. Place and Duration of Study: Kartal Dr Lütfi Kırdar City Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey, from January 2014 to December 2018 Methodology: A total of 125 patients with stage 2 or 3 gastric cancer, followed up in the Department of General Surgery, were included. Demographic information, clinical, laboratory, and pathology reports were analysed in terms of postoperative 30-day mortality. Results: The mean age of the patients was 63.9±11.9 (31-88) years. Forty-four (35.2%) were in stage 2, and 81 (64.8%) were in stage 3 cancers. The mean tumor diameter was 6.5±3.1 cm, and the mean metastatic lymph node rate was 35.6±29.8%. The mean follow-up period was 31.8±21 months. The 3-year and 5-year survival rates were 39.8% and 17.6%, respectively. Tumor diameter was not directly related to survival, differentiation, number of resected lymph nodes, number of metastatic lymph nodes, and metastatic lymph node rate in stage 2 and 3 cases (p>0.05 for each). The 5-year mortality risk was 1.2-fold higher in those with tumor diameter over 6.5 cm (95% CI 0.7-2.0; p=536). Conclusion: The tumor size did not have a direct effect on prognosis. It did not provide reliable data about short-term prognosis such as 3 and 5 years in stage 2 and 3 gastric cancer cases. (author)