CT findings of lymph-node metastasis of gastric cancer

It is important to analyze lymph-node metastasis in order to select the best operative procedure prior to surgical intervention. A retrospective study of 59 patients with advanced gastric cancer operated on at the Cancer Institute Hospital from February 1988 to June 1989 was performed to compare the CT findings of lymph-node metastasis with the pathologic reports. CT images were obtained with a 900s TOSHIBA following routine administration of contrast medium (0.5 ml/sec, 100∼120 ml iv). CT scans were taken at a 1 cm slice thickness and 1 cm intervals, and the region of the stomach was magnified. The lymph-node metastasis of gastric cancer appeared as follows: (1) round or fat (size>15 mm), (2) moth-eaten, packet-formed, high density in periphery, low density in center, relatively high density, and mottled. CT examination has high diagnostic ability for lymph-node groups 'minor curvature' and 'paraaorta'. (author)