Function-preserving gastrectomy based on the sentinel node concept prevents osteosarcopenia in patients with gastric cancer.

Background: Gastric cancer remains a significant global challenge, with conventional surgery for early gastric cancer often leading to post-gastrectomy complications. Sentinel node navigation surgery is being developed to preserve quality of life without compromising radicality. Although osteosarcopenia is linked to gastrointestinal cancers and prognosis, its impact on bone and muscle mass after function-preserving surgery for gastric cancer remains underexplored.

Methods: We analyzed the data of patients diagnosed with early gastric cancer and not eligible for endoscopic treatments, who underwent either distal gastrectomy or sentinel node navigation surgery at our hospital between 2010 and 2020. Skeletal muscle index and bone mineral density were measured preoperatively and 1, 3, and 5 years, postoperatively; rates of changes in these measures were assessed.

Results: Among the 63 patients included, 42 (67%) underwent conventional surgery, and 21 (33%) underwent function-preserving gastrectomy using the sentinel node technique. No significant difference in postoperative survival rates was observed between the two groups (P = 0.97). The rate of change in the skeletal muscle index and bone mineral density decreased in both groups from 1 to 3 years postoperatively. At 5 years postoperatively, the sentinel node navigation surgery group showed an increase in skeletal muscle index and bone mineral density change rates, the difference observed between the two groups was significant (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Sentinel node navigation surgery for early gastric cancer may help prevent decreases in bone and muscle mass. This suggests that its use has a potential role in preventing osteosarcopenia.