Risk factors for lymph node metastasis in mucosal gastric cancer and re-evaluation of endoscopic submucosal dissection

Purpose The selection of the appropriate treatment strategy for patients with mucosal gastric cancer (MGC) remains controversial. In the present study, we aimed to determine the risk factors for lymph node (LN) metastasis in MGC and reassess the role of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). Methods We examined 1,191 MGC patients who underwent curative gastrectomy between January 2005 and December 2014. We determined the clinicopathologic risk factors for LN metastasis among the MGC patients. Results Among 1,191 patients with MGC, 42 patients (3.5%) had LN metastasis. Univariate analysis indicated that age ≤ 50 years (P = 0.045), tumor invasion to the muscularis mucosa (P < 0.001), tumor size > 2 cm (P = 0.014), presence of ulceration (P = 0.01), diffuse type as per Lauren classification (P = 0.005), and undifferentiated-type histology (P = 0.001) were associated with LN metastasis. Moreover, multivariate analysis indicated that tumor invasion to the muscularis mucosa (P = 0.001; odds ratio [OR], 4.909), presence of ulceration (P = 0.036; OR, 1.982), and undifferentiated-type histology (P = 0.025; OR, 4.233) were independent risk factors for LN metastasis. In particular, LN metastasis was observed in some MGC cases with indications for ESD, including absolute indications (1 of 179, 0.6%) and expanded indications (9 of 493, 1.8%). Conclusion Although MGC patients can be treated via ESD, we recommend that they undergo a more aggressive treatment strategy if they have tumor invasion to the muscularis mucosa, ulceration, or undifferentiated-type histology in the final pathology report.