Prognosis of T4 gastric carcinoma patients: An appraisal of aggressive surgical treatment

Background and Objectives: Despite precipitous drop in the incidence of gastric carcinoma in Japan, it is still one of the leading causes of death associated with malignant disease. Once the contiguous organs ale involved the prognosis becomes dismal. Prognostic factors governing the survival of patients with T4 gastric carcinoma remain unclear. Methods: Between 1980 and 1998, 150 patients were treated for T4 gastric carcinoma. Results and prognostic factors were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: With a 73% respectability, patients with tumor resection had a significantly (P < 0.0001) improved survival rate. Within an acceptable operative mortality (2.6%) apparently curative cases had survival benefit (P < 0.0001) over noncurative cases. In the multivariate analysis, the death risk increased by 2.18 (relative risk) when splenectomy was spared from the operative procedure (P < 0.0071). Presence of esophageal invasion was the other independent prognostic factor in T-l gastric carcinoma patients (relative risk 2.11). Conventional prognostic factors along with the type of organs invaded by the carcinoma had no impact on prognosis. Conclusions: Patients with T4 gastric carcinoma might be benefited from aggressive surgery with a curative intent. Whenever possible, splenectomy should be done along with invaded organ resection. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.