Characteristics and prognosis of skip lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer: a retrospective study

Abstract Background Lymph node dissection is a standardized procedure in gastric cancer surgery. Typically, lymph node metastasis begins in the perigastric (PG) region and then extends to the extraperigastric (EP) region. However, in some circumstances, skip lymph node metastasis occurs in the EP re...

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Main Authors: Kuang-Hua Lo, Kuo-Hung Huang, Wen-Liang Fang, Shih-Chieh Lin, Yi-Ping Hung, Ming-Huang Chen, Chew-Wen Wu, Ching-Yun Kung
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:World Journal of Surgical Oncology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12957-025-03951-7
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author Kuang-Hua Lo
Kuo-Hung Huang
Wen-Liang Fang
Shih-Chieh Lin
Yi-Ping Hung
Ming-Huang Chen
Chew-Wen Wu
Ching-Yun Kung
author_facet Kuang-Hua Lo
Kuo-Hung Huang
Wen-Liang Fang
Shih-Chieh Lin
Yi-Ping Hung
Ming-Huang Chen
Chew-Wen Wu
Ching-Yun Kung
author_sort Kuang-Hua Lo
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Lymph node dissection is a standardized procedure in gastric cancer surgery. Typically, lymph node metastasis begins in the perigastric (PG) region and then extends to the extraperigastric (EP) region. However, in some circumstances, skip lymph node metastasis occurs in the EP region without involvement of the PG lymph nodes. This study aims to investigate the clinical significance of skip lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer. Methods A total of 1,055 patients who underwent curative gastrectomy for primary gastric cancer with pathological lymph node metastasis were analyzed. Patients were categorized into three groups: the PG-only group, the PG + EP group, and the skip group. The clinicopathologic characteristics and prognosis were analyzed. Results The incidence of skip lymph node metastasis was 3.9% (41 of 1,055 patients). The skip group had a higher proportion of females compared to both the PG-only group (43.9% vs. 27.5%, p = 0.025) and the PG + EP group (43.9% vs. 26.5%, p = 0.017). Additionally, the skip group showed a higher proportion of intestinal-type tumors compared to the PG-only group (68.3% vs. 50.6%, p = 0.029) and the PG + EP group (68.3% vs. 40.2%, p = 0.001). Disease-free survival and overall survival in the skip group were similar to those in the PG-only group but significantly better than those in the PG + EP group. Conclusions Skip lymph node metastasis is uncommon, and it is associated with a higher proportion of females and intestinal-type tumors. The prognosis of the skip group was comparable to the PG-only group and significantly better than that of the PG + EP group.
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spelling doaj-art-e73386b5fc3c4d36b4d44a9eb1ca71a12025-08-20T03:46:09ZengBMCWorld Journal of Surgical Oncology1477-78192025-07-0123111210.1186/s12957-025-03951-7Characteristics and prognosis of skip lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer: a retrospective studyKuang-Hua Lo0Kuo-Hung Huang1Wen-Liang Fang2Shih-Chieh Lin3Yi-Ping Hung4Ming-Huang Chen5Chew-Wen Wu6Ching-Yun Kung7Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Taipei Veterans General HospitalDivision of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Taipei Veterans General HospitalDivision of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Taipei Veterans General HospitalSchool of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversitySchool of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversitySchool of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversityDivision of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Taipei Veterans General HospitalDivision of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Taipei Veterans General HospitalAbstract Background Lymph node dissection is a standardized procedure in gastric cancer surgery. Typically, lymph node metastasis begins in the perigastric (PG) region and then extends to the extraperigastric (EP) region. However, in some circumstances, skip lymph node metastasis occurs in the EP region without involvement of the PG lymph nodes. This study aims to investigate the clinical significance of skip lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer. Methods A total of 1,055 patients who underwent curative gastrectomy for primary gastric cancer with pathological lymph node metastasis were analyzed. Patients were categorized into three groups: the PG-only group, the PG + EP group, and the skip group. The clinicopathologic characteristics and prognosis were analyzed. Results The incidence of skip lymph node metastasis was 3.9% (41 of 1,055 patients). The skip group had a higher proportion of females compared to both the PG-only group (43.9% vs. 27.5%, p = 0.025) and the PG + EP group (43.9% vs. 26.5%, p = 0.017). Additionally, the skip group showed a higher proportion of intestinal-type tumors compared to the PG-only group (68.3% vs. 50.6%, p = 0.029) and the PG + EP group (68.3% vs. 40.2%, p = 0.001). Disease-free survival and overall survival in the skip group were similar to those in the PG-only group but significantly better than those in the PG + EP group. Conclusions Skip lymph node metastasis is uncommon, and it is associated with a higher proportion of females and intestinal-type tumors. The prognosis of the skip group was comparable to the PG-only group and significantly better than that of the PG + EP group.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12957-025-03951-7Gastric cancerSkip metastasisLymph node metastasis
spellingShingle Kuang-Hua Lo
Kuo-Hung Huang
Wen-Liang Fang
Shih-Chieh Lin
Yi-Ping Hung
Ming-Huang Chen
Chew-Wen Wu
Ching-Yun Kung
Characteristics and prognosis of skip lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer: a retrospective study
World Journal of Surgical Oncology
Gastric cancer
Skip metastasis
Lymph node metastasis
title Characteristics and prognosis of skip lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer: a retrospective study
title_full Characteristics and prognosis of skip lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer: a retrospective study
title_fullStr Characteristics and prognosis of skip lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer: a retrospective study
title_full_unstemmed Characteristics and prognosis of skip lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer: a retrospective study
title_short Characteristics and prognosis of skip lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer: a retrospective study
title_sort characteristics and prognosis of skip lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer a retrospective study
topic Gastric cancer
Skip metastasis
Lymph node metastasis
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12957-025-03951-7
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