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Published in: Surgery Today 10/2018

01-10-2018 | Original Article

Lymph nodes around the posterior gastric artery: their existence, frequency, and clinical implications

Authors: Kentaro Ishii, Masaharu Ishida, Norihiko Sugisawa, Megumi Murakami, Tomoyuki Ono, Tomoyoshi Tachibana, Hirofumi Imoto, Takeshi Aoki, Katsuyoshi Kudoh, Shinobu Ohnuma, Naoaki Sakata, Hiroaki Musha, Takanori Morikawa, Fuyuhiko Motoi, Takashi Kamei, Takeshi Naitoh, Michiaki Unno

Published in: Surgery Today | Issue 10/2018

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Abstract

Purpose

The lymphatic flow along the posterior gastric artery (PGA) is considered of possible clinical importance in terms of lymphatic metastasis; however, little is known about the lymph nodes (LNs) around this artery. The purpose of this study was to establish if LNs exist around the PGA and to evaluate their clinical implications.

Methods

We examined the tissues surrounding the PGA from 21 cadavers to search for LNs. We also investigated the patterns of lymphatic metastases in patients who underwent surgery for gastric neoplasms at our institute to detect their presence along the PGA.

Results

The PGA was identified in 11 cadavers, and LNs around the PGA were detected microscopically in 2 of these. Lymphatic metastasis directly to the LNs at the splenic artery without any metastases was regarded as skip metastasis along the PGA. Skip metastasis was found in two of ten patients who underwent surgery for remnant gastric cancer.

Conclusions

The existence of LNs around the PGA was confirmed, and based on our findings, lymphatic metastasis through the PGA is possible in patients with remnant gastric cancer.
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Metadata
Title
Lymph nodes around the posterior gastric artery: their existence, frequency, and clinical implications
Authors
Kentaro Ishii
Masaharu Ishida
Norihiko Sugisawa
Megumi Murakami
Tomoyuki Ono
Tomoyoshi Tachibana
Hirofumi Imoto
Takeshi Aoki
Katsuyoshi Kudoh
Shinobu Ohnuma
Naoaki Sakata
Hiroaki Musha
Takanori Morikawa
Fuyuhiko Motoi
Takashi Kamei
Takeshi Naitoh
Michiaki Unno
Publication date
01-10-2018
Publisher
Springer Singapore
Published in
Surgery Today / Issue 10/2018
Print ISSN: 0941-1291
Electronic ISSN: 1436-2813
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00595-018-1677-0

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