ObjectiveTo explore the feasibility and clinical efficacy of laparoscopic sentinel lymph node biopsy combined with endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD) for patients with early gastric cancer(EGC).
MethodsThe clinical data of 26 cases who received ESD combined with laparoscopic sentinel lymph node biopsy for EGC between March 2009 to August 2013 in Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University were analyzed retrospectively. These patients first underwent laparoscopic sentinel lymph node(SLN) biopsy. If frozen sectioning examination suggested there was lymph node metastasis, laparoscopic D2 radical gastrectomy would be operated. However, the ESD would be operated if the frozen sectioning examination was negative.
ResultsThe total numbers of SLN were 95, and mean numbers of SLN were 3.7±1.4(range from 1 to 6). Two patients with positive SLN underwent laparoscopic-assisted distal gastrectomy and 24 patients with negative SLN underwent ESD. The disease free survival(DFS) and local recurrence rate after ESD for EGC was 91.7%(22/24) and 4.2%(1/24), respectively. And the total DFS for all patients was 96.2% (25/26).
ConclusionESD for EGC is a safe and feasible procedure, combined with laparoscopic sentinel lymph node biopsy conforms more to the concept of principle of radical operation.
