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Background: Microsatellite instability (MSI) gastric cancer (GC) generally has a better prognosis than microsatellite-stable (MSS) GC and has been associated with nonsurvival benefit with the addition of chemotherapy (CMT) compared with surgery alone. However, patients with MSI have distinct clinicopathological characteristics. This study aimed to compare the survival outcomes between patients with MSI GC and those with MSS GC. In addition, this study analyzed the survival outcomes of patients with MSI GC who received CMT., Methods: This study reviewed all patients with GC who underwent curative gastrectomy. Patients were divided into MSI group and the MSS group. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to match clinicopathological factors., Results: Among the 378 patients enrolled, 78 (20.6%) had MSI. Older age (P < .001), subtotal gastrectomy (P = .008), pN0 (P = .020), and earlier pTNM stage (P = .012) were associated with MSI GC. Survival analysis showed better disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) of patients in the MSI group (P = .012 and P = .019, respectively). After PSM, 78 patients were matched to each group. All variables assigned to the scores were well matched, and both groups became equivalent. After the matching, the differences in DFS and OS according to MSI/MSS status were estimated to be larger than before (DFS: 63.3% vs 41.4%; P = .002; OS: 65.8% vs 42.5%; P = .002). Regarding patients referred for CMT, there was no difference in DFS and OS between patients with MSI GC who underwent CMT and those who underwent surgery alone (P = .255 and P = .178, respectively)., Conclusion: Even after controlling for clinicopathological characteristics, MSI was identified as a prognostic factor for patient survival. MSI GC showed no significant survival benefit with the addition of CMT., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Gastric cancer surgery has evolved considerably over the past years, with substantial improvement on outcomes. Meanwhile, esophagojejunal anastomotic fistula (EJF) continues to impair postoperative results. This study aimed to assess EJF regarding its incidence, risk factors, management and the impact on overall survival. We retrospectively analyzed 258 consecutive patients who underwent total or completion gastrectomy for GC from 2009 and 2017. Clinicopathological characteristics analysis was performed comparing patients who developed EJF with patients with other clinical or surgical complications, as well as patients without any postoperative complications. Fifteen (5.8%) patients had EJF and 81 (31.4%) had other complications (including other surgical fistulas). The median time of EJF diagnosis was on the eighth postoperative day (range 3-76). Completion gastrectomy (p = 0.048) and longer hospital stay (p < 0.001) were associated with the occurrence of EJF. The surgical mortality of patients with EJF was higher than in non-EJF patients (26.7% vs. 4.5%; p < 0.001). Nine patients were treated conservatively and six required surgery. The mortality rate of EJF was 11.1% and 50% in patients who underwent conservative and surgical treatment, respectively. Patients with other complications and patients with EJF had worse survival compared to patients without any complication (p = 0.004 and p = 0.013, respectively). Completion gastrectomy is the main risk factor for EJF occurrence. Still, EJF is associated with high postoperative mortality, longer hospital stay and has a negative impact on long-term survival.

Background: Lymph node metastasis (LNM) has a strong influence on the prognosis of patients with early gastric cancer (EGC). As minimally invasive treatments are considered appropriate for EGC, and lymphadenectomy may be restricted or even eliminated in some cases; it is imperative to identify the main risk factors for LNM to individualize the therapeutic approach. This study aims to evaluate the risk factors for LNM in EGC and to determine the adequacy of the endoscopic resection criteria in a western population., Methods: EGC patients who underwent gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy were retrospectively analyzed utilizing a prospective database. The clinicopathological variables were assessed to determine which factors were associated to LNM., Results: Among 474 enrolled patients, 105 had EGC (22.1%). LNM occurred in 13.3% of all EGC (10% T1a; 15.4% T1b). Tumor size, venous, lymphatic, and perineural invasions were confirmed as independent predictors of LNM by multivariate analysis. Expanded criteria were safely adopted only in selected cases, and 13.6% of patients who matched expanded indication had LNM., Conclusions: Tumor size, venous, lymphatic, and perineural invasions were associated with LNM and should be considered as surrogate markers for surgical treatment of EGC. Expanded criteria for endoscopic resection can be safely adopted only in selected cases.

Introduction: Minimally invasive surgery widely used to treat benign disorders of the digestive system, has become the focus of intense study in recent years in the field of surgical oncology. Since then, the experience with this kind of approach has grown, aiming to provide the same oncological outcomes and survival to conventional surgery. Regarding gastric cancer, surgery is still considered the only curative treatment, considering the extent of resection and lymphadenectomy performed. Conventional surgery remains the main modality performed worldwide. Notwithstanding, the role of the minimally invasive access is yet to be clarified., Objective: To evaluate and summarize the current status of minimally invasive resection of gastric cancer., Methods: A literature review was performed using Medline/PubMed, Cochrane Library and SciELO with the following headings: gastric cancer, minimally invasive surgery, robotic gastrectomy, laparoscopic gastrectomy, stomach cancer. The language used for the research was English., Results: 28 articles were considered, including randomized controlled trials, meta-analyzes, prospective and retrospective cohort studies., Conclusion: Minimally invasive gastrectomy may be considered as a technical option in the treatment of early gastric cancer. As for advanced cancer, recent studies have demonstrated the safety and feasibility of the laparoscopic approach. Robotic gastrectomy will probably improve outcomes obtained with laparoscopy. However, high cost is still a barrier to its use on a large scale.

• Ménétrier's disease (MD) is a rare condition. Its incidence remains undetermined. • MD is frequently associated with H. pylori infection, hypergastrinemia and hypoalbuminaemia. • The gastric mucosal usually presents giant rugal folds with polypoid appearance on upper endoscopy. • Clinical, laboratory, endoscopic and histopathological findings are paramount for reaching the diagnosis of MD. • MD should be suspected in all cases of upper gastrointestinal symptoms and hypertrophied gastric mucosa. Ménétrier's disease is a rare condition, frequently associated with Helicobacter pylori infection, hypergastrinemia and hypoalbuminaemia. A case of a 55 years-old female patient with a previous diagnosis of pernicious anemia complaining of epigastric discomfort, hyporexia, vomiting, and weight loss is reported. Endoscopy showed multiple gastric polyploid formations and Helicobacter pylori infection was detected. Laboratory tests showed elevated gastrin serum levels and presence of antibodies antiparietal cells, as well as microcytic hypochromic anemia compatible with chronic iron deficiency. Albumin serum level was slightly decreased. Full thickness biopsy performed via echoendoscopy reported gastritis cystica/polyposa profunda. Given the association of diffuse involvement of the entire stomach, the possibility of developing malignant disease and the clinical symptoms, the patient underwent laparoscopic total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y reconstruction. The surgical specimen showed the mucosa hyperemic and swollen, with prominent gastric folds. Hyperplastic elongation of gastric foveolas associated with disappearance of oxyntic glands was compatible with Ménétrier's disease. The Ménétrier's disease diagnosis may be tricky, especially when an unusual endoscopic presentation is associated with other conditions that may mislead the diagnostic evaluation. The differential diagnoses were gastric malignancies, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, massive gastric polyposis and gastritis cystica/polyposa profunda. Clinical, laboratory, endoscopic and histopathological findings are paramount for reaching the diagnosis of Ménétrier's disease, but it should be suspected in all cases of upper gastrointestinal symptoms and hypertrophied gastric mucosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]