Macroscopically node-negative but histologically node-positive gastric carcinoma

The features of macroscopically node-negative but histologically node-positive (N(−) n(+)) tumours were examined in 521 patients undergoing curative surgery for gastric carcinoma. Of 240 histologically node-positive tumours, 62 (26 per cent) were N(−) n(+). The 10-year survival rate of patients with N(−) n(+) tumour at 66 per cent was worse than that of those with histologically node-negative tumour (91 per cent) (P