Predictors of early recurrence in gastric cancer

Peritoneal carcinomatosis is the most common recurrence site and occurs in 20-35% of patients that undergo radical treatment for gastric cancer. To describe recurrence pattern and identify predictors of early recurrence a retrospective study was carried out. Patients that underwent gastrectomy between 2004 and 2005 were studied. End point was recurrence free survival in the first two years after gastric surgery. One hundred and three patients with medium age of 58 years were included. The medium follow-up was of 18 months. Recurrence was detected in 29 patients and the most common recurrence place was peritoneum. The degree of differentiation was considered a recurrence predictor in multivariated analysis. Advanced lesions with positive lymphnodes, proximal third location and undifferentiated degree were of high risk of early recurrence.