分化不良型早期胃癌淋巴结转移的危险因素分析

目的评估分化不良型早期胃癌患者淋巴结转移的危险因素,探讨其内镜治疗的可能性。方法回顾性分析2002年9月-2008年12月经手术证实的100例分化不良型早期胃癌患者,对其年龄、性别、肿瘤大小、部位、大体类型、溃疡、组织学类型、浸润深度及淋巴管肿瘤浸润与淋巴结转移的关系进行单因素和多因素分析。结果分化不良型早期胃癌的淋巴结转移率达18．00％。多变量分析显示肿瘤大小（〉2cm）、侵犯至黏膜下层、淋巴管肿瘤浸润均是分化不良型早期胃癌淋巴结转移的独立危险因素（P〈0．05）。肿瘤大小和淋巴管肿瘤浸润是分化不良型黏膜内早期胃癌的淋巴结转移的独立危险因素。在直径≤2cm且无淋巴管肿瘤浸润的分化不良型黏膜内早期胃癌中未发现淋巴结转移。结论直径≤2cm且无淋巴管肿瘤浸润的分化不良型黏膜内癌患者可考虑内镜治疗,术后需密切随访。     

早期胃癌淋巴结转移规律及其影响因素分析

目的 探讨早期胃癌淋巴结转移规律及其影响因素,为选择合适的治疗方法提供依据.方法 对北京大学第三医院1988年3月-2009年3月于外科行胃癌根治术治疗的103例早期胃癌患者临床资料进行回顾性研究,对患者的年龄、性别,肿瘤的大小、部位、大体类型、分化程度及浸润深度与淋巴结转移的关系进行单因素及多因素分析.结果 早期胃癌的淋巴结转移率为17.5%(18/103),其中黏膜内癌的淋巴结转移率为4.1%(2/49),黏膜下层癌的淋巴结转移率为29.6%(16/54).logistic回归分析显示,浸润至黏膜下层(P=0.001)及肿瘤>2 cm(P=0.003)为早期胃癌淋巴结转移的独立危险因子.黏膜内癌发生淋巴结转移的2例均为直径>2 cm的印戒细胞癌;黏膜下层癌中,≤2 cm肿瘤的淋巴结转移率为16.1%(5/31),>2 cm肿瘤的淋巴结转移率高达47.8%(11/23)(P=0.012).高分化程度的早期胃癌的淋巴结转移率为0(0/13),中分化癌转移率为18.2%(4/22),低分化癌转移率为16.7%(5/30),印戒细胞癌转移率为23.7%(9/38),各组间差异无统计学意义(P=0.294).患者的年龄、性别、肿瘤部位(胃上部、中部、下部)和大体分型(隆起型、平坦型和凹陷型)与淋巴结转移无相关性.结论 肿瘤大小和浸润深度与早期胃癌淋巴结转移相关,决定早期胃癌治疗方案时,可参考上述因素判断淋巴结转移风险.     

老年未分化型早期胃癌淋巴结转移的危险因素分析

目的总结老年患者未分化型早期胃癌（early gastric cancers,EGCs）的临床病理特征,分析未分化型EGCs淋巴结转移的危险因素。方法纳入2010年1月—2019年8月在北京协和医院行根治性胃癌切除+淋巴结清扫术,手术病理诊断符合EGCs的老年（≥65岁）患者,以分化型EGCs为对照,比较分析未分化型EGCs（即印戒细胞癌和低分化腺癌）的临床病理特征。用Logistic回归对老年未分化型EGCs淋巴结转移风险进行多因素分析。结果纳入老年EGCs共165例,其中未分化型EGCs 82例（印戒细胞癌11例,低分化腺癌 71例）,分化型EGCs 83例。淋巴结转移率方面,老年EGCs淋巴结转移率为9.1%（15/165）,分化型EGCs淋巴结转移率为4.8%（4/83）,未分化型EGCs淋巴结转移率为13.4%（11/82）。未分化型EGCs中,低分化腺癌淋巴结转移率为15.5%（11/71）,印戒细胞癌11例均无淋巴结转移。单因素分析提示浸润深度（P=0.019)、病变大小（P=0.006）、合并溃疡（P=0.006）、凹陷型（P=0.003）与老年未分化型EGCs淋巴结转移相关。多因素分析提示黏膜下层浸润（OR=11.98,95%CI:1.17~122.84,P=0.037 ）、病变直径＞2 cm（OR=11.95,95%CI:1.88~76.07,P=0.009)是老年未分化型EGCs淋巴结转移的独立危险因素。所有满足扩大适应证的老年未分化型EGCs无淋巴结转移。结论黏膜下层浸润、病变直径＞2 cm是老年未分化型EGCs淋巴结转移的独立危险因素。满足扩大适应证的老年未分化型EGCs患者适合内镜黏膜下剥离术治疗。     

早期胃印戒细胞癌临床病理特征

目的 探讨早期胃癌中印戒细胞癌的临床病理特征。方法回顾性分析了2010年4月至2012年9月间经南京军区福州总医院手术病理证实的早期胃癌中41例印戒细胞癌和104非印戒细胞癌患者的临床病理资料。结果早期胃癌中,印戒细胞癌与非印戒细胞癌在年龄、性别、肿瘤部位上存在差异（P〈0．05）,而无论发病前有无腹痛,以及在血型、癌胚抗原值、肿瘤直径、浸润深度、淋巴结转移、内镜下肉眼类型无显著差异（P〉0．05）。结论早期胃癌中的印戒细胞癌好发于年轻人、女性及胃下部（胃窦）,内镜下也缺乏特异性表现。其早期无明显症状,癌胚抗原值无特异性增高。     

早期胃癌淋巴结转移的影响因素分析

目的 通过分析早期胃癌临床病理特征,探讨淋巴结转移相关危险因素。 方法 回顾性分析2014年1月至2017年12月在华山医院行胃癌根治术,且术后病理证实为早期胃癌的303例患者的临床病理资料。收集年龄、性别、肿瘤大小、病变部位、大体分型、有无溃疡、分化类型、有无印戒细胞、有无脉管侵犯、肿瘤浸润深度、有无淋巴结转移等指标。对单因素分类变量使用卡方检验,有统计学意义的单变量采用Logistic回归模型分析。 结果 本研究共纳入303例早期胃癌患者,淋巴结转移阳性患者45例（14.9%）。黏膜内癌淋巴结转移率为7.1%（14/198）,侵及黏膜下层时淋巴结转移率为29.5%（31/105）。单因素分析结果显示,患者年龄、肿瘤大小、大体分型、浸润深度、脉管累及、分化类型与淋巴结转移相关（P<0.05）。多因素分析提示,肿瘤的浸润深度（OR=3.701,95%CI：1.748~7.836,P=0.001）、脉管累及（OR=2.929,95%CI：1.090~7.870,P=0.033）、分化类型（OR=0.352,95%CI：0.164~0.757,P=0.008）是淋巴结转移的独立危险因素。 结论 肿瘤浸润深度、脉管累及和分化类型为早期胃癌患者淋巴结转移的独立危险因素。对于选择内镜切除的早期胃癌患者,应警惕上述危险因素,对于淋巴结转移高风险患者密切随访,必要时追加外科手术。     

早期胃癌淋巴结转移的临床病理特征分析

背景：淋巴结转移是影响早期胃癌（EGC）预后的首要因素。目的：探讨EGC淋巴结转移的危险因素,为制定合理的治疗方案提供临床依据。方法：回顾性分析南京鼓楼医院2002年9月～2008年12月经手术病理证实的250例EGC患者,分别采用单因素和多因素分析探讨性别、年龄、肿瘤大小、肿瘤部位、大体类型、溃疡、组织学类型、浸润深度、淋巴管肿瘤浸润以及神经侵犯与淋巴结转移的关系。结果：EGC淋巴结转移率达14．0％。单因素分析显示性别、肿瘤大小、浸润深度、淋巴管肿瘤浸润和神经侵犯与EGC淋巴结转移相关（P〈0．05）。多因素分析显示女性、肿瘤大小（〉2cm）、黏膜下层浸润和淋巴管肿瘤浸润是EGC淋巴结转移的独立危险因素（P〈0．05）。在肿瘤直径≤2cm且分化良好的黏膜内EGC患者中未发现淋巴结转移。结论：评估EGC淋巴结转移与临床病理特征的关系具有重要的临床意义。肿瘤直径≤2cm且分化良好的黏膜内EGC可行内镜治疗。     

早期胃癌淋巴结转移影响因素分析

背景：手术是早期胃癌的首选治疗方法。淋巴结转移是早期胃癌的关键预后因素,术中淋巴结清扫虽可降低术后复发率,但清扫过度可能导致患者术后生活质量降低。目的：分析早期胃癌淋巴结转移的独立危险因素。方法：1982年1月～2009年2月于上海市长宁区中心医院行胃癌根治术且淋巴结清扫〉15枚的376例早期胃癌患者纳入研究,分析性别、年龄以及6项肿瘤临床病理特征与淋巴结转移之间的关系。结果：单因素分析显示．肿瘤≥2cm、大体类型为隆起型、黏膜下浸润、分化差和有淋巴管癌栓与早期胃癌淋巴结转移有关,而性别、年龄和肿瘤部位与淋巴结转移之间无明显相关性。多因素logistic回归显示肿瘤大小、浸润深度和分化程度是早期胃癌淋巴结转移的独立危险因素。结论：临床医师术前可通过内镜超声、CT和活检病理检查确定早期胃癌的淋巴结肿大情况以及肿瘤大小、浸润深度和组织学类型．据此推测有无淋巴结转移倾向．从而选择合理的手术方式和术中淋巴结清扫范围。     

早期胃癌淋巴结转移的危险因素:339例外科手术病例的回顾性分析

目的研究早期胃癌淋巴结转移(lymph node metastasis,LNM)与临床病理特征的相关性,探讨早期胃癌(early gastric cancer,EGC)淋巴结转移的危险因素。方法回顾性分析2013年1月-2015年6月于南京军区南京总医院行手术治疗的339例EGC患者,分析患者的性别、年龄、肿瘤部位、肿瘤大小、大体分型、分化程度、浸润深度、有无合并溃疡、淋巴管有无癌栓浸润等临床病理特征。采用卡方检验分析早期胃癌淋巴结转移与各临床病理特征间的关系,采用Logistic回归模型进行早期胃癌淋巴结转移独立危险因素分析。结果 339例EGC患者中有35例有LNM,淋巴结转移率为10.32%。单因素分析显示肿瘤大小、肿瘤浸润深度、分化程度、有无合并溃疡、淋巴管有无癌栓浸润与EGC淋巴结转移具有相关性(χ2值分别为10.734、6.241、17.694、11.694、27.656,P值均0.05)。采用Logistic回归模型进行多因素分析显示肿瘤最大直径2 cm、肿瘤浸润至黏膜下层、肿瘤未分化型、合并有溃疡均是早期胃癌淋巴结转移的独立危险因素(RR分别为2.063、2.743、1.706、1.552、0.195,P值均0.05)。结论肿瘤最大直径2 cm、肿瘤浸润至黏膜下层、肿瘤未分化型、合并溃疡均是早期LNM的独立危险因素。     

未分化早期胃癌淋巴结转移风险的回顾性研究

[目的]探讨未分化型早期胃癌淋巴结转移的潜在危险因素。[方法]回顾性分析82例未分化型早期胃癌患者的临床病理资料,对影响未分化型早期胃癌淋巴结转移潜在危险因素进行单因素及多因素分析。[结果]未分化型早期胃癌淋巴结转移率为15.85%;单因素分析显示,淋巴结转移与肿瘤大小(P=0.046)及脉管癌栓(P=0.018)有关;多因素分析显示脉管浸润栓(P0.001)是淋巴结转移的危险因素。[结论]肿瘤直径2 cm或(和)有脉管癌栓的未分化型早期胃癌患者,淋巴结转移风险增加。     

伴淋巴结转移的早期胃癌病理组织形态学研究

目的通过研究早期胃癌发展过程中组织形态学的变迁，预测其淋巴结转移的难易程度。方法以伴淋巴结转移的81例早期胃癌作为转移组，抽取81例不伴淋巴结转移者作为对照组，两组均含11例黏膜内癌，70例黏膜下癌，组织学分类及肿瘤部位相似，具可比性。将各组的肿瘤灶亚分类为表层部、浸润部，各病灶的病理组织形态学依据规范分为分化型、混合型、未分化型。对各病例相关因子进行统计学分析研究。结果浸润部较表层部组织分化程度低下者，转移组为40．7％，较对照组的11．9％为高。转移组表层部的分化型胃癌和未分化型胃癌，其浸润部同一组织学分化程度较对照组为低，其差异有统计学意义（分别为P〈0．01和P〈0．05）。转移组的表层部与浸润部的分化程度合致率为61．7％，明显低于对照组的77．8％，其差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。转移组的男女比率为1．9：1，较对照组的3．3：1为低，其差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论早期胃癌中，癌灶水平方向和浸润先端部的垂直方向组织学分化程度的变化更易出现。浸润部与黏膜同有层癌组织学分化程度不同者，尤其是组织学分化程度趋低下者易出现淋巴结转移。女性较男性更易出现淋巴结转移。     

Risk clinicopathological factors for lymph node metastasis in poorly differentiated early gastric cancer and their impact on laparoscopic wedge resection

AIM: To investigate the predictive factors of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in poorly differentiated early gastric cancer (EGC), and enlarge the possibility of using laparoscopic wedge resection (LWR).METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 85 patients with poorly differentiated EGC who underwent surgical resection between January 1992 and December 2010. The association between the clinicopathological factors and the presence of LNM was retrospectively analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Odds ratios (OR) with 95%CI were calculated. We further examined the relationship between the positive number of the three significant predictive factors and the LNM rate.RESULTS: In the univariate analysis, tumor size (P = 0.011), depth of invasion (P = 0.007) and lymphatic vessel involvement (P < 0.001) were significantly associated with a higher rate of LNM. In the multivariate model, tumor size (OR = 7.125, 95%CI: 1.251-38.218, P = 0.041), depth of invasion (OR = 16.624, 95%CI: 1.571-82.134, P = 0.036) and lymphatic vessel involvement (OR = 39.112, 95%CI: 1.745-123.671, P = 0.011) were found to be independently risk clinicopathological factors for LNM. Of the 85 patients diagnosed with poorly differentiated EGC, 12 (14.1%) had LNM. The LNM rates were 5.7%, 42.9% and 57.1%, respectively in cases with one, two and three of the risk factors respectively in poorly differentiated EGC. There was no LNM in 29 patients without the three risk clinicopathological factors.CONCLUSION: LWR alone may be sufficient treatment for intramucosal poorly differentiated EGC if the tumor is less than or equal to 2.0 cm in size, and when lymphatic vessel involvement is absent at postoperative histological examination.     

Predictive factors for lymph node metastasis in poorly differentiated early gastric cancer and their impact on the surgical strategy

AIM： To identify the predictive clinicopathological factors for lymph node metastasis （LNM） in poorly differentiated early gastric cancer （EGC） and to further expand the possibility of using endoscopic mucosal resection （EMR） for the treatment of poorly differentiated EGC. METHODS： Data were collected from 85 poorly- differentiated EGC patients who were surgically treated. Association between the clinicopathological factors and the presence of LNM was retrospectively analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS： Univariate analysis showed that tumor size （OR = 5.814, 95% CI = 1.050 - 32.172, P = 0.044）, depth of invasion （OR = 10.763, 95% CI = 1.259 - 92.026, P = 0.030） and lymphatic vessel involvement （OR = 61.697, 95% CI = 2.144 - 175.485, P = 0.007） were the significant and independent risk factors for LNM. The LNM rate was 5.4%, 42.9% and 50%, respectively, in poorly differentiated EGC patients with one, two and three of the risk factors, respectively. No LNM was found in 25 patients without the three risk factors. Forty-four lymph nodes were found to have metastasis, 29 （65.9%） and 15 （34.1%） of the lymph nodes involved were within N1 and beyond N1, respectively, in 12 patients with LNM. CONCLUSION： Endoscopic mucosal resection alone may be sufficient to treat poorly differentiated intramucosal EGC （≤ 2.0 cm in diameter） with no histologically-confirmed lymphatic vessel involvement. When lymphatic vessels are involved, lymph node dissection beyond limited （D1） dissection or D1＋ lymph node dissection should be performed depending on the tumor location.     

Prediction of the indication criteria for endoscopic resection of early gastric cancer

AIM: To find risk factors of lymph node metastasis(LNM) in early gastric cancer(EGC) and to find proper endoscopic therapy indication in EGC.METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the 2270 patients who underwent curative operation for EGC from January 2001 to December 2008. EGC was defined as malignant lesions that do not invade beyond the submucosal layer of the stomach wall irrespective of presence of lymph node metastasis.RESULTS: Among 2270 enrolled patients, LNM was observed in 217(9%) patients. LNM in intramucosal(M) cancer and submucosal(SM) cancer was detectedin 3 8( 2. 8 %, 3 8 / 1 3 4 0) patients and 1 7 9(19%, 179/930) patients, respectively. In univariate analysis, the risk factors for LNM in EGC were size of tumor, Lauren classification, ulcer, lymphatic invasion, vascular invasion, and depth of invasion. However, in multivariate analysis, size of tumor, lymphatic invasion, vascular invasion, and depth of invasion were risk factors for LNM in EGC. Size of tumor, lymphatic invasion, vascular invasion, and depth of invasion were risk factors for LNM in cases of intramucosal cancer and submucosal cancer. In particular, there was no lymph node metastasis in cases of well differentiated early gastric cancer below 1 cm in size without ulcer regardless of lymphovascular invasion.CONCLUSION: Tumor size, perilymphatic-vascular invasion, and depth of invasion were risk factors for LNM in EGC. There was no LNM in EGC below 1 cmregardless risk factors.     

Feasibility study on expanded indication for endoscopic submucosal dissection of intramucosal poorly differentiated early gastric cancer

AIM: To identify clinicopathological factors predictive of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in intramucosal poorly differentiated early gastric cancer (EGC), and further to expand the possibility of using endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for the treatment of intramucosal poorly differentiated EGC.METHODS: Data for 81 surgically treated patients with intramucosal poorly differentiated EGC were collected, and the association between the clinicopathological factors and the presence of LNM was retrospectively analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Several clinicopathologic factors were investigated to identify predictive factors for lymph nodes metastasis, including gender, age, family history of gastric cancer, number of tumors, tumor location, ulceration, tumor size, macroscopic type, lymphatic vessel involvement, and signet-ring-cell component.RESULTS: Tumor size (OR = 7.273, 95%CI: 1.246-29.918, P = 0.042), lymphatic vessel involvement (OR = 42.219, 95%CI: 1.923-97.052, P = 0.018) and signet-ring-cell component (OR = 17.513, 95%CI: 1.647-77.469, P = 0.034) that were significantly associated with LNM by univariate analysis, were found to be significant and independent risk factors for LNM by multivariate analysis. However, gender, age, family history of gastric cancer, number, location, ulceration and macroscopic type of tumor were found not to be associated with LNM. Of these 81 patients diagnosed with intramucosal poorly differentiated EGC, 7 (8.6%) had LNM. The LNM rates were 9.1%, 22.2% and 57.1%, respectively, in cases with one, two and three of the risk factors. There was no LNM in 54 patients without the three risk clinicopathological factors.CONCLUSION: Tumor size, lymphatic vessel involvement and signet-ring-cell component are independently associated with the presence of LNM in intramucosal poorly differentiated EGC. Thus, these three risk factors may be used as a simple criterion to expand the possibility of using ESD for the treatment of intramucosal poorly differentiated EGC.     

Clinical significance of a papillary adenocarcinoma component in early gastric cancer: a single-center retrospective analysis of 628 surgically resected early gastric cancers

Background

We recently reported that the presence of a papillary adenocarcinoma (pap) component was an independent risk factor for lymphatic involvement in endoscopically resected early gastric cancer (EGC). This study aimed to investigate the potential association between the presence of a pap component in EGC and lymph node metastasis (LNM).

Methods

In order to evaluate the association between LNM and clinicopathological features, including a pap component, we reviewed 628 surgically resected EGCs at our institution between 2009 and 2012. Clinicopathological features included age, gender, tumor location, macroscopic type, tumor size, histological type, depth, ulcerative findings, and lymphatic and venous involvement. In addition, the association between clinicopathological features and lymphatic involvement was also evaluated.

Results

LNM was observed in 52 cases (8.3%). Univariate analyses revealed a significant correlation between a pap component and LNM as well as tumor size, depth, macroscopic type, a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma component, and lymphatic and venous involvement. The percentage of positive LNM among the EGC cases with a pap component was significantly higher than in those without the component (18.2 vs. 7.3%, P = 0.010). Via multivariate analyses lymphatic involvement was identified as the strongest risk factor for LNM [odds ratio (OR) 14.1] and a pap component was revealed as an independent risk factor for lymphatic involvement (OR 3.1).

Conclusion

Our study revealed that EGC cases with a pap component were at higher risk of lymphatic involvement and showed a higher percentage of positive LNM. More attention should be paid to a pap component in EGC.

     

Feasible endoscopic therapy for early gastric cancer

AIM: To analyze the relationship between lymph node metastasis and clinical pathology of early gastric cancer(EGC) in order to provide criteria for a feasible endoscopic therapy.METHODS: Clinical data of the 525 EGC patients who underwent surgical operations between January 2009 and March 2014 in the West China Hospital of Sichuan University were analyzed retrospectively. Clinical pathological features were compared between different EGC patients with or without lymph node metastasis, and investigated by univariate and multivariate analyses for possible relationships with lymph node metastasis.RESULTS: Of the 2913 patients who underwent gastrectomy with lymph node dissection, 529 cases were pathologically proven to be EGC and 525 cases were enrolled in this study, excluding 4 cases of gastric stump carcinoma. Among 233 patients with mucosal carcinoma, 43(18.5%) had lymph node metastasis. Among 292 patients with submucosal carcinoma, 118(40.4%) had lymph nodemetastasis. Univariate analysis showed that gender, tumor size, invasion depth, differentiation type and lymphatic involvement correlated with a high risk of lymph node metastasis. Multivariate analysis revealed that gender(OR = 1.649, 95%CI: 1.091-2.492, P = 0.018), tumor size(OR = 1.803, 95%CI: 1.201-2.706, P = 0.004), invasion depth(OR = 2.566, 95%CI: 1.671-3.941, P = 0.000), histological differentiation(OR = 2.621, 95%CI: 1.624-4.230, P = 0.000) and lymphatic involvement(OR = 3.505, 95%CI: 1.590-7.725, P = 0.002) wereindependent risk factors for lymph node metastasis. Comprehensive analysis showed that lymph node metastasis was absent in patients with tumor that was limited to the mucosa, size ≤ 2 cm, differentiated and without lymphatic involvement.CONCLUSION: We propose an endoscopic therapy for EGC that is limited to the mucosa, size ≤ 2 cm, differentiated and without lymphatic involvement.     

Is Endoscopic Resection an Acceptable Treatment for Undifferentiated EGC?

Background/Aims: Endoscopic resection (ER) is an effective treatment in selected patients with early gastric cancer (EGC). We have evaluated the clinical outcomes of ER in patients with undifferentiated EGCs, including poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma or signet ring cell carcinoma. Methodology: We retrospectively examined the medical records of 77 patients diagnosed with undifferentiated EGC after ER (EMR for 22 patients and ESD for 56 patients) at a single center. Results: The mean±SD lesion size was 23.2±14.1mm. The 77 lesions included 65 (84.4%) intramucosal cancers and 12 (15.6%) involving the submucosal layer. Of these 77 patients, 35 underwent curative resection and 42 did not. After a mean follow-up period of 41 months (range, 9-152), local recurrences were observed in four patients (5.2%), all of whom had not undergone curative resection. No patient died of EGC. Univariate analysis showed that tumor involvement of the resection margins (p<0.001) and lymphatic invasion (p=0.003) were significant risk factors for recurrence after ER in undifferentiated EGCs. However, multivariate analysis did not show any significant risk factors. Conclusions: ER may be an alternative treatment modality for selected patients with undifferentiated EGCs.     

Feasibility of endoscopic treatment and predictors of lymph node metastasis in early gastric cancer

BACKGROUND Endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD) has been routinely performed in applicable early gastric cancer(EGC) patients as an alternative to conventional surgical operations that involve lymph node dissection. The indications for ESD have been recently expanded to include larger, ulcerated, and undifferentiated mucosal lesions, and differentiated lesions with slight submucosal invasion. The risk of lymph node metastasis(LNM) is the most important consideration when deciding on a treatment strategy for EGC. Despite the advantages over surgical procedures, lymph nodes cannot be removed by ESD. In addition, whether patients who meet the expanded indications for ESD can be managed safely remains controversial.AIM To determine whether the ESD indications are applicable to Chinese patients and to investigate the predictors of LNM in EGC.METHODS We retrospectively analyzed 12552 patients who underwent surgery for gastric cancer between June 2007 and December 2018 at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University. A total of 1262(10.1%) EGC patients were eligible forinclusion in this study. Data on the patients' clinical, endoscopic, and histopathological characteristics were collected. The absolute and expanded indications for ESD were validated by regrouping the enrolled patients and determining the positive LNM results in each subgroup. Predictors of LNM in patients were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses.RESULTS LNM was observed in 182(14.4%) patients. No LNM was detected in the patients who met the absolute indications(0/90). LNM occurred in 4/311(1.3%) patients who met the expanded indications. According to univariate analysis, LNM was significantly associated with positive tumor marker status, medium(20-30 mm)and large(30 mm) lesion sizes, excavated macroscopic-type tumors, ulcer presence, submucosal invasion(SM1 and SM2), poor differentiation,lymphovascular invasion(LVI), perineural invasion, and diffuse and mixed Lauren's types. Multivariate analysis demonstrated SM1 invasion(odds ration[OR] = 2.285, P = 0.03), SM2 invasion(OR = 3.230, P 0.001), LVI(OR = 15.702, P 0.001), mucinous adenocarcinoma(OR = 2.823, P = 0.015), and large lesion size(OR = 1.900, P = 0.006) to be independent risk factors.CONCLUSION The absolute indications for ESD are reasonable, and the feasibility of expanding the indications for ESD requires further investigation. The predictors of LNM include invasion depth, LVI, mucinous adenocarcinoma, and lesion size.