Combined splenectomy does not improve survival in radical total gastrectomy for advanced gastric cardia cancer

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Splenectomy is the most common combined organ resection in the surgical management for gastric cardia cancer. The role of combined splenectomy is still controversial. METHODOLOGY: From January 1998 to December 2006, a total of 174 patients received radical total gastrectomy for advanced adenocarcinoma of cardia. Patients with previous gastric surgery or tumor invasion of pancreas or spleen were excluded. Among them, 115 patients were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into group 1 (splenectomy, n=47) and group 2 (spleen preservation, n=68). Their clinicopathological characteristics were compared. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis showed that only tumor size and lymphovascular invasion were two independent indicators of survival. The surgically-related morbidity and mortality rates were similar between the two groups. Among the 3 patients with splenic hilar lymph nodes metastasis, all of them had large tumor size (=4cm), advanced stage (stage III and IV) and tumor center located at the posterior wall of stomach. The 5-year overall survival for advanced cancer was similar (57.1% vs. 60.2%, p=0.681). CONCLUSIONS: Splenectomy does not improve overall survival in the management of advanced gastric cardia cancer. Splenectomy has limited clinical benefits except for large advanced tumors located at the posterior wall of stomach.