Survival benefit of “D2-plus” gastrectomy in gastric cancer patients with duodenal invasion

Background The optimal extent of lymph node (LN) dissection for gastric cancer with duodenal invasion is yet to be clarified. This study sought to evaluate the significance of gastrectomy with D2-plus lymphadenectomy including posterior LNs along the common hepatic artery (no. 8p), hepatoduodenal ligament LNs along the bile duct (no. 12b) and those behind the portal vein (no. 12p), LNs on the posterior surface of the pancreatic head (no. 13), LNs along the superior mesenteric vein (no. 14v) and para-aortic LNs around the left renal vein (nos. 16a2 and 16b1) dissection.