Gender and Age Differences in Risk Factors of Lymph Node Metastasis in Patients With Early Gastric Cancer and Analysis Prognosis of Early Gastric Cancer

Abstract ObjectiveTo explore the effects of gender and age differences in the risk factors for lymph node metastasis in patients and analysis prognosis of patients of early gastric cancer (EGC). MethodsA total of 411 patients with EGC who underwent surgical treatment at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from 2011 to 2017 were included in this study and grouped according to gender and age. Retrospective analysis of the effects of gender and age on tumor size, histological type, depth of invasion, and ulcer type was performed, and differences in the clinicopathological characteristics of lymphovascular invasion were noted. Follow-up of the postoperative recurrence and metastasis of the patients and analysis of their prognosis were finally conducted. All follow-ups ended in August 2020. ResultThe participants in this study ranged in age from 25 years to 85 years (average, 60.27 ± 10.77 years). A total of 57 (13.9%) of the patients showed lymph node metastasis. Females accounted for 25.5% (105/411) while males accounted for 74.5% (306/411) of the study population. Patients aged ≤60 years accounted for 55.5% (228/411) while patients aged >60 years accounted for 44.5% (183/411) of the study population. Univariate analysis of male patients showed that tumor size, depth of tumor invasion, ulcerative tumors, and lymphovascular invasion are related to lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). Univariate analysis of female patients showed that tumor size, depth of tumor invasion, tumor histology, and lymphovascular invasion are related to lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). Univariate analysis of patients aged ≤60 years showed that depth of tumor invasion, ulcerative tumors, and lymphovascular invasion are related to lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). Univariate analysis of patients aged >60 years showed that depth of tumor invasion, ulcerative tumors, and lymphovascular invasion are related to lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis of male patients, female patients, and patients aged ≤60 years showed that depth of tumor invasion is an independent risk factor for lymph node metastasis. Multivariate analysis of patients aged >60 years showed that depth of tumor invasion, ulcerative tumors, and lymphovascular invasion are independent risk factors for lymph node metastasis. ConclusionThe risk factors for lymph node metastasis in patients with EGC differed according to gender and age. The results provide a reference for choosing suitable treatment options for these patients.