Clinical and Oncological Value of Preoperative BMI in Gastric Cancer Patients: A Single Center Experience

Abstract EN

Introduction.

The impact of preoperative BMI on surgical outcomes and long-term survival ofgastric cancer patients was investigated in various reports with contrasting results.

Materials & Methods.

A total of 378 patients who underwent a surgical resection for primarygastric cancer between 1994 and 2011 were retrospectively studied.

Patients were stratifiedaccording to BMI into a normal group (<25, group A), an overweight group (25–30, group B), andan obesity group (≥30, group C).

These 3 groups were compared according to clinical-pathologicalcharacteristics, surgical treatment, and long-term survival.

Results.

No significant correlations between BMI and TNM (2010), UICC stage (2010), Lauren’shistological type, surgical results, lymph node dissection, and postoperative morbidity and mortalitywere observed.

Factors related to higher BMI were male gender P < 0.05 , diabetes P < 0.001 , andserum blood proteins P < 0.01 .

A trend to fewer lymph nodes retrieved during gastrectomy withlymphadenectomy in overweight patients (B and C groups) was observed, although not statisticallysignificant.

There was no difference in overall survival or disease-specific survival between thethree groups.

Conclusion.

According to our data, BMI should not be considered a significant predictor ofpostoperative complications or long-term result in gastric cancer patients.