To investigate the impact of the number of mesogastria containing metastatic lymph nodes on the prognosis of gastric cancer.

Previous studies have established the existence of the mesogastrium, dividing it into six sections. The mesogastrium is identified during surgery and utilized in surgical practice. The aim of the present study was to further investigate its role in gastric cancer prognosis.Between January 2014 and January 2018, patients from the Tongji Hospital were included in this post-hoc analysis, including data from a randomized clinical study (DCGC01; http://www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01978444). Mesogastria containing metastatic lymph nodes (LNs) were referred to as metastatic mesogastria. Pathology reports were examined to assess metastases in the mesogastrium. Survival was assessed using Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariable Cox models.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. older than 18, younger than 85
2. primary gastric adenocarcinoma confirmed by preoperative pathology
3. routine blood tests, liver and kidney functions and who health status score are within the range of tolerable surgery
4. it is expected to perform radical gastrectomy through d2+cme

Exclusion Criteria:

1. pregnant or lactating women
2. severe mental disorder or language communication disorder
3. preoperative imaging examination or intraoperative exploration found that the patient had the following conditions: tumor involving surrounding organs requiring combined organ resection, distant organ metastasis or R0 resection could not be achieved
4. those who are not suitable for laparoscopic surgery (such as extensive adhesion caused by anterior abdominal surgery and pneumoperitoneum for various reasons).
5. concurrent malignancies at other sites
6. emergency surgery patients

Patients with gastric cancer who underwent total or proximal gastrectomy in Tongji Hospital were included in this study