The role of growth patterns, according to Kodama's classification, and lymph node status, as important prognostic factors in early gastric cancer: analysis of 412 cases.

BACKGROUND: During the 1970s, a special type of Gastric Cancer with excellent prognosis (early gastric cancer; EGC) was identified by the Japanese Research Society for Gastric Cancer. EGC has been defined as a tumor which invades the mucosa and/or submucosa, regardless of the lymph node status. Using this definition, we identified an initial phase of tumor development which could be treated both endoscopically and surgically.