Low Frequency of Lymph Node Metastases in Patients in the United States With Early-stage Gastric Cancers That Fulfill Japanese Endoscopic Resection Criteria.

Background & Aims: In the West, early gastric cancer is increasingly managed with endoscopic resection (ER). This is, however, based on the assumption that the low prevalence and risk of lymph node metastases observed in Asian patients is applicable to patients in the United States. We sought to evaluate the frequency of and factors associated with metastasis of early gastric cancers to lymph nodes, and whether the Japanese ER criteria are applicable to patients in the US.

Screening endoscopy finds high prevalence of Helicobacter pylori and intestinal metaplasia in Korean American with limited access to health care.

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is the leading cause of cancer death among Korean Americans. Prevention and early detection is improved by screening.

Methods: Between September 2013 and March 2015, ethnic Koreans age 40 or older without history or symptoms of GC and without upper endoscopy (UE) during previous 3 years were enrolled.