Standardizing the classification of gastric cancer patients with limited and adequate number of retrieved lymph nodes: an externally validated approach using real-world data.

Background: Currently, there is no formal consensus regarding a standard classification for gastric cancer (GC) patients with < 16 retrieved lymph nodes (rLNs). Here, this study aimed to validate a practical lymph node (LN) staging strategy to homogenize the nodal classification of GC cohorts comprising of both < 16 (Limited set) and ≥ 16 (Adequate set) rLNs.

Methods: All patients in this study underwent R0 gastrectomy.