Laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy for early gastric cancer with complete situs inversus: report of a case.

We herein report our experience in performing a laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy involving standard lymph node dissection for a patient with early gastric cancer and situs inversus. A superficial elevated lesion was found on the posterior wall of the antrum. The preoperative diagnosis was cStage IA (cT1, cN0, cH0, cP0, cM0). A laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy with standard lymph node dissection (D1 + beta) for early gastric cancer was successfully performed by shifting the monitor to the right and left, and by applying sufficient care and time. The course of blood vessels was not abnormal except for the right/left inversion. Billroth I reconstruction was performed through a delta-shaped anastomosis. The postoperative course was favorable and the patient was discharged on postoperative day 12. Based on a histopathological examination, a 5.0 x 5.0-cm, mucosal, poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma (pT1, pN0, sH0, sP0, sM0, Stage IA) was diagnosed.