Changing pattern of postoperative body weight and its association with recurrence and survival after curative resection for gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to assess the pattern of body weight change after gastrectomy for gastric cancer and its association with prognosis.

METHODOLOGY: From February 2001 to June 2005, 1554 patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer were included. The pattern of body weight change according to the preoperative body mass index was analyzed and compared with recurrence, survival.

RESULTS

Body weight in 1057 (68.0%) patients stabilized before 6 months. As preoperative BMI is low, weight was stabilized on early time after surgery (p<0.001). There were 228 (14.7%) recurrences of 1554 patients. One hundred and fifty three (9.8%) patients experienced recurrence within 2 years after gastric cancer surgery whereas 75 (4.8%) patients experienced recurrence 2 years after operation. Weight loss was associated with poor prognosis and weight loss more than 30% at postoperative 6 months was significantly associated with early recurrence (p=0.020, OR=6.524).

CONCLUSIONS

Body weight measure after gastric cancer surgery would be a simple but important method during follow-up period. Physician should pay attention to patients if they experience severe weight loss at 6 months after gastrectomy for gastric cancer due to the possibility of early recurrence.