PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - EDOARDO VIRGILIO
AU  - GENOVEFFA BALDUCCI
AU  - PAOLO MERCANTINI
AU  - ENRICO GIARNIERI
AU  - MARIA ROSARIA GIOVAGNOLI
AU  - MONICA MONTAGNINI
AU  - ANTONELLA PROIETTI
AU  - ROSARIA D'URSO
AU  - MARCO CAVALLINI
TI  - Utility of Nasogastric Tube for Medical and Surgical Oncology of Gastric Cancer: A Prospective Institutional Study on a New and Precious Application of an Old and Economic Device
DP  - 2018 Jan 01
TA  - Anticancer Research
PG  - 433--439
VI  - 38
IP  - 1
4099  - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/38/1/433.short
4100  - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/38/1/433.full
SO  - Anticancer Res2018 Jan 01; 38
AB  - Background/Aim: Concerning gastric cancer (GC), nasogastric tube (NGT) is routinely employed for peri-operative decompression and palliative enteral nutrition. Additionally, we believe to have found a further application. Patients and Methods: Between April 2012 and April 2017, 96 GC patients received preoperative nasogastric lavage (GL). All samples were cytologically examined to detect the presence (GL1) or absence (GL0) of malignant cells. Data were analyzed with classificatory, staging and prognostic purpose. Results: GL1 was detected in 46 GC patients: association with tumor depth, lymph node and distant metastasis, lymphovascular and peri-neural invasion, diffuse type and signet-ring cells was significant (respectively p=0.0274, 0.0324, 0.0446, 0.0287, <0.0001, 0.0413, <0.0001). GL1 entailed significantly poorer overall (OS), progression-free, disease-free survival and tumor progression (18 vs. 32 months). At multivariate analysis, GL1 was an independent prognostic factor for worse OS (p=0.0287). Conclusion: NGT seems an economic oncologic measure useful for obtaining information on GC staging and prognosis.