Background/aims: Having observed a lower survival rate of patients with Borrmann type IV gastric cancer, we attempted to determine its prognostic indicators.
Methodology: A total of 103 patients with Borrmann type IV gastric cancer were evaluated; 604 patients with Borrmann types I, II and III were used as references.
Results: The results showed that Borrmann type IV gastric cancer were larger, had deeper invasion, more lymphatic and vascular invasions, predominant diffuse type and scirrhous stromal reaction, extensive lymph node metastases and peritoneal carcinomatosis. The 5-year survival rate (11.3%) was significantly lower than that of others (44.7%, P < 0.001). Univariate and multivariate analyses of survival showed that peritoneal carcinomatosis and lymph node metastasis were independently associated with a relative risk of 1.8 and 1.4, respectively. The survival rates of 46 patients with potential curative disease were similar, regardless of various extents of resection.
Conclusions: Peritoneal carcinomatosis and lymph node metastases are prognostic indicators in patients with Borrmann type IV gastric cancer. Optimal surgical strategy for Borrmann type IV gastric cancer remains unclear.