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Background. The significance of perineural (PNI), lymphatic (LI) and venous invasion (VI) in gastric cancer patients who have received neoadjuvant chemotherapy is unclear. The aim of this study is to determine the incidence and prognostic significance of LI, VI and PNI in these patients. Patients and Methods. Consecutive patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy were reviewed. Presence of LI, VI and PNI was recorded and correlated with clinical outcomes. Results. A total of 243 patients underwent gastrectomy after neoadjuvant therapy for gastric adenocarcinoma. LI was identified in 129 (53%), VI in 107 (44%) and PNI in 116 (48%) of patients.

This meta-analysis of the current published data establishes the laparoscopic approach to appendicectomy as the preferred technique for the obese population, delivering a 50 % reduction in morbidity, with a 66 % reduction in wound infections and a significantly shorter inpatient hospital stay without increasing the intra-abdominal abscess rate.