Table 1 The demographic data of the patient cohort of 130 gastric cancer patients operated with curative intent and the associations of the clinical variables between the two study groups

Age (years)

Mean 69.9, STD 10.1

Mean 71.7, STD 10.6

p = 0.382*

Sex

37 males, 33 females

31 males, 29 females

p = 0.892

Type of gastrectomy

41 subtotal, 29 total

30 subtotal, 30 total

p = 0.328

Open vs laparoscopic

35 open, 35 lap

39 open, 21 lap

p = 0.085

Lymphadenectomy

12 D1, 58 D2

14 D1, 46 D2

p = 0.379

Number of examined Lnn

Median 34.5

Median 21.0

p < 0.001*

IQR 25.8–48.3

IQR 15.0–31.8

Minimum 12

Minimum 5

Maximum 82

Maximum 66

 ≤ 15 Lnn 2

 ≤ 15 Lnn 16

p < 0.001

 ≥ 16 Lnn 68

 ≥ 16 Lnn 44

Tumor location

Proximal: 8

Proximal: 7

p = 0.103

Body: 24

Body: 31

Distal: 35

Distal: 22

Several: 3

Several: 0

Tumor size (cm)

Mean 4.3, STD 4.0

Mean 5.0, STD 4.8

p = 0.323*

pT

0: 4

0: 7

p = 0.156

1: 19

1: 12

2: 10

2: 3

3: 25

3: 21

4: 12

4: 17

pN

0: 45

0: 31

p = 0.160

1: 6

1: 12

2: 9

2: 5

3: 10

3: 12

Lymph node ratio

Mean 4.3, STD 4.0

Mean 5.0, STD 4.8

p = 0.190*

Neoadjuvant treatment

Yes: 35, No: 35

Yes: 21, No: 39

p = 0.085