The proportion of LN groups by year, AJCC nodal stage, and linear regression analysis is shown. (A): The proportion of LN ≤15, LN 16–25, and LN >25 per year from 1994 to 2011, highlighting an increase in the percentage of LN >25. (B): The correlation between nodal stage and the number of lymph nodes retrieved. (C): Linear regression analysis of percentage of nodal stage N3 versus number of lymph nodes retrieved in a cohort of 5,386 patients with gastric cancer.
Abbreviations: AJCC, American Joint Committee on Cancer; LN ≤15, ≤15 harvested lymph nodes; LN 16–25, 16–24 harvested lymph nodes; LN >25, ≥25 harvested lymph nodes.