Extruded splenic hilar lymph nodes dissection with retroperitoneal approach retrogressively in radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer WAN Xiang-bin，Ren Ying-kun，HAN Guang-sen, et al. Department of Surgery, Tumor Hospital of Henan Province，Zhengzhou 450003, China Corresponding author: Ren Ying-kun, E-mail: ren402kun@yahoo.com.cn Abstract Objective To study a new approach of splenic hilar lymph nodes dissection in radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Methods The tail and body of spleen and pancreas were thoroughly freed with retroperitoneal way retrogressively and extruded out of abdominal cavity in 63 cases who received operation without splenectomy between May 2008 and September 2008 at Tumor Hospital of Henan Province. The clinical data of 63 cases were compared with those of the other 30 cases received splenectomy Results In 63 cases who received operation without splenectomy, the total splenic hilar lymph nodes were 409; the positive ones were 51; positive rate was 12.4%. In the other 30 cases, the total splenic hilar lymph nodes were 205; the positive ones were 24; positive rate was 11.7%. The positive rate had no statistic significances between the two groups. Conclusion Extruded splenic hilar lymph nodes dissection with retroperitoneal approach retrogressively is safe and has the same effect with splenectomy in gastric cancer operation.