Objective:To investigate the feasibility,safety and cancer clearance of laparoscopic distal gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy. Methods:We compared the safety,recovery,complications,oncological clearance and shortterm outcomes of two groups of patients with gastric cancer who underwent either radical laparoscopy assisted or open distal gastrectomy from march 2004 to May 2005 (including 44 and 58 cases in each group). Results:Except for 1 case of conversion to open surgery,the other 43 patients underwent laparoscopyassisted distal gastrectomy successfully,accompanied by D1+α lymphadenectomy in 6 cases,D1+β in 2 cases and D2/D2+ in 35 cases,with a mean number of total retrieved lymph nodes of 30.11±16.97.The mean operation time for laparoscopic distal gastrectomy was significantly longer than that for open surgery(282.84±32.81 vs 223.75±23.25min).The mean blood loss,length of incision,times of analgetic injection,first flatus time and time to ground activity in laparoscopic group was 139.30±82.67mL,5.61±0.81cm,1.02±1.03,4.10±0.75d,3.24±077d respectively,which was significantly lesser or shorter than those in open group.The complication rate was comparable in two groups.No significant difference between two groups was observed for cancer clearance,in terms of number of lymph nodes removed and length of proximal and distal margin to the tumor. Conclusion:In spite of being time comsuming as compared with open surgery,laparoscopyassisted radical gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy is a safe,feasible procedure,which achieves the same cancer clearance as open surgery and leads to quick postoperative recovery.