Does the discrepancy in histologic differentiation between a forceps biopsy and an endoscopic specimen necessitate additional surgery in early gastric cancer?

AIM To investigate the clinicopathological variables in early gastric cancer (EGC) patients in relation to differentiation discrepancy. METHODS The data of 265 specimens from 240 patients with EGC, who had undergone radical operation at Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital from 2010 to 2015, were retrospectively analyzed. We evaluated clinical, endoscopic, and histopathological data according to histological discrepancy. RESULTS Clinically significant discrepancy rate showed the difference in differentiated type (well and moderately differentiated) and undifferentiated type (poorly differentiated and signet ring cell) between endoscopic biopsies and postoperative specimens was 9.4% (25/265). There were no differences in tumor location, size, gross pattern, and number of biopsies. Specimens having histological discrepancy showed more submucosal invasion (72.0% vs 49.6%, P = 0.033) and lymph node involvement (24.0% vs 7.9%, P = 0.009) than specimens having non-discrepancy. The rate of a positive epidermal growth factor receptor status was higher in specimens having discrepancy than in specimens having non-discrepancy (81.0% vs 55.4%, P = 0.035). CONCLUSION The discordance of histologic differentiation is associated with higher submucosal invasion and lymph node metastases in EGC. Patients have histological discrepancy may require additional surgical treatments.