Minimally invasive surgery for remnant gastric cancer: a single-center retrospective study of treatment outcomes in Japan

Purpose: Surgical resection of remnant gastric cancer (RGC) is technically challenging and difficult. Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has been adopted for various procedures, but reports of MIS for RGC remain limited. Herein, we report the surgical techniques and short-term outcomes of MIS for RGC. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study involving 61 consecutive RGC patients who underwent open or minimally invasive (laparoscopic or robotic) total gastrectomy for potentially curable RGC at our institution (January 1999-August 2025). A propensity score-matched cohort was used for an exploratory evaluation of the safety and efficacy of MIS for RGC, focusing on feasibility rather than superiority over open surgery. Results: < 0.05). The incidence of postoperative pancreatic fistula was lower in the MIS group, although not significantly different (0% vs. 16.7%). Conclusion: MIS, including robotic gastrectomy, is feasible and safe for RGC, with potential perioperative benefits requiring multicenter validation.