Objective：To investigate the diagnostic methods of pancreatic capsule micrometastasis of gastric cancer.
Methods：The CK20 and CEA mRNA expressions in the pancreatic capsule of patients with gastric cancer were measured by RT-PCR method.
Results：Of the 67 patients, 22 cases (32.8%) had both CK20 and CEA mRNA positive expression (pancreatic capsule micrometastasis-positive) in the pancreatic capsule. The pancreatic capsule micrometastasis of gastric cancer was related to the depth of infiltration, location of the gastric cancer, histological type, clinical stage and lymph node metastasis (P＜0.05), but was irrelevant to the age and sex of the patients (P＞0.05).
Conclusions：The measurement of CK20 and CEA mRNA by RT-PCR is a sensitive method for diagnosis of pancreatic capsule micrometastasis of gastric cancer. The pancreatic capsule micrometastasis is positively correlated with the malignant degree of gastric cancer and it can be a guide for resection range of gastric cancer.