Maria Antonietta Mazzei, Giulio Bagnacci, Francesco Gentili, Andrea Nigri, Veronica Pelini, Carla Vindigni, Francesco Giuseppe Mazzei, Gian Luca Baiocchi, Frida Pittiani, Paolo Morgagni, Enrico Petrella, Gianni Mura, Beatrice Verdelli, Maria Bencivenga, Simone Giacopuzzi, Daniele Marrelli, Franco Roviello, and Luca Volterrani
Aim. To investigate the role of maximum tumour diameter (D-max) reduction rate at CT examination in predicting histopathological tumour regression grade (TRG according to the Becker grade), after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), in patients with resectable advanced gastric cancer (AGC). Materials and Methods. Eighty-six patients (53 M, mean age 62.1 years) with resectable AGC (≥T3 or N+), treated with NAC and radical surgery, were enrolled from 5 centres of the Italian Research Group for Gastric Cancer (GIRCG). Staging and restaging CT and histological results were retrospectively reviewed. CT examinations were contrast enhanced, and the stomach was previously distended. The D-max was measured using 2D software and compared with Becker TRG. Statistical data were obtained using “R” software. Results. The interobserver agreement was good/very good. Becker TRG was predicted by CT with a sensitivity and specificity, respectively, of 97.3% and 90.9% for Becker 1 (D-max reduction rate > 65.1%), 76.4% and 80% for Becker 3 (D-max reduction rate