Reevaluation of the expanded indications in undifferentiated early gastric cancer for endoscopic submucosal dissection

Table 4 Histologic features of the tumor microenvironment according to the presence of lymph node metastasis

Variables	LNM- (n = 73)	LNM+ (n = 14)	P value
TIL abundance			0.438
< 10%	25 (34.2)	7 (50.0)
10%-20%	33 (45.2)	6 (42.9)
≥ 20%	15 (20.5)	1 (7.1)
Degree of central fibrosis			0.522
Mild	6 (8.5)	2 (14.3)
Moderate	35 (49.3)	8 (57.1)
Marked	30 (42.3)	4 (28.6)
Degree of peripheral fibrosis
Mild	11 (15.5)	2 (14.3)	0.495
Moderate	53 (74.6)	9 (64.3)
Marked	7 (9.9)	3 (21.4)
Distribution of fibrosis
Central = peripheral	32 (45.1)	7 (50.0)	0.204
Central > peripheral	33 (46.5)	4 (28.6)
Central < peripheral	6 (8.5)	3 (21.4)
Fibrosis score	0.55 (0.38-0.83)	0.53 (0.31-0.77)	0.273
Blurring of MM, n/total			0.028
Non-diffuse (absent/focal)	43/71 (60.6)	13/14 (92.9)
Diffuse	28/71 (39.4)	1/14 (7.1)

LNM: Lymph node metastasis; TIL: Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes; IQR: Interquartile range; MM: Muscularis mucosa.