ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between clinicopathological characteristics and invasion depth of early gastric cancer (EGC), in order to put forward suitable regimens for EGC with different clinicopathological characteristics. MethodsThe clinicopathological data of 18 patients with EGC diagnosed from January 2008 to January 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. Clinicopathologic variables such as age, gender, tumor size and location, Helicobacter pylori infection, melaena, macroscopic type, and histopathological type were investigated by using chi-square test for their possible relationship with the depth of invasion. ResultsLymph node metastasis was more common in patients with submucous cancer (3/9, 33.3%) than in those with mucous cancer (0/9, 0%). Submucosal invasion was found in 77.8% (7/9) of undifferentiated adenocarcinoma cases, whereas only 22.2% (2/9) of differentiated adenocarcinoma had submucosal invasion. TypeⅢ EGC had a significant association with submucosal invasion (P<0.05). ConclusionEndoscopic treatment is unsuitable for patients with Type Ⅲ EGC.