Nodal spread and micrometastasis within mesorectum.
OBJECTIVE
To study the distribution of positive lymph nodes within mesorectum and to investigate the possible micrometastasis in negative lymph nodes.


METHODS
Large slice technique combined with tissue microarray was used in the pathologic study of 31 specimens.


RESULTS
A total of 992 lymph nodes were harvested and cancer metastasis was found in 148 lymph nodes. Some positive lymph nodes were located in the outer layer of mesorectum and more at the same site of mesorectum as the primary tumor. Circumferential margin lymph node metastasis was observed in nine cases. No significant difference in occurrence of micrometastasis was observed in different stage tumors.


CONCLUSIONS
Positive lymph nodes are distributed in mesorectum and micrometastasis can be found in negative lymph nodes.
Wang
Cun
C
Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China.
Zhou
Zong-Guang
ZG
Wang
Zhao
Z
Chen
Dai-Yun
DY
Zheng
Yang-Chun
YC
Zhao
Gao-Ping
GP
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000473:pathology*; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies