[Study with large slice technique and tissue microarray on lymph node involvement and micro-metastasis of rectal cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To study lymph node involvement and micro-metastasis of rectal cancer with large slice technique and tissue microarray.


METHODS
Large slice technique, combined with tissue microarray,was used in pathologic study of 31 patients after total mesorectal excision (TME) for rectal cancer.


RESULTS
Nine hundred and ninety- two lymph nodes were harvested and 148 were positive. More than 40% of positive lymph nodes were located in the outer layer of the mesorectum and in the same side of the mesorectum as the primary tumor was. Circumferential margin involvement was observed in 12 cases and correlated with the numbers of metastatic lymph nodes (Beta =1.166, P=0.041). Micrometastasis was found in 9 cases with negative pathological lymph nodes, but not correlated with tumor differentiation and stage (P> 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Large slice technique combined with tissue microarray facilitates the detection of lymph node involvement and micrometastasis. There is a predominance of lymph node metastasis in the outer layer and the same side of the mesorectum. Micrometastasis can be discovered in different stages of rectal cancer.
Wang
Cun
C
Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China. sforza@263.sina.com
Zhou
Zong-guang
ZG
Wang
Zhao
Z
Li
Li
L
Chen
Dai-yun
DY
Zheng
Yang-chun
YC
Zhao
Gao-ping
GP
Liu
Wei-ping
WP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008643:Mesentery / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008867:Microtomy / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery