[Is there a minimum number of lymph nodes that should be examined after surgical resection of colorectal cancer?].
Metastasis to regional lymph nodes, after distant metastasis, is the most important prognostic factor of colorectal carcinomas. It is also of primary importance in decisions related to the administration of adjuvant treatments. Most scientific associations recommend the examination of at least 12 lymph nodes for the reliable determination of the absence of nodal metastases. We performed a literature review on lymph node recovery in order to determine whether 12 is the minimum and optimal number of lymph nodes to be examined after colorrectal cancer surgery. The differences between authors suggest that an optimal number of lymph nodes to be examined after colorectal cancer surgery probably does not exist and depends on many factors. Thus, recovering as many lymph nodes as possible seems to be a good option.
Martínez-Ramos
David
D
Servicio de Cirugía General y del Aparato Digestivo, Hospital General de Castellón, Castellón, España. davidmartinez@comcas.es
Escrig-Sos
Javier
J
Miralles-Tena
Juan Manuel
JM
Rivadulla-Serrano
Isabel
I
Salvador-Sanchís
José Luis
JL
D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D011379:Prognosis