Extended lymphadenectomy versus conventional surgery for rectal cancer: a meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND
Lateral pelvic lymph-node metastases occur in 10-25% of patients with rectal cancer, and are associated with higher local recurrence and reduced survival rates. A meta-analysis was undertaken to assess the value of extended lateral pelvic lymphadenectomy in the operative management of rectal cancer.


METHODS
We searched Medline, Embase, Ovid, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar for studies published between 1965 and 2009 that compared extended lymphadenectomy (EL) with standard rectal resection. 20 studies, which included 5502 patients from one randomised, three prospective non-randomised, and 14 retrospective case-control studies published between 1984 and 2009, met our search criteria and were assessed. 2577 patients underwent EL and 2925 underwent non-EL for rectal cancer. Random and fixed-effects meta-analytical models were used where indicated, and between-study heterogeneity was assessed. End-points evaluated included peri-operative outcomes, 5-year survival and recurrence rates.


RESULTS
Operating time was significantly longer in the EL group by 76.7 min (95% CI 18.77-134.68; p=0.0096). Intra-operative blood loss was greater in the EL group by 536.5 mL (95% CI 353.7-719.2; p<0.0001). Peri-operative mortality (OR 0.81, 95% CI 0.34-1.93; p=0.63) and morbidity (OR 1.45, 95% CI 0.89-2.35; p=0.13) were similar between the two groups. Data from individual studies showed that male sexual dysfunction and urinary dysfunction (three studies: OR 3.70, 95% CI 1.66-8.23; p=0.0012) were more prevalent in the EL group. There were no significant differences in 5-year survival (hazard ratio [HR] 1.09, 95% CI 0.78-1.50; p=0.62), 5-year disease-free survival (HR 1.23, 95% CI 0.75-2.03, p=0.41), and local (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.61-1.13; p=0.23) or distant recurrence (OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.72-1.21; p=0.60).


CONCLUSIONS
Extended lymphadenectomy does not seem to confer a significant overall cancer-specific advantage, but does seem to be associated with increased urinary and sexual dysfunction.
Georgiou
Panagiotis
P
Department of Biosurgery and Surgical Technology, Imperial College, Chelsea and Westminster Campus, London, UK.
Tan
Emile
E
Gouvas
Nikolaos
N
Antoniou
Anthony
A
Brown
Gina
G
Nicholls
R John
RJ
Tekkis
Paris
P
D044466:Asian People; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D019366:Western World