title: Number of retrieved lymph nodes and survival in node-negative patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal surgery for cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The number of retrieved lymph nodes in colorectal cancer resection may have an impact on staging and survival. Examination of at least 12 nodes has become a quality measure for adequate surgical practice. To evaluate the impact of the number of retrieved lymph nodes in laparoscopic colorectal surgery for cancer on node-negative patients' survival.
  
  
  METHODS
  Evaluation of our prospective in-hospital collected data of patients that underwent laparoscopic surgery for curable colorectal cancer over a 5-year period. Long-term data were collected from our outpatient's clinic data and personal contact when necessary.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During a 5-year period since September 2003,173 patients were operated laparoscopically for curable colorectal cancer. Of the 117 patients who were node negative, 85 node-negative patients (72%) had 12 or more evaluated lymph nodes (mean, 18.3 + 2.4), while 32 node-negative patients had less than 12 (mean, 8.3 + 6.2). Patients with fewer than 12 nodes evaluated had significantly more left-sided tumors, while patients with 12 nodes or more had more right-sided tumors. A comparison of 5-year disease free and overall Kaplan-Meier survival curves revealed no statistically significant difference between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Evaluation of less than 12 nodes may not necessarily impact patients' survival in node-negative patients undergoing laparoscopic resection for curable colorectal cancer. A lower number of nodes may be sufficient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery A, Tel-Aviv Medical Center, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nir
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Greenberg
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shacham-Shmueli
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schneebaum
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Avital
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate
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