title: Lymph node yield following colorectal cancer surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lymph node yield (LNY) is a measure of quality of care and a strong prognostic factor for outcome from colorectal cancer (CRC). The main aims of this study were to determine LNY across multiple Australian centres and the clinico-pathologic factors that influence yield.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analysis of data from prospective CRC databases at 11 Australian centres between January 1988 and May 2008 was undertaken utilizing the linkage and analysis resources of BioGrid Australia. The LNY depending on different clinico-pathologic patient characteristics was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 10,082 cases (54.1% men, 45.9% women) were identified. Median LNY was 12 (range 0-174). LNY increased significantly (P < 0.001) over time, from a mean of 8.5 in 1988 to 13 in 2008. LNY also varied significantly between surgical centres. Female gender, younger age, right-sided disease, higher T and N stage, specific operation types and absence of preoperative radiotherapy were all significantly associated with higher LNY.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While varying across centres, the median LNYs in Australia are acceptable and have improved significantly over recent years. Multiple clinico-pathologic factors significantly influence the number of nodes retrieved.
authors.affiliation: BioGrid Australia, Australia. kathryn.field@mh.org.au
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Field
authors.forename: Cameron
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Platell
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rieger
authors.forename: Iain
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Skinner
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wattchow
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kosmider
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wohlers
authors.forename: Marienne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hibbert
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gibbs
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen; D000368:Aged; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care