title: Retrospective analysis of resected primary colorectal cancer revealed no correlation between node harvest and node involvement.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the correlation between lymph nodes harvest (LNH) and lymph nodes involvement (LNI).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis was done from January 2002 - August 2008 (6.5 years). The data was obtained from medical records, pathology and radiology. The patients with primary colorectal carcinoma (CRC) including synchronous or metachronous cancer, were included. These patients were treated with curative or palliative intent. Exclusion criteria was recurrent colorectal cancer, cancer not operated, cancer not resected (stoma-only, open-close) and endomucosal resection. LNH and LNI were obtained. The data was analyzed and also compared with the literature and the national audit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 177 resections (mean=28 +/- 3 per annum). Male to female ratio was 0.9:1 and median age was 71 years. There were 112 (63.3%) colonic and 65 (36.7%) rectal cancers. There were 14 Anterio-posterior resections (APRs) (21.5% of all rectal resections). Eighty four percent of resections were elective (OR=2.2 p=0.003 compared to the national audit). Metastasis was found in 14.6% at presentation. Adenocarcinoma (not otherwise specified) NOS constituted 94% of all histology results. Median lymph node harvest was 12 (mean=13.4 p=0.08). There was no significant LNH-LNI correlation (r=0.17 p=0.02). Survival figures for stages I-III CRC revealed 3-year disease-free survival of 82% (all-stage=69%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LNI as a function of tumour and host behaviour is of prognostic significance whereas LNH may be a quality assurance (QA) tool.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Belfast City Hospital, N/Ireland, UK.
authors.forename: Khurum Hayat
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Munir Ahmad
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rathore
authors.forename: Muhammad Iqbal
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Bhatti
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hand
authors.forename: Derek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: Mohey
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ismail
authors.forename: T C K
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Tham
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Loughlin
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D000368:Aged; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies