title: Lymph node distribution in the d3 area of the right mesocolon: implications for an anatomically correct cancer resection. A postmortem study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Data on lymph node distribution in the right colon D3 area are scarce, especially for nodes posterior to the superior mesenteric vessels.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine whether nodes exist posterior to the superior mesenteric vessels and if arterial crossing patterns affect node distribution.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is an anatomical postmortem study.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted at the following institutions: Department of Gastrointestinal surgery/Pathology, Vestfold Hospital Trust, Norway; Institute for Pathology, University of Belgrade, Serbia; and Anatomy Sector, University of Geneva, Switzerland.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fresh human cadavers were selected to undergo autopsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A predefined D3 area was removed from cadavers, fixed in formaldehyde, divided into 3 vertical compartments with regard to the superior mesenteric vessels. Vertical compartments were further divided into 8 compartments. Millimeter slices were analyzed at histology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lymph nodes ≥1 mm were counted in each compartment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-six cadavers (14 men), median age 76 years, were included. Mean node number per cadaver was 15.9 ± 7.4. Lateral, anterior, and posterior vertical compartments contained median 5.5 (1-11), 5 (2-21), and 5 (0-11) nodes. The effect of the ileocolic artery crossing pattern on node number in the posterior vertical compartment was p = 0.020. Anterior/posterior ileocolic artery compartments contained nodes in 58% and 85% cadavers with median of 1(0-7) and 2(0-5). These compartments showed a significant difference in node numbers depending on the ileocolic artery crossing pattern, p < 0.001 (posterior crossing) and p < 0.001 (anterior crossing). The middle colic artery compartment contained nodes in all cadavers with a median of 2 (1-4). The association between volume and total number of nodes in the D3 area was statistically significant, p < 0.001.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nodes posterior to the superior mesenteric vessels do not necessarily have clinical relevance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anatomically correct D3 resection implies posterior vertical compartment removal with posterior ileocolic artery crossing. Addition of the lateral vertical compartment to routine right colectomy has an improvement potential of 5 to 6 nodes.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Vestfold Hospital Trust, Tonsberg, Norway 2Faculty of Medicine, Department of Cellular Physiology and Metabolism, Anatomy Sector, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland 3Department of Pathology, Vestfold Hospital Trust, Tonsberg, Norway 4Institute for Pathology, Faculty of Odontology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia 5Interventional Centre, Gastrointestinal and Pediatric Surgery, Oslo University Hospital-Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway 6Department of Digestive Surgery, Akershus University Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spasojevic
authors.forename: Bojan V
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Stimec
authors.forename: Anne Pernille H
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Dyrbekk
authors.forename: Zvezdana
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tepavcevic
authors.forename: Bjorn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Edwin
authors.forename: Arne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bakka
authors.forename: Dejan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ignjatovic
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001344:Autopsy; D002102:Cadaver; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008297:Male; D017538:Mesenteric Artery, Superior / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008642:Mesenteric Veins / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008646:Mesocolon / Q000033:anatomy & histology*