A comparative study on two different pathological methods to retrieve lymph nodes following gastrectomy.
BACKGROUND
The number of lymph nodes harvested during gastrectomy depends on the extension of lymphadenectomy and the method of lymph node retrieval.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to evaluate two methods of lymph node retrieval in specimens of gastric cancer.


METHODS
The number of lymph nodes was compared using two different techniques. The technique used in the first group was manual dissection following formalin fixation, and the techniques used in the second group was fat-clearing by acetone.


RESULTS
Both groups were comparable for demographic and pathological variables. The average number of harvested nodes was 19.3 ± 10 for the manual group as compared to 26.1 ± 14 in the acetone group (P = 0.003). The differences in the average number of positive nodes did not reach statistical significance (4.6 compared to 6.9 nodes).


CONCLUSIONS
The acetone clearing technique enables the evaluation of a larger number of nodes. An increase, but statistically non significant, number of positive nodes was noted in the acetone group.
Division of Surgery, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin 70300, Israel(1).
Ron
R
Lavy
Division of Surgery, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin 70300, Israel(1).
Yehuda
Y
Hershkovitz
Division of Surgery, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin 70300, Israel(1).
Andronik
A
Kapiev
Division of Surgery, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin 70300, Israel(1).
Bar
B
Chikman
Division of Surgery, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin 70300, Israel(1).
Zahar
Z
Shapira
Division of Surgery, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin 70300, Israel(1).
Natan
N
Poluksht
Institute of Oncology, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel(1).
Nirit
N
Yarom
Institute of Pathology, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel(1).
Judith
J
Sandbank
Division of Surgery, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin 70300, Israel(1). Electronic address: fredricag@asaf.health.gov.il.
Ariel
A
Halevy
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010340:Pathology, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery
Gastrectomy; Lymph node retrieval; Lymphadenectomy