title: A propensity score-matching analysis comparing the oncological outcomes of laparoscopic and open surgery in patients with Stage I/II colon and upper rectal cancers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Previous studies from Western countries have shown similar survival outcomes after both open and laparoscopic resections. In Japan, radical D3 dissections performed by open resection have been routinely performed for ≥T2- or ≥N1-stage cancers, and relatively favorable survival outcomes were obtained. This study compared the survival in patients with Stage I/II colon and upper rectal cancers undergoing laparoscopic and open resection.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 145 patients were initially enrolled. Propensity score matching was applied to assemble a study cohort. D2 lymph node dissection for T1 cancer and D3 for ≥T2- and ≥N1-stage cancers were applied. The primary outcome measure was the disease-free survival; the cancer-specific and overall survival rates were secondary outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 64 patients were matched for the analysis. The length of hospitalization, postoperative complication rates, number of lymph nodes removed and surgical margins were similar between the groups. The disease-free survival following laparoscopic surgery was better than that following open surgery, but the difference was not statistically significant. Neither the cancer-specific nor overall survival rates following laparoscopic surgery were inferior to those associated with open surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The outcomes of the laparoscopic approach were comparable to those for open surgeries accompanied by radical lymph node dissection.
authors: Department of Surgery, Japanese Red Cross Hadano Hospital, 1-1 Tatenodai, Hadano, Kanagawa, 257-0017, Japan, masakatsunumata@hotmail.co.jp.
authors: Masakatsu
authors: M
authors: Numata
authors: Kimiatsu
authors: K
authors: Hasuo
authors: Kentaro
authors: K
authors: Hara
authors: Yukio
authors: Y
authors: Maezawa
authors: Keisuke
authors: K
authors: Kazama
authors: Hitoshi
authors: H
authors: Inari
authors: Ken
authors: K
authors: Takata
authors: Yasuyuki
authors: Y
authors: Jin
authors: Norio
authors: N
authors: Yukawa
authors: Takashi
authors: T
authors: Oshima
authors: Yasushi
authors: Y
authors: Rino
authors: Masataka
authors: M
authors: Taguri
authors: Munetaka
authors: M
authors: Masuda
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D057216:Propensity Score; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*