title: Predicting lymph node metastases in pT1 rectal cancer.
abstract: With the widespread introduction of population screening for colorectal cancer in Europe, the number of early rectal cancers is expected to increase. In the past, approximately 25 % of rectal cancers presented with early disease, defined as stage I disease. First, results from population screening in the UK demonstrate an increase to approximately 50 % stage I for screen-detected carcinomas. In the absence of lymph node metastases, local excision of the tumor might be an attractive option, with considerably less morbidity due to surgery and a lower mortality. This option demonstrates the need for a reliable method of lymph node metastasis prediction in early rectal cancer. The overall risk of lymph node metastasis in pT1 tumors is still considerable, 11.4 %. In order to avoid both under-and overtreatment, we need adequate risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Radboud UMC, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Bosch
authors.forename: I D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Nagtegaal
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*