Morphology of lymph nodes in the resected rectum of patients with rectal carcinoma.

In 424 patients with rectal carcinoma the lymph nodes of resection specimens were investigated with computer-aided morphometry. Number and size of the lymph nodes and metastases as well as the morphological data of the follicular and paracortical hyperplasia were determined. The distribution of these lymph node parameters according to the anatomical localization of the nodes was also noted. The morphometrical analysis of the 12,957 lymph nodes showed that incidence of the metastases and the lymph node reactions depends on the localization of the nodes, and the lymph node reactions may be related to the tumor. Furthermore our data suggest that the detection of lymph nodes depends first of all on the carefulness of the pathologist, which can be supported by special procedures as step sections and fat clearing.