Karin Almlöv1, Mischa Woisetschläger2, Per Loftås3, Olof Hallböök3, Nils O Elander4, Per Sandström3. 1. Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Surgery, Linköping University, Norrköping, Sweden karin.almlov@liu.se. 2. Department of Radiology, Department of Medical and Health Sciences, and Center for Medical Image Science and Visualization, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. 3. Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Surgery, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. 4. Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Oncology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
Abstract
AIM: To explore whether the size and characteristics of the largest regional lymph node in patients with rectal cancer, based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), following neoadjuvant therapy and before surgery, is able to identify patients at high risk of developing metachronous metastases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective case-control study with data from the Swedish Colo-Rectal Cancer Registry. Forty patients were identified with metachronous metastases (M+), and 40 patients without metastases (M0) were matched as controls. RESULTS: Patients with M+ disease were more likely to have a regional lymph node measuring ≥5 mm than patients with M0. (87% vs. 65%, p=0.02). There was also a significant difference between the groups regarding the presence of an irregular border of the largest lymph node (68% vs. 40%, p=0.01). CONCLUSION: Lymph nodes measuring ≥5 mm with/without displaying irregular borders at MRI performed after neoadjuvant therapy emerged as risk factors for metachronous metastases in patients with rectal cancer. Intensified follow-up programmes may be indicated in these patients. Copyright
AIM: To explore whether the size and characteristics of the largest regional lymph node in patients with rectal cancer, based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), following neoadjuvant therapy and before surgery, is able to identify patients at high risk of developing metachronous metastases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective case-control study with data from the Swedish Colo-Rectal Cancer Registry. Forty patients were identified with metachronous metastases (M+), and 40 patients without metastases (M0) were matched as controls. RESULTS:Patients with M+ disease were more likely to have a regional lymph node measuring ≥5 mm than patients with M0. (87% vs. 65%, p=0.02). There was also a significant difference between the groups regarding the presence of an irregular border of the largest lymph node (68% vs. 40%, p=0.01). CONCLUSION: Lymph nodes measuring ≥5 mm with/without displaying irregular borders at MRI performed after neoadjuvant therapy emerged as risk factors for metachronous metastases in patients with rectal cancer. Intensified follow-up programmes may be indicated in these patients. Copyright