Lymph node metastases in early rectal cancer.

Local excision of early rectal tumours is an attractive proposition, avoiding the morbidity and mortality of major resection and possible permanent stoma. This study was designed to investigate the incidence of lymph node metastases associated with tumours that are locally confined to the bowel wall. A total of 454 rectal excision specimens were reviewed. Twenty-two (20 per cent) of 109 patients with tumours locally confined to the bowel wall had metastases in local lymph nodes, although 14 of these had only one or two involved nodes. Three of 27 patients with tumours that did not penetrate through the submucosa had lymph node metastases. Less well differentiated tumours were more likely to have metastasized but there was no significant difference in the height or size of tumours or in the depth of invasion between patients with or without lymph node metastases.