BACKGROUND: The question of whether manual dissection when searching for metastatic lymph nodes from rectal cancer (less than 5 mm) is a reliable method remains controversial. METHODS: We examined 50 consecutive cases of primary adenocarcinoma of the rectum treated with a sphincter-sparing total rectum resection, total mesorectum excision, and coloanal anastomosis. We used a manual method for the detection of lymph nodes. RESULTS: One thousand seven hundred ninety-three lymph nodes were found (mean, 36 per patient). One hundred seventy-four contained metastases. Seventy-nine (45.4%) of the affected lymph nodes were less than 5 mm in greatest dimension. The percentage of metastases to small lymph nodes was similar to the percentage reported by Kotanagi (50%), but lower than the report of Herrera (78%), who used a clearing technique to search for regional lymph nodes. CONCLUSIONS: A median 17 months follow-up in these patients demonstrated that metastases in small lymph nodes are important in the accurate staging of rectal tumors and that a manual method of searching for small lymph nodes is reliable.
BACKGROUND: The question of whether manual dissection when searching for metastatic lymph nodes from rectal cancer (less than 5 mm) is a reliable method remains controversial. METHODS: We examined 50 consecutive cases of primary adenocarcinoma of the rectum treated with a sphincter-sparing total rectum resection, total mesorectum excision, and coloanal anastomosis. We used a manual method for the detection of lymph nodes. RESULTS: One thousand seven hundred ninety-three lymph nodes were found (mean, 36 per patient). One hundred seventy-four contained metastases. Seventy-nine (45.4%) of the affected lymph nodes were less than 5 mm in greatest dimension. The percentage of metastases to small lymph nodes was similar to the percentage reported by Kotanagi (50%), but lower than the report of Herrera (78%), who used a clearing technique to search for regional lymph nodes. CONCLUSIONS: A median 17 months follow-up in these patients demonstrated that metastases in small lymph nodes are important in the accurate staging of rectal tumors and that a manual method of searching for small lymph nodes is reliable.
Authors: Francesco Bianco; Silvia De Franciscis; Andrea Belli; Maria Di Lena; Antonio Avallone; Maria Antonia Bianco; Sabato Di Marzo; Letizia Gigli; Gianluca Rotondano; Silvana Russo Spena; Fabiana Tatangelo; Alfonso Tempesta; Giovanni Maria Romano Journal: Int J Colorectal Dis Date: 2015-12-29 Impact factor: 2.571
Authors: Jörg Köninger; Beat P Müller-Stich; Frank Autschbach; Peter Kienle; Jürgen Weitz; Markus W Büchler; Carsten N Gutt Journal: Langenbecks Arch Surg Date: 2007-07-18 Impact factor: 3.445