Klin Onkol 2004; 17(3): 96-100.
Summary:
Backgrounds: For the correct assessing of prognosis and the optimal choice of adjuvant therapy in colorectal cancer the minimum number of 12 lymph nodes should be histopathologically examined. Our previous article in Klinická onkologie showed that the reality often does not correspond to this recommendation. The objective of this analysis was to define the factors influencing the number of examined lymph nodes and the retrieval of lymphatic metastases in colorectal cancer resection specimens.
Subjects and Methods: 285 patients in hospitals A and B (Czech Republic) undergoing the curative resection of the primary colorectal cancer. Retrospective analysis, standard medical case records as the primary data source. Digital data entry, statistical analysis.
Results: The number of examined lymph nodes depends firstly on the hospital where the examination is performed and on the examining pathologist. Some other factors could be of importance, such as surgeon, the difference between the colon and the rectum, length of the specimen, method of the specimen processing and others.
Conclusions: Considering the qualitative features of lymph nodes could probably increase the effectivity of histopathological examination. However, no definite recommendations taking these features into account are available yet. Therefore existing quantitative principles are to be respected and our effort should be focussed on the factors that help us to better clinical implementation of the current standards.
