Lymph node count and prognosis in colorectal cancer: The influence of examination quality

摘要: Colorectal cancer guidelines recommend adjuvant chemotherapy in stage II disease when less than 12 lymph nodes are assessed. The recommendation bases on previous studies showing an association of a low node count and adverse outcome. Compared to current standards, however, the quality examination was low. We, therefore, investigated prognostic role <12 cancers diagnosed adherent measures. Stage I-IV colorectal from 1,899 patients enrolled into population-based cohort study were for impact <12. specific share with ≥12 (stage I-IV: 62, 85, 78%, respectively) used compare other studies. We found no overall, cancer-specific or recurrence-free survival any tumour stage. reporting stages III stage-specific shares markedly higher this (85% vs. 24-58% analyses) correlated increased rates compared cancers. In conclusion our data indicate, that previously reported effect patients' outcomes is eliminated by improved thus question general applicability cut off decision making disease.