Colorectal cancer and lymph nodes: The obsession with the number 12

摘要: Lymphadenectomy of colorectal cancer is a decisive factor for the prognostic and therapeutic staging patient. For over 15 years, we have asked ourselves if minimum number 12 examined lymph nodes (LNs) was sufficient prevention understaging. The debate certainly still open consider that limit LNs not gold standard mainly because research methodology first studies has been criticized. Moreover many authors report to date both in United States Europe "12" target uncommon, adequate, or accessible only highly specialised centres. It should however be noted pressing nature dissemination guidelines responsible trend allowed general increase examined. There are different variables can affect retrieval LNs. Some, like surgeon, surgery, pathology exam, without question modifiable; however, other patient disease-related non-modifiable pose whether must individually assigned. nodal ratio, sentinel study biological aspects tumor could find valid application this field near future.