Abstract
Background: The extent of lymphadenectomy in colon cancer may impact potential to cure and accuracy of staging. Methods: The Veterans Affairs Central Cancer Registry database was queried for TNM stage I-III colon adenocarcinoma patients and yielded 5,823 individuals. The number of lymph nodes examined, number positive, and the positive:examined lymph node ratio were studied with respect to overall survival by using log-rank and Kaplan-Meier analysis. Results: The overall survival (OS) in stage II patients was greater with the higher number of lymph node (LN) examined. For stage II patients, the 5-year OS was 34%, 43%, 47%, and 55% for the lowest to highest quartiles (P = .007). For stage III patients, the 5-year OS was 31%, 27%, 38%, and 53% for the lowest to highest quartiles (not significant overall). OS is greater with an increased number of positive lymph nodes (P < .001). The lymph node ratio was more powerful prognostically with a 5-year OS of 27% for the highest quartile versus 44% for the lowest. Conclusions: More extensive lymphadenectomy is associated with improved OS in stage II colon cancer patients. The positive:examined LN ratio is more powerful prognostically than the number of nodes examined or LN positivity.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 349-354 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | American journal of surgery |
Volume | 194 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Sep 2007 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Colon cancer
- Lymph nodes
- Lymphadenectomy
- Prognosis
- Survival
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Surgery