LYMPH NODE HARVEST IN RESECTED COLON CANCER SPECIMENS (L.N)

Background: Identification ≥12 LN in resected colon cancer specimens has been considerate as a quality indicator. In patients with resected colorectal cancer, LN the involvement has particular importance for patient prognosis and adjuvant therapy. Methods: The I-st Surgical Clinic cancer registry was used to identify patients diagnosed with colon cancer. The proportion of colon cancer specimens which ≥12 were identify was determinate by anatomic location,patients ages and stage of disease. Survival was correlated with stage and while ≥12 LN were identified.Results: Pathology procedural change in 1998 were associated with a increase in the average number of LN. identified from 6 to 14 (p<0.001). The analysis was limited to 287 patients who suffered surgical resection of colon adeno-carcinoma during 1998-2009. Identification of≥12 LN varied from 57% to 83% by 7 anatomic location(p<0,001), from 65% to 75% during 5 years (p=0.27),from 59% to 73% by 4 general stage of disease (p=0,04). Identification ≥12LN was associated with better survival for patients with stage I (p=0.6) and stage II (p=0,21) disease. Conclusions: Anatomic location, colorectal surgical training were strongly correlated with the number of LN identified.