BACKGROUND: The main base in surgical treatment of colorectal cancer is en-bloc removal of the tumor with adequate proximal and distal margins, combined with the removal of lymph nodes. AIM: To evaluate factors associated with the number of lymph nodes found in surgical specimens from patients with colorectal cancer. METHODS: Analysis of a retrospective data of consecutive patients operated with a diagnosis of colorectal adenocarcinoma. Were excluded those undergoing palliative surgery. Demographic data, operative and histopathological findings were analyzed using the Fisher exact test, chi-square, Wilcoxon rank-sum and a logistic regression model. RESULTS: From 2000 to 2008, were operated 298 patients with colorectal cancer. The data included in the analysis were available for 173 patients. Of these, 85 (49%) were female and median age was 65 (26-94) years. The resection was the most common left colectomy (45%), followed by right colectomy (23%). The median number of lymph nodes were isolated from eight (0-67) and 33% of patients had 12 or more lymph nodes identified in surgical specimens. Patients younger than 50 years and those who underwent right colectomy had a greater number of lymph nodes isolated. CONCLUSIONS: Patient age less than 50 years and the type of surgical resection are associated with higher number of lymph nodes found in surgical specimens.
Colorectal cancer; Lymphnodes; Surgery; Neoplasm staging
