Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most common malignancy in the digestive system and the second leading cause of cancer deaths. Lymph Nodes (LNs) involvement is the most important prognostic factor in patients with CRC. The present study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between the number of LNs in resected CRC specimens and clinicopathologic criteria in patients with CRC. The present cross-sectional study was conducted on pathology and oncology reports of 150 patients who underwent surgery for CRC in Mashhad's Omid Hospital. The inclusion criteria were the number of resected or involved LNs, patients' age and gender, cancer stage, tumor grade, tumor location and length of time without disease. Patients' survival rate was calculated based on the length of time without disease. out of the whole 150 patients, 74 were male (49.3) and 76 were female (50.7); the average age was 56 years; 37 of the patients were under 50 years old; the average number of resected LNs was 7.16 (min:0, max: 42); no relationship was observed between the number of resected LNs and clinicopathologic criteria; however, the Lymph Node Ratio (LNR) was significantly related to the number of resected LNs (p<0.001), cancer stage (p<0.001), tumor grade (p<0.001), metastasis (p<0.001), recurrence (p<0.001) and length of time without disease (p<0.001); finally, higher LNs' involvement was associated with lower survival rates (p<0.001). Although significant relationships were observed between LNR and prognostic criteria (recurrence, metastasis and length of time without disease), the total number of resected LNs was not significantly related to the mentioned criteria. However, a full dissection and removal of involved LNs should be done for correct staging of cancer.