Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 11, 2026
06:46
Caudal-to-cranial Approach in Laparoscopic Right Hemicolectomy with Complete Mesocolon Excision and D3 Lymph Node Dissection
Published on: January 9, 2026
Factors influencing lymph node harvest in colorectal surgery
M Gelos1, J Gelhaus, P Mehnert
1Department of General and Visceral Surgery, Augusta-Kranken-Anstalt, Bergstrasse 26, 44791 Bochum, Germany. gelos@augusta-bochum.de
International Journal of Colorectal Disease
|September 8, 2007
Summary
Early tumor stage, bowel segment length, and right-sided tumor location significantly impact the number of lymph nodes (LN) harvested in colorectal cancer resections. These factors are crucial for accurate oncologic assessment and patient prognosis.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Surgical Pathology
Background:
- Lymphadenectomy is vital for colorectal cancer prognosis and survival.
- Factors influencing lymph node (LN) yield in colorectal cancer resections require further identification.
- Existing research on factors affecting harvested LN numbers presents contradictory findings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify factors significantly influencing the number of assessed lymph nodes (LN) in oncologic colorectal cancer resections.
- To clarify the relationship between clinicopathological variables and LN yield in colorectal cancer surgery.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 341 patients undergoing curative-intent colorectal cancer resection (2000-2005).
- Histopathological examination of all surgical specimens by two pathologists.
- Statistical analysis to determine factors associated with the number of harvested lymph nodes.
Main Results:
- A median of 15.1 lymph nodes (LN) were resected per operation.
- Early tumor stage, length of resected bowel segment, and right-sided tumor location significantly increased LN yield.
- Age, gender, surgeon volume, tumor differentiation, LN metastasis, lymphatic invasion, and tumor invasion depth did not significantly affect LN count.
Conclusions:
- The number of harvested lymph nodes in colorectal cancer resections is influenced by several parameters, including tumor stage and location.
- Standardization of lymph node assessment criteria across all colorectal cancer locations may need re-evaluation.
- Further research is needed to establish optimal lymph node yield for all colorectal cancer types.
