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Published on: January 9, 2026
Is there a disadvantage to radical lymph node dissection in colon cancer?
K Weber1, S Merkel, A Perrakis
1Department of Surgery, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Krankenhausstraße 12, 91054, Erlangen, Germany. klaus.weber@uk-erlangen.de
Background:
The necessity for radical lymph node dissection for solid tumours was discussed in the past controversially. The aim of this study was to correlate the oncologic results of radical surgery for colon cancer with potential complications.
Methods:
A total of 1,453 patients with R0-resected colon cancer operated on between 1978 and 2004 were analysed in a prospective database. The follow-up was at least 5 years. Rates of survival, locoregional and distant recurrences and complications were calculated.
Results:
To compare the oncological outcome, the time frame was divided into five periods. In the last cohort (2000-2004), we observed in stage I-III tumours a 5-year cancer-related survival rate of 90.1 %, compared to 82.1 % in the first cohort (1978-1984) (p = 0.061). The local recurrence rate could be reduced from 6.5 to 3.2 % in the same cohorts (p = 0.059). It reached the level of significance in the multivariate analysis. The rates of distant metastases did not change. For patients with stage III, the 5-year cancer survival rates increased from 62.0 to 81.8 % (p = 0.005). Morbidity and mortality were comparable to other studies even to those with limited lymph node dissections.
Conclusion:
Radical lymph node dissection in colon cancer is not associated with obvious disadvantages to the patient. Specific considerable side effects were not observed when the preparation is performed in embryonic planes preserving the autonomous nerves. The complication rates were not increased compared to other studies, even to those with limited lymphatic dissection. In addition, radical lymph node dissection in colon cancer may improve survival.
