The topographical distribution of lymph node metastases in colon cancer resections

In accordance with international guidelines all lymph nodes in colon cancer specimens must be examined to obtain accurate staging. This study aimed to determine the topographical location of lymph node metastases and evaluate if a more limited sampling approach could be an alternative. Partial colectomies received at the Department of Pathology, Zealand University Hospital during a six-month period were included. At the macroscopic examination, each specimen was divided into three different segments: a segment containing the index tumor and the tumor-feeding artery, an oral and an anal segment. The number of lymph nodes and lymph node metastases were registered separately for each segment. Resections from 93 patients were included. Of 2466 lymph nodes, 1839 (74.6 %) were located in the tumor segment, 308 (12.5 %) in the oral, and 319 (12.9 %) in the anal segment, respectively. In 133 (5,4 %) lymph nodes a metastasis was present. Of these 129 (97.0 %) were located in the tumor segment, one (0.8 %) in the oral segment, and three (2.3 %) in the anal segment. No patients had metastasis in the oral or anal segments without metastases also being present in the tumor segment leading to consideration of the need for lymph node harvest of the complete specimen upon initial examination. As such, the segment containing the index tumor and tumor-feeding artery could be regarded as a sentinel segment indicating a potential need for lymph node dissection in the oral and anal segments.