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International Journal of Colorectal Disease

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01-04-2015 | Original Article

The impact of lymph node size to predict nodal metastasis in patients with rectal cancer after preoperative chemoradiotherapy

Authors: Im-kyung Kim, Jeonghyun Kang, Beom Jin Lim, Seung-Kook Sohn, Kang Young Lee

Published in: International Journal of Colorectal Disease | Issue 4/2015

Abstract

Purpose

During restaging after preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT), the assessment of lymph node (LN) metastasis is vital for selecting further treatment strategies. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of LN size to predict LN metastasis in rectal cancer patients after preoperative CRT.

Methods

A total of 30 consecutive patients who underwent preoperative CRT followed by curative resection of primary rectal cancer were selected as a study group (CRT group). As a control group (non-CRT group), 30 patients who underwent primary tumor resection were selected using a 1:1 case-match design. Matching criteria were gender, age, and clinical T stage. The size of each LN was measured from the surgical specimen. To clarify optimal cutoff values for node size according to the risk of detecting metastasis, receiving-operator characteristic (ROC) curves were generated.

Results

In the non-CRT group, 39/474 LNs were confirmed to have metastasis. In the CRT group, 29/422 LNs showed metastasis. The median size of metastatic LNs was 6.0 mm in CRT group, which was significantly larger than 4.0 mm in the non-CRT group (p = 0.006). The optimal cutoff value for determining metastasis in the CRT group was 4.5 mm, compared to 3.5 mm in the non-CRT group. The accuracy of the cutoff value was much higher in the CRT group (CRT vs. non-CRT, 77.9 vs. 59.9 %).

Conclusions

LN size is a strong indicator for prediction of regional LN metastasis in rectal cancer patients after preoperative CRT, compared to those without CRT.

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Title: The impact of lymph node size to predict nodal metastasis in patients with rectal cancer after preoperative chemoradiotherapy
Authors: Im-kyung Kim
Jeonghyun Kang
Beom Jin Lim
Seung-Kook Sohn
Kang Young Lee
Publication date: 01-04-2015
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: International Journal of Colorectal Disease / Issue 4/2015
Print ISSN: 0179-1958
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1262
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-014-2099-0

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

The impact of lymph node size to predict nodal metastasis in patients with rectal cancer after preoperative chemoradiotherapy

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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