Aim: The total number of lymph nodes examined after salvage colectomy for endoscopically removed malignant polyps was evaluated and an attempt was made to determine whether there was an optimal number of lymph nodes that should be harvested.
Method: From 2000 to 2009, 531 patients underwent segmental resection for non-metastatic colon cancer. Of these, 22 underwent a salvage colectomy for an endoscopically removed malignant polyp, the main indication for which was a resection margin of < 1 mm. The surgical procedure was identical to that used for all colon cancers.
Results: The mean number of lymph nodes examined was 11.6 ± 7.6 for the 22 patients with an endoscopically removed malignant polyp and 26.2 ± 13.9 for the remaining 509 patients (P = 0.0006). Fewer than 12 lymph nodes were examined in 62 (12%) of the 509 patients and in 13 (59%) of the 22 patients with an endoscopically removed malignant polyp (P < 0.0001). In the group of 22 patients who underwent a salvage colectomy, the total number of lymph nodes examined ranged from 2 to 33. At a mean follow up of 41 ± 15.6 months, no local or distant recurrence was observed in the 22 patients.
Conclusion: The total number of lymph nodes examined after colectomy for endoscopically removed malignant polyps varies and is less than the recommended number of 12 in most cases: this does not appear to have long-term prognostic significance. There is no biological reason to explain this clinical observation.
© 2011 The Authors. Colorectal Disease © 2011 The Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland.