The effect of neoadjuvant therapy on the size, number, and distribution of mesorectal lymph nodes

The current therapeutic approach to patients with locally advanced rectal cancer is neoadjuvant radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy followed by total mesorectal excision. We aimed to investigate the number, size, and distribution of metastatic and nonmetastatic lymph nodes within the mesorectum; whether neoadjuvant therapy has any impact on the number and size of the lymph nodes; and the impact of metastatic lymph node localization on overall and disease-free survival. Specimens from 50 consecutive patients with stage II/III rectal cancer receiving either neoadjuvant radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy were investigated.

Source: Annals of Diagnostic Pathology - October 28, 2015 Category: Pathology Authors: Gülçin Yegen, Metin Keskin, Melek Büyük, Enver Kunduz, Emre Balık, Esra Kaytan Sağlam, Yersu Kapran, Oktar Asoğlu, Mine Güllüoğlu Tags: Original Contribution Source Type: research