Retrospective data analysis was performed to determine the minimum number of lymph nodes required for the staging of @entity14 , and a prospective feasibility study was carried out to identify sentinel nodes in order to clarify whether these may predict the nodal status. From among 240 @entity14 specimens investigated between 1996 and 1998, 224 @entity5 were analyzed for their nodal status. Lymphatic mapping with vital patent blue dye injection into the peritumoral sub-serosal layer was performed in 25 @entity1 . Blue nodes were identified by the pathologist in the unfixed specimen immediately after the resection of the bowel and were assessed separately. Of the 123 node-positive @entity189 , 40 had more than 3 nodes involved. The nodal positivity increased substantially when more than 6 nodes were assessed. The cumulative percentage analysis demonstrated that ideally 16 and 13 nodes should be obtained for the identification of any nodal involvement or the involvement of more than 3 nodes, respectively. Lymphatic mapping was successful in 24 @entity1 (96%). Blue nodes were predictive of the nodal status in 19 cases (79%), and were the only sites of @entity3 in 2 @entity1 (15% of the node-positive cases). Lymphatic mapping with the vital blue dye technique does not seem to facilitate the staging of @entity14 , at least in our @entity1 population with relatively large and deeply infiltrating @entity5 , and unless the technique is improved or other selective features of lymph nodes are found, all lymph nodes should be assessed. A minimum of 6 nodes, and an optimum of 16 nodes or more, are suggested from these series.

Nodal staging of XXXX from quantitative and qualitative aspects. Can lymphatic mapping help staging?

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'patient'] @entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['tumors'] @entity189 :: ('MESH:D002277', 'Disease') :: ['carcinomas'] @entity3 :: ('MESH:D009362', 'Disease') :: ['metastasis'] @entity14 :: ('MESH:D015179', 'Disease') :: ['colorectal cancers', 'colorectal carcinomas', 'colorectal carcinoma']
@entity14 :: (MESH:D015179,Disease) :: ['colorectal carcinomas']
