Insufficient lymph node dissection is an independent risk factor for postoperative cancer death in patients undergoing surgery for stage II colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND

Surgical resection is the most effective treatment for patients with stage II colorectal cancer (CRC). However, a few patients with early-phase CRC suffer postoperative cancer death.

AIMS

To investigate the risk factors for postoperative cancer death in patients who undergo surgery for stage II CRC.

METHODS

Prognostic significance was analyzed by χ(2) test, univariate analyses, Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank test using clinicopathological factors from the database.

RESULTS

A total of 205 patients with stage II CRC were evaluated. Age (≤ 65/>65 years), venous invasion (negative/positive), number of dissected lymph nodes (≤ 9/≥ 10), grade of lymph node dissection (sufficient/insufficient) and albumin level (< 3.5/≥ 3.5 g/dl) were associated with shorter overall survival. Univariate analysis of the clinicopathological factors revealed that only the grade of lymph node dissection (sufficient/insufficient) was associated with postoperative cancer death (odds ratio 2.993, 95% confidence interval 1.216-7.368, p = 0.017).Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank test revealed that the group with insufficient lymph node dissection had a higher incidence of postoperative cancer death than the group with sufficient dissection (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Insufficient lymph node dissection is an independent risk factor for postoperative cancer death in patients who undergo surgery for stage II CRC.