Clinicopathologic correlates of tumor deposits, lymph node harvest, lymph node metastasis, and lymph node ratio in colorectal cancer: The importance of mucinous tumor histology

Abstract

Introduction: The presence of tumor deposits (TDs), number of harvested lymph nodes (LNs), LN metastasis, and LN ratio (LNR) are well-known prognostic factors in colorectal carcinoma. Materials and methods: The relationship between clinicopathologic parameters and the presence of TDs, number of harvested LNs, LN metastasis, and LNR was investigated in 278 consecutive patients who underwent surgery for colorectal adenocarcinoma. Results: Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that mucinous tumor histology and lymphovascular invasion (LVI) were independent risk factors for the presence of TD (p=0.016 and p=0.003, respectively). Age, tumor localization, and pT stage were statistically significant parameters affecting harvested LN number (p=0.002, p=0.007, and p=0.028, respectively). Only LVI was an independent risk factor for LN metastasis (p=0.001), whereas advanced age, mucinous tumor histology, and LVI were independent risk factors for higher LNR (p=0.033, p=0.042, and p=0.001, respectively). Conclusions: Our results revealed that mucinous tumor histology was an independent risk factor for the presence of TDs and higher LNR. In addition, LVI - which is a well-known prognostic factor- was also an independent risk factor for the presence of TD and higher LNR. Older age was found to be an independent risk factor for higher LNR. We found that the number of harvested lymph nodes was increased when the patients were younger, the tumor was located on the right colon, and the pT stage was advanced. These results have to be proven in larger cohorts with follow-up data. Keywords: colorectal cancer; mucinous tumor histology; tumor deposit; lymph node ratio; lymph node metastasis.