Tumor micrometastases in mesorectal lymph nodes and their clinical significance in patients with rectal caner

Table 2 Clinicopathological features of five recurrent patients with lower rectal cancer

Case No.	Sex	Age (yr)	Characteristics of tumor		No. of LNs			Site of recurrence	Outcome
			Differentiation	Invasion	Total	M	MM
1	Female	35	Well	Muscle	15	3	2	Lung	Surviving
2	Female	65	Poor	Serosa	22	22	0	Pelvis + liver	Dead
3	Male	50	Moderate	Muscle	27	0	3	Pelvis	Surviving
4	Male	45	Poor	Serosa	30	17	4	Pelvis	Dead
5	Male	32	Poor	Muscle	21	5	5	Pelvis	Surviving

LNs: lymph nodes; M: metastatic; MM: micrometastatic.