Prophylactic lateral pelvic lymph node dissection in stage IV low rectal cancer

Table 2 Clinicopathological characteristics of patients in the lateral pelvic lymph node dissection and total mesorectal excision groups

Variable	TME group (n = 23)	LPLND group (n = 27)	P value
Age (yr)
< 65	13	19	0.382
≥ 65	10	8
Sex
Male	20	23	0.999
Female	3	4
Preoperative CEA level (ng/mL)
< 20	10	11	0.999
≥ 20	13	16
Tumor size (mm)
< 60	7	8	0.999
≥ 60	16	19
T category
T2, 3	11	14	0.999
T4	12	13
Histopathological grading
G1, 2	19	17	0.206
G3	4	10
Lymphatic invasion
Absence	3	3	0.999
Presence	20	24
Venous invasion
Absence	7	3	0.155
Presence	16	24
Lymph node metastasis
Absence	7	2	0.062
Presence	16	25
No. of metastatic organs
1	21	23	0.647
2, 3	2	4
Metastatic organ
Liver only	12	13	0.999
Others	11	14
Grade ≥ 3 complication of primary tumor resection
Absence	17	21	0.999
Presence	6	6
Residual tumor status
R0	8	12	0.569
R2	15	15
Preoperative chemotherapy
Absence	18	23	0.715
Presence	5	4
Postoperative chemotherapy
Absence	4	3	0.689
Presence	19	24

CEA: Carcinoembryonic antigen; LPLND: Lateral pelvic lymph node dissection; TME: Total mesorectal excision.