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World J Gastroenterol. Feb 28, 2014; 20(8): 1951-1960
Published online Feb 28, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i8.1951
Published online Feb 28, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i8.1951
Colorectal cancer and lymph nodes: The obsession with the number 12
Giovanni Li Destri, Isidoro Di Carlo, Roberto Scilletta, Beniamino Scilletta, Stefano Puleo, Department of Surgical Sciences, Organ Transplantation and Advanced Technologies, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Author contributions: Li Destri G, Di Carlo I, Scilletta R, Scilletta B and Puleo S designed the research, analysed the literature, wrote and revised the paper; all authors have approved the final version to be published.
Correspondence to: Giovanni Li Destri, MD, Department of Surgical Sciences, Organ Transplantation and Advanced Technologies, University of Catania, Policlinico, Via Santa Sofia 86, 95123 Catania, Italy. g.lidestri@unict.it
Telephone: +39-95-3782225 Fax: +39-95-3782379
Received: September 28, 2013
Revised: December 3, 2013
Accepted: January 6, 2014
Published online: February 28, 2014
Processing time: 150 Days and 21 Hours
Revised: December 3, 2013
Accepted: January 6, 2014
Published online: February 28, 2014
Processing time: 150 Days and 21 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: Lymphadenectomy of colorectal cancer is a decisive factor for the prognostic staging of the patient. A limit of 12 lymph nodes (LNs) is still not the gold standard and accessible only in highly specialized centers. There are different variables that can affect the retrieval of LNs; some are non-modifiable and pose the question of whether the minimum number of examined LNs must be individually assigned.