Abstract

INTRODUCTION

We aimed to examine the clinical and the pathological factors that affect lymph node metastasis, which is an important prognostic factor in survival of the patients with colorectal cancer, and to determine the most appropriate patient-centered treatment method

METHODS

The file records and electronic data of the patients who had been operated on with the diagnosis of colorectal cancer at the General Surgery Clinic between May 2008 and December 2012 were retrospectively evaluated

RESULTS

Seventy-four patients, 50 males (67.6%) and 24 females (32.4%), were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 69.3 years (range: 38-60 years). While lymphovascular invasion was observed in 21 patients (28.4%), perineural invasion was observed in 19 patients (25.7%). When the growth pattern was examined, 48 patients (64.9%) demonstrated ulcerovegetative growth pattern, 18 patients (24.3%) demonstrated ulcerated growth pattern, eight patients (10.8%) demonstrated a polyp-type growth pattern. The most frequent tumor localization was the middle third of rectum (n=20; 27%) and the most common type of surgery was the Miles operation (n=16; 21.6%).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the risk of LNM significantly increases in patients with colorectal cancer who have surgical radial margin,lymphovascular and perineural invasion. Over time, the other risk factors affecting LNM will be determined with large scale studies that could be conducted together with advancing technology and broad sources of knowledge. In this way, minimally invasive surgery could be performed on cases with colon cancer and the patients would be protected from the side effects of unnecessary chemotherapy.