More Lymph Node Evaluation Needed for Colorectal Cancer
Reported February 3, 2005
(Ivanhoe Newswire) — A new study shows too many colorectal cancer patients are going without adequate evaluation of their lymph nodes even though national and international guidelines call for such evaluation to ensure proper cancer treatment.
Researchers from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis used National Cancer Institute data to determine how many patients received care in accordance with the guidelines, which call for at least 12 lymph nodes to be removed and analyzed to determine whether the cancer has spread.
The study included nearly 117,000 patients treated between 1988 and 2001. While the number of patients who received proper evaluation of their lymph nodes did rise over time — going from 32 percent in 1988 to 44 percent in 2001 — the majority are still not receiving proper evaluation.
Proper evaluation of the lymph nodes is vital to colorectal cancer care, report the investigators, because lymph node status is the best way for doctors to tell who will survive the disease. While about 68 percent of patients without evidence of the cancer in their lymph nodes can expect to live at least five years following diagnosis, only about 40 percent who do have evidence of cancer in the lymph nodes are likely to have the same prognosis.
Twelve lymph nodes is considered the minimum number needed to determine whether the cancer has spread. Knowing whether the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes also determines the extent of treatment people should receive for the cancer. If doctors dont analyze at least 12 lymph nodes, they may be missing the spread of the cancer and therefore may not be offering patients optimal treatment.
SOURCE: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 2005;97:219-225
