Number and status of metastasis of lymph nodes dissected during surgery in NSCLC

OBJECTIVE:To analyze the number and status of metastasis of LNs dissected during surgery in NSCLC,and confirm their affection for the prognosis.METHODS:The clinical data of 1 575 inpatients were retrospectively reviewed.The number and the different status of metastasis of LNs dissected were analyzed.The Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis.RESULTS:The number of LNs dissected affected the prognosis,N0 patients with 7-13 LNs dissected during surgery,compared with patients with and the less than 6 LNs or more than 13 LNs,had a significant increase in survival,and the P values were 0.001 and 0.021,respectively;N1,N2 patients with more than 13 LNs,compared with patients with less than 6 LNs or 7-13 LNs had a significant increase in survival,and the P values were 0.000 and 0.003,respectively;the 5-year survival rate of N0 patients was superior than the N1 and N2 patients,P=0.000;the 5-year survival rates of N0 and skip metastasis N2 patients were superior than the continuous metastasis N2 patients,and the P value were 0.003 and 0.002,respectively;the patients with single station metastatic LNs,compared with patients with multiple stations metastatic LNs,had a significant increase in survival,P=0.000;the patients with 1 and 2 metastatic LNs,compared with patients with more than 2 metastatic LNs,had a significant increase in survival,P=0.000;the metastatic ratio of LNs was divided into four subgroup:25%,25%-50%,50%-75% and ≥75%.From 25% to ≥75%,the 5-year survival rate was gradually lower.CONCLUSION:For NSCLC,the number of LNs dissected during surgery should be 7-13;the range,numbers and metastatic ratio of LNs metastasis significantly affected the prognosis of NSCLC.