Factors that Influence 12 or More Harvested Lymph Nodes in Early-Stage Colorectal Cancer

Background The number of lymph nodes required for accurate staging is a critical component in early-stage (stage A and B) colorectal cancer (CRC). Current guidelines demand at least 12 lymph nodes to be retrieved. Results of previous studies were contradictory in factors, which influenced the number of harvested lymph nodes. This study was designed to determine the factors that influence the number of harvested lymph nodes (≥12) in early-stage CRC in a single institution.