Does body mass index affect lymph node retrieval in colon resection for cancer?
J. M. Pimiento, M. A. Cristancho, K. Aboulhosn, T. Fancher, J. A. Palesty and S. J. Dudrick Saint mary s hospital, Waterbury, CT 13571 Background: The management of colon cancer is a multidisciplinary effort that begins with adequate staging centered around the assessment of lymphatic spread. Multiple research groups have studied the number of lymph nodes retrieved and its relation with the outcome of patients with colon cancer, reporting better outcome in patients with a higher number of nodes retrieved. It has been well established that fatty tissue makes lymph node recovery difficult.Our objective was to evaluate if Body Mass Index (BMI) is associated with the number of lymph nodes retrieved, age, stage or location of the tumor. Methods: Retrospective chart review of patient who underwent colon resection for cancer between January 2001 to January 2005. Demographics, BMI and pathologic findings were recorded. Results: 395 patients had diagnosis of colon cancer, 140 underwent surgical
