Comparative results of ganglion dissection in cancer of the rectum with and without prior treatment with adipose tissue

Abstract

Background. The aim of this study is to describe the result obtained through two techniques of isolation of lymphatic lymph nodes in surgical pieces of anterior resection due to adenocarcinoma of the rectum. Material and methods. We carried out a search in a series of 30 consecutive cases of patients operated on for adenocarcinoma of the rectum for lymph nodes first in a manual conventional way and second after 24 hours in a degreasing solution at room temperature. Results. In the first search 335 lymph nodes were lymph nodes isolated, with an average that oscillated between 6.46 and 17.58, with the lower values corresponding to the groups that had received prior adjuvant treatment. In the second inclusion, following the action of the clearing solution, we found new lymph nodes (85) in some 75% of the cases, appreciably lower in number and smaller in size than the initial search. Conclusions. Manual lymph nodes dissection of the adipose tissue is a reliable method for the isolation of lymphatic lymph nodes in pieces of resection due to adenocarcinoma of the rectum. The search for lymphatic ganglions following the action of a clearing solution should be reserved for cases in which the minimum recommended in the TNM staging is not reached.