Table 3.

Rates of detection of positive nodes when only the first one to seven largest nodes are examined*

	Number of lymph nodes or TDNs assessed
Number of largest node(s) assessed	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Node positive CRCs identified	29–30	41	46–47	52	54–55	55–56	58
% Of node positive cases (n=60)	48–50%	68%	77–78%	87%	90–92%	92–93%	97%
% Of all cases (n=123)	75–76%	85%	89%	93%	95–96%	96–97%	98%
	Number of lymph nodes (but not TDNs) assessed†
Number of largest node(s) assessed	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Node positive CRCs identified†	24–25	35	39	44	47–48	49–50	52
% Of node positive cases (n=54)†	44–46%	65%	72%	81%	87–89%	91–93%	96%
% Of all cases (n=123)	76%	85%	88%	92%	94–95%	96–97%	98%

*The accuracy of this approach is expressed as the percentages of cases adequately identified, in comparison with the results of an assessment of the total number of nodes examined in the resection specimens. †Tumours with only TDNs but no PNs classified as node negative.

CRC, colorectal carcinoma; TDN, perirectal or pericolic tumour deposit ≥3 mm with no evidence of residual nodal elements.