Lymph node retrieval colon cancer: Are we making the grade?

Adequate lymph node (LN) excision is imperative for pathologic staging and determination of adjuvant treatment. he 2004–2017 National Cancer Database (NCDB) was queried for curative colon cancer resections. Tumors were categorized by location: left, right, and transverse colon cancers. Adequate (12–20 LNs) vs. inadequate ($63,333 had decreased likelihood of inadequate LN retrieval (OR 0.68, CI[0.56–0.82]. We are making the grade as NCDB data demonstrates a steady decrease in inadequate lymphadenectomy (2004–2017). There remain socioeconomic risk factors for inadequate lymphadenectomy that need to be addressed. [Display omitted] •Adequate lymphadenectomy for colon cancer resections has steadily increased.•Patients with >20 lymph nodes retrieved had optimal 5 year overall survival.•There are socioeconomic variables that predict inadequate lymph node retrieval.