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Introduction: tumour specific surgery in colon cancer is gaining popularity among colorectal surgeons. Many advocate adapting surgical technique based on preoperative CT staging as not all patients require complete mesocolic excision (CME) and D3 lymphadenectomy. We aimed to assess the sensitivity and specificity of preoperative CT scans in nodal staging and analyse whether inadequate CT staging could have influenced local recurrences. Material and Methods: a retrospective cohort study was conducted on patients with stage I-III colon cancer who were followed up at our hospital between 2011 and 2019. The clinical and pathological variables and data on locoregional recurrence (LRR) were extracted from the electronic patient file, including imaging data performed as part of the standard oncological follow-up protocol. Results: the overall CT scan accuracy to identify the nodal status was 56.9% with sensitivity and specificity of 60.6% and 52.5%. Overstaging occurred in 95 patients (22%) and understaging in 92 (21%). Among understaged patients, 8 (8.7%) developed nodal LRR. Conclusion: considering that roughly one in three patients with nodal LRR, were underdiagnosed in terms of nodal status, by the preoperative CT assessment, the therapeutic decisions regarding the surgical approach should not be guided by this and CME with central vascular ligation (CVL) should be applied to all patients as a standardized surgical technique., (Celsius.)

Aim: The aim of this work is to describe a protocol and assess the feasibility of harvesting and analysing the mesocolic apical fragment (MAF) for the presence of central lymph node (LN) metastasis and extra lymphatic free tumour cells in a random subgroup extracted from a cohort of complete mesocolic excision colectomies with central vascular ligation., Method: Forty-seven patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer were included. A 2/2 cm pyramid of tissue was cut around the central tie and sent for pathological examination. The MAF was sectioned into 16 slices. High-definition images were taken from the slices which were merged into a panoramic three-dimensional image of the MAF. The distribution of LNs in the MAF was quantified. Immunohistochemistry staining for cytokeratin 14 was used to identify isolated tumour cells and micrometastases in the extranodal tissue., Results: No tumoural cells migrating through the apical zone, outside of the LNs, were identified. Margins of resection, mesocolic tissue and LNs were all negative in the subgroup of ultrastaged MAFs. The number of examined central LNs varied between 0 and 24, with positive MAF LNs being identified only in pN2 stages. The rate of positive apical LNs in our cohort was 4.2% (n = 2)., Conclusions: The MAF can be easily extracted from standard specimens, allowing for accurate analysis of lymphatic and extra-nodal tumour cells on the central resection margins, in central LNs and in the apical mesocolic tissue. Future research on larger cohorts is required to establish if analysing the MAF has an impact on patient staging, prognosis and management., (© 2022 Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland.)

Aim: There is no consensus on the appropriate extent of oncological resection for tumours of the transverse colon. Concerns regarding tumour factors such as pattern of lymph node spread and technical factors such as anastomotic perfusion lead to a variety of procedures being performed., Methods: A comprehensive search for published studies examining outcomes following segmental versus extended colectomy for transverse colon tumours was performed adhering to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items in Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses) guidelines. Random effects methods were used to combine data., Results: Seven comparative series examining outcomes in 3395 patients were identified. Segmental colectomy results in shorter operating times (mean difference 15.80 min, 95% CI -20.98 to -10.62, P < 0.001) and less ileus (OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.33-0.81, P = 0.004). There was no difference in length of hospital stay (mean difference 1.53 days, 95% CI -3.79 to 0.73, P = 0.18). Extended colectomy results in a lower rate of anastomotic leak (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.40-0.97, P = 0.04). There are fewer nodes retrieved in segmental colectomy (mean difference 7.60 nodes, 95% CI -9.60 to -5.61, P < 0.001) but no difference in disease recurrence (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.59-1.34, P = 0.56) or overall survival (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.68-1.4, P = 0.9)., Conclusions: Available data are limited due to a lack of randomized controlled trials. However, based on current evidence, segmental resection for transverse colon tumours is associated with less ileus but lower lymph node yields and higher anastomotic leak rates. Length of stay is similar. Oncological outcomes are equivalent., (© 2020 The Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland.)