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J Clin Pathol 2008;61:1203-1208 doi:10.1136/jcp.2008.060210
  • Original article

Increased lymph node harvest from colorectal cancer resections using GEWF solution: a randomised study

  1. L H Iversen1,
  2. S Laurberg1,
  3. R Hagemann-Madsen2,
  4. H Dybdahl2
  1. 1
    Department of Surgery P, Aarhus University Hospital THG, Aarhus, Denmark
  2. 2
    Department of Pathology, Aarhus University Hospital THG, Aarhus, Denmark
  1. Dr L H Iversen, Department of Surgery P, Aarhus University Hospital, Tage Hansens-Gade, DK-8000 Aarhus, Denmark; lene.h.iversen{at}dadlnet.dk
  • Accepted 24 July 2008
  • Published Online First 28 August 2008

Abstract

Background: The lymph node harvest from colorectal specimens is pivotal for patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), independent of N stage.

Aims: To determine whether the use of GEWF solution (glacial acetic acid, ethanol, distilled water and formaldehyde) could improve the lymph node harvest in CRC specimens.

Methods: Consecutive fresh colonic (n = 60) and rectal (n = 60) specimens from patients with primary CRC resected at Aarhus University Hospital THG between March 2006 and July 2007 were randomised to either conventional preparation or GEWF preparation and examined in a standard manner.

Results: For colonic as well as rectal specimens, the GEWF solution increased the mean lymph node harvest from 9 and 10 to 16 and 17 lymph nodes per specimen compared to conventional prepared specimens (p<0.001). Using the recommended threshold of 12 lymph nodes to ensure adequacy of nodal harvest, the adequacy increased from less than half to almost three quarters independent of tumour origin (p<0.037). The proportion of node-negative specimens was not significantly different between the two preparation groups.

Conclusion: The use of GEWF solution in patients with CRC significantly increases the lymph node harvest of resected specimens.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: None.

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