Colorectal lymph node harvest in cancer surgery, adequacy and treatment implication: a 5-year retrospective analysis from a tertiary hospital in Ethiopia

The study found that the majority of cancer patients were between the ages of 34 and 53 years, in which the adequate lymph node retrieval was achieved only in 23% of cases. Procedures being performed by GI oncologic surgeons (P = 0.006, AOR;26.4), depth of invasion (AOR:14. P = 0.05), and length of specimen (AOR:5.365 P:0.045) were associated with improved adequacy of harvesting the lymph node. In conclusion, the study discovered that colorectal cancer primarily affects young people. Only a small number of participants had adequate lymph nodes harvested. The operating surgeon's expertise, tumor characteristics, and specimen lengths were the most important elements influencing lymph node retrieval in colorectal cancer surgery in the setting. Adequate sample length, combined with better availability to more qualified operators, may improve the adequacy of harvest in guiding future treatment decisions.