You can read the fulltext article on qualitative and quantitative aspects of lymph nodes in colon cancer here.
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| reproduced from Veen et al. Dig Surg, 2013 |
As a consequence of this ongoing dispute, the qualitative and quantitative aspects of lymph node evaluation are being scrutinized beyond the blunt distinction between 'node positive' (pN+) and 'node negative' (pN0) disease.
Controversy ranges from a minimal or 'least-unit' strategy as exemplified by the 'sentinel node' (see f.ex. reference 3 below) to a maximally invasive or 'all inclusive' approach by extensive surgery.
Ranging between these two extremes of node sampling strategies are factors of quantitative and qualitative value, which may be subject to modification.
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| reproduced from Veen et al. Dig Surg, 2013. |
Qualitative issues may include aspects of lymph node harvest reflected by surgeon, pathologist and even hospital performance, which all may be subject to modification. However, patient's age, gender and genotype may be non-modifiable, yet influence node sample.
Quantitative issues may reflect the balance between absolute numbers and models investigating the relationships of positive to negative nodes (lymph node ratio; log odds of positive lymph nodes).
Read the full text article (link is available above) and let me know your opinion on this!
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