Benchmarking Colorectal Cancer Surgery

Main Category: GastroIntestinal / Gastroenterology
Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 05 Jun 2007 - 1:00 PST

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The American College of Pathology has suggested the examination of 12 or more lymph nodes from patients treated surgically for colorectal cancer to adequately stage the disease. Both ASCO and NCCN have considered adopting the 12 lymph node protocol as a benchmark for quality cancer control.

The study found that at least 12 lymph nodes were examined in 89% of patients with newly diagnosed stage I-III colorectal cancer who underwent primary surgery at NCCN centers in 2005 and 2006 compared with 45% of patients of the SEER population-based sample. Further studies will determine whether increasing the number of lymph nodes examined is an important quality measure that may be linked directly to patient outcomes.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is a non-profit organization, founded in 1964, with overarching goals of improving cancer care and prevention and ensuring that all patients with cancer receive care of the highest quality. Nearly 25,000 oncology practitioners belong to ASCO, representing all oncology disciplines (medical, radiologic, and surgical oncology) and subspecialties. Members include physicians and health-care professionals participating in approved oncology training programs, oncology nurses, and other practitioners with a predominant interest in oncology.

Roswell Park Cancer Institute, founded in 1898, is the nation's first cancer research, treatment and education center and is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in Upstate New York. RPCI is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation's leading cancer centers. Roswell Park has affiliate sites and collaborative programs in New York, Pennsylvania, and in China. For more information, visit RPCI's website at http://www.roswellpark.org.