To evaluate the efficacy of complete mesocolic excision (CME) for stage III colon cancer.
Methods: Clinical data of 100 patients diagnosed as stage III colon cancer in our hospital from July 2011 to July 2013 were analyzed retrospectively. Fifty-four patients in CME group underwent complete mesocolic excision and 46 patients in control group underwent traditional radical surgery. Lymphadenectomy, postoperative specimen quality and short-term clinical efficacy were compared between two groups.
Results: The number of gross dissected lymph nodes and positive dissected lymph nodes in CME group were 26.7 ± 2.6 and 4.3 ± 1.4, which were significantly higher than those in control group (22.9 ± 3.7 and 2.8 ± 1.2) (all P<0.01). There was statistical significance in surgical C-class specimens of CME group were found in 45 cases (83.3%), which were significantly higher than those of control group (29 cases, 63.0%) (P<0.05). The postoperative complication rate of two groups was the same without significant difference(both 13.0%, P>0.05).
Conclusion: CME is safe and effective for stage III colon cancer, which can improve the quality of surgical specimen and increase the number of dissected lymph nodes, but do not elevate the morbidity of postoperative complication.