Higher lymph node yield correlates with reduced colon cancer mortality

A significant negative correlation exists between lymph node yield (LNY) and 5-year mortality rates in colon cancer patients, with optimal prognostic results noted at 12 nodes. Beyond 22 nodes, further increases in LNY did not yield significant mortality differences. Additionally, lymph node ratio (LNR) strongly predicted survival outcomes in stage III colon cancer, regardless of LNY and positive node counts, indicating its potential for enhancing treatment planning in clinical settings.