Abstract
Purpose The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical significance of lateral lymph node metastasis with no mesenteric lymph node metastasis after lateral lymph node dissection in middle and low rectal cancer .Methods Retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 5 consecutive patients who were pathologically diagnosed with lateral lymph node metastasis, while mesenteric lymph node metastasis was not observed after laparoscopic lateral lymph node dissection underwent for advanced low rectal cancer from July 2017 to August 2019.Results All the 5 patients were successfully completed laparoscopic lateral lymph node dissection, and no cases were transferred to laparotomy.The mean age was 58.80±6.53 years, Two Miles surgeries and three Dixson surgeries were performed.Conclusion We found that some patients had lateral lymph node metastasis, while mesenteric lymph nodes had no metastasis after lateral lymph node dissection.This phenomenon suggests that lateral lymph nodes are one of the important metastasis pathways of low rectal cancer,a new N stage is needed to distinguish it from other types of lymph node metastasis.In addition, LLND is of great significance for the pathological diagnosis of lateral lymph nodes.