The mesocolic apical fragment in complete mesocolic excision colectomies: Should it be analysed separately? A proof-of-concept study.

AIM: The aim of this work is to describe a protocol and assess the feasibility of harvesting and analysing the mesocolic apical fragment (MAF) for the presence of central lymph node (LN) metastasis and extra lymphatic free tumour cells in a random subgroup extracted from a cohort of complete mesocolic excision colectomies with central vascular ligation.

METHOD: Forty-seven patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer were included. A 2/2 cm pyramid of tissue was cut around the central tie and sent for pathological examination. The MAF was sectioned into 16 slices. High-definition images were taken from the slices which were merged into a panoramic three-dimensional image of the MAF. The distribution of LNs in the MAF was quantified. Immunohistochemistry staining for cytokeratin 14 was used to identify isolated tumour cells and micrometastases in the extranodal tissue.

RESULTS

No tumoural cells migrating through the apical zone, outside of the LNs, were identified. Margins of resection, mesocolic tissue and LNs were all negative in the subgroup of ultrastaged MAFs. The number of examined central LNs varied between 0 and 24, with positive MAF LNs being identified only in pN2 stages. The rate of positive apical LNs in our cohort was 4.2% (n = 2).

CONCLUSIONS

The MAF can be easily extracted from standard specimens, allowing for accurate analysis of lymphatic and extra-nodal tumour cells on the central resection margins, in central LNs and in the apical mesocolic tissue. Future research on larger cohorts is required to establish if analysing the MAF has an impact on patient staging, prognosis and management.