Background: 30% of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) in Dukes stages A and B (T1-T4, N0, M0) present tumor recurrence and die after 5 years follow up. This unexpectedly poor evolution might be attributable to the presence of lymph node micrometastasis undetected in routine examination with haematoxilin-eosine (H&E). Objective: to assess the presence of undetected micrometastasis. Patients and methods: we conducted a retrospective study of the locoregional lymph nodes in 85 patients operated for CRC in Dukes stages A and B (T1-T4, N0, M0), using immunohistochemistry with anticytokeratin antibodies AE1/AE3. In this descriptive, inferential bivariant and survival study, we analyzed different risk factors, including local infiltration T1/T4, Dukes A/B, number of dissected lymph nodes, vascular invasion, micrometastasis, tumor recurrence and death in the context of the presence or absence of micrometastases. Results: Dukes stage and neoplastic angioinvasion are influential in patient prognosis; however, lymph node micrometastases were not associated with a poorer outcome of CRC. Conclusions: locorregional lymph node micrometastases detected with anticytokeratine antibodies AE1/AE3 in Dukes A and B CRC patients are not associated with reduced survival.

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Introduction: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) is the most widely used technique for treating choledocholithiasis.In some cases, due to anomalies of the papilla or the presence of large or multiple calculi, additional maneuvers are needed to remove the stones. The present study investigates the efficacy and safety of ES with sphincteroplasty (SP) in the management of choledocholithiasis with extraction difficulties. Patients and Methods: A prospective study was made of 153 patients with choledocholithiasis subjected to ERCP. Fifty-two patients underwent ES with SP, while 101 were subjected only to ES. The two groups were compared in terms of age, gender, percentage cannulation, presence of papilla alterations, large or multiple stones, success in stone removal and complications (acute pancreatitis, bleeding and perforation). In the ES with SP group, we moreover recorded the diameters of the balloons employed (10 -18 mm). Results: There were no significant differences between the groups in the stone extraction success rate (94.23% in the ES with SP group versus 97.03% in the ES group) or in the appearance of complications (3.8% in the ES with SP group versus 2.7% in the ES group). The presence of difficult papillae, and of multiple or large stones was significantly greater in the ES with SP group. The diameter of the balloon was not associated with the appearance of complications. Conclusion: Endoscopic sphincterotomy with sphincteroplasty is effective and safe in the treatment of choledocholithiasis with extraction difficulties.