Exploratory analysis of lateral pelvic sentinel lymph node status for optimal management of laparoscopic lateral lymph node dissection in advanced lower rectal cancer without suspected lateral lymph node metastasis

Table 3 Status of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) and non-SLN lymph nodes according to hematoxylin and eosin staining

SLN identification	Intra-operative SLN diagnosis	Diagnosis of non-SLN dissected lateral lymph nodes
Identified: n = 16	+ SLNs: n = 1	+ non-SLNs: n = 0
	+ SLNs: n = 1	− non-SLNs: n = 1
	− SLNs: n = 15	+ non-SLNs: n = 0
	− SLNs: n = 15	− non-SLNs: n = 15
Not identified: n = 5	Not available: n = 5	+ non-SLNs: n = 1
Not identified: n = 5	Not available: n = 5	− non-SLNs: n = 4

ISSN: 1471-2407