Budding as a Risk Factor for Lymph Node Metastasis in pT1 or pT2 Well-Differentiated Colorectal Adenocarcinoma

Abstract

PURPOSE:Lymph node metastasis is an important indicator of tumor stage and prognosis in pT1 and pT2 colorectal adenocarcinomas. Lymphovascular invasion is an established risk factor of lymph node metastasis, whereas budding at the invasive front of tumors is also reported to correlate with l