SynthesisInternational journal of colorectal disease2023
Methylene blue can increase the number of lymph nodes harvested in colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis.
Synthesis in International journal of colorectal disease, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 6 citations in OpenAlex.
- [Evidence for the extent and oncological benefits of lymphadenectomy in colon and rectal cancer : A narrative review based on meta-analyses].Chirurgie (Heidelberg, Germany) · 2025Pooled it
- The Role of Carbon Nanoparticles as Lymph Node Tracers in Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.International journal of molecular sciences · 2023Pooled it
- Effect of methylene blue infusion into the inferior mesenteric artery on lymph node retrieval after transabdominal total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer: a retrospective cohort study.Frontiers in oncology · 2026Article
- Effect of indocyanine green near-infrared light imaging technique guided lymph node dissection on short-term clinical efficacy of minimally invasive radical gastric cancer surgery: a meta-analysis.Frontiers in oncology · 2023Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
aimThe lymph node (LN) status plays an important role in colorectal cancer (CRC), which depends on adequate LN harvest. In some studies, methylene blue has been used to increase the number of LNs harvested in vitro. The purpose was to evaluate the effect of methylene blue staining on LN harvest during radical resection of CRC.
methodsThe Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science were searched from the dates of inception until 15 October 2022. Studies were included if they were randomized controlled trials or nonrandomized controlled trials for radical resection of rectal cancer according to the principle of total mesorectal excision that compared the use of methylene blue with blank control in LN harvest. The primary outcomes were the number of LNs harvested and the incidence of fewer than 12 LNs harvested.
resultOf 328 articles found, a meta-analysis was conducted of 15 studies (2 randomized controlled trials and 13 non-randomized controlled trials) composed of 3104 patients. Meta-analysis showed that methylene blue could not only significantly increase the number of LNs harvested in CRC specimens (stained group 28.23 vs unstained group 16.15; weighted mean difference 12.08; 95% CI, 8.03-16.12; p < 0.001; I
conclusionMethylene blue can increase the number of LNs harvested in CRC, reduce the incidence of fewer than 12 LNs harvested, and ensure the accuracy of LN staging.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.