SynthesisTechniques in coloproctology2023
A systematic review and meta-analysis of the use of methylene blue to improve the lymph node harvest in rectal cancer surgery.
Synthesis in Techniques in coloproctology, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 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
6 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
- Optimizing lymph node harvest in laparoscopic colorectal cancer: predictors and station-specific lymph node submission solutions.Annals of coloproctology · 2026Article
- Comparative margins between colorectal carcinoma and peritumoral injected methylene blue.Arquivos brasileiros de cirurgia digestiva : ABCD = Brazilian archives of digestive surgery · 2026Article
- Optimal lymph node yield for long-term survival in elderly patients with right-sided colon cancer: a large population-based cohort study.BMC cancer · 2025Article
- Clinical analysis of anastomotic fistula after anal preservation in 358 cases of rectal cancer and construction of risk prediction model: a single-center retrospective study.American journal of translational research · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundMethylene blue staining of the resected specimen has been described as an alternative to the conventional palpation and visual inspection method to improve lymph node harvest. This meta-analysis evaluates the usefulness of this technique in surgery for rectal cancer, particularly after neoadjuvant therapy.
methodsRandomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing lymph node harvest in methylene blue-stained rectal specimens to those of unstained specimens were identified from the Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases. Non-randomized studies and those with only colonic resections were excluded. The quality of RCTs was assessed using Cochrane's risk of bias tool. A weighted mean difference (WMD) was calculated for overall harvest, harvest after neoadjuvant therapy, and metastatic nodal yield. In contrast, the risk difference (RD) was calculated to compare yields of less than 12 lymph nodes between the stained and unstained specimens.
resultsStudy selection comprised seven RCTs with 343 patients in the unstained group and 337 in the stained group. Overall lymph node harvest and harvest after neoadjuvant therapy were significantly higher in stained specimens with a WMD of 13.4 and 10.6 and a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 9.5-17.2 and 4.8-16.3, respectively. Harvest of metastatic lymph nodes was significantly higher in the stained group (WMD 1.0, 95% CI 0.6-1.4). The yield of less than 12 lymph nodes was significantly higher in the unstained group with RD of 0.292 and 95% CI of 0.182-0.403.
conclusionDespite a small number of patients, this meta-analysis confirms improved lymph node harvest in surgical specimens stained with methylene blue compared with unstained specimens.
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.