Clinicopathologic Significance of Tumor Deposits in Colon Adenocarcinoma: Associations with Regional Tumor Burden and Adverse Invasive Features

Objective

To evaluate whether tumor deposit presence was associated with histologically confirmed regional lymph node metastasis in colon adenocarcinoma. Associations with other clinicopathologic features, tumor deposit count, and overall survival were evaluated as secondary or exploratory objectives. Material and Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 191 patients who underwent colon resection for adenocarcinoma. Rectal tumors, neoadjuvant-treated cases, and non-resection specimens were excluded. Tumor deposit data were extracted from the original pathology reports, in which deposits had been classified according to College of American Pathologists criteria, and were analyzed by presence and count (0, 1, or ≥2). Histologically confirmed lymph node metastasis was defined as the primary outcome. Associations with other clinicopathologic features were considered secondary, whereas tumor deposit count-based, subgroup, alternative nodal classification, and overall survival analyses were considered exploratory.