Metastatic lymph node ratio as a better prognostic tool than the TNM system in colorectal cancer.

The minimum number of lymph nodes that should be evaluated in colon cancer to adequately categorize lymph node status is still controversial. The lymph node ratio (LNR) may be a better prognostic indicator. We studied 1065 patients treated from 1 January 2000 to 31 August 2012.