Vascular Invasion and High Tumor Grade as Predictors of Lymph Node Metastasis in CRC
Shayan Abubakir, Hazha Hidayat
Apex Medical Journal, 2026, Volume 1, Issue 1
Background: Lymph node metastasis influences staging, treatment, and prognosis in colorectal cancer. Because both features are routinely assessed in surgical specimens, their potential clinical value merits investigation. This study examined associations between vascular invasion, histological grade, and nodal metastasis. Methods: This retrospective study included 134 patients with colorectal cancer; nodal status was documented for 133. Clinicopathological characteristics were summarized descriptively. Categorical associations were tested using chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression estimated odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Model discrimination was assessed using the receiver operating characteristic area under the curve (AUC). Results: Mean age was 52.0 ± 16.0 years; 86 patients (64.2%) were male. Among 133 evaluable patients, 92 (69.2%) had nodal metastasis. Metastasis occurred in 84/94 patients (89.4%) with vascular invasion versus 8/39 (20.5%) without invasion (P < 0.001). It occurred in 72/77 patients (93.5%) with high-grade tumors versus 20/56 (35.7%) with low-grade tumors (P < 0.001). Both vascular invasion (adjusted OR 14.83, 95% CI 4.56–48.15) and high grade (adjusted OR 9.30, 95% CI 2.76–31.34) remained independently associated with nodal metastasis. The final model achieved an AUC of 0.924. Conclusion: Vascular invasion and high histological grade were independently associated with lymph node met