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Many studies have shown that higher lymph-node counts in surgical specimens from colorectal cancer resections are associated with longer patient survival. Some experts presume that this effect is related to understaging — i.e., if fewer lymph nodes are identified in the specimen, positive nodes might have been left in the abdomen or positive nodes in the specimen might not have been identified by the pathologist. In the first case, patients would not have received adequate surgical resection; and, in both cases, patients would be denied the benefits of adjuvant chemotherapy. Because higher lymph-node counts have been associated consistently with longer survival, the National Quality Forum endorsed a 12-node minimum as the standard for hospi…