RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the prognostic value of lymph node ratio and N staging in stage III colorectal cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinicopathologic factors and follow-up data of 304 cases with stage III colorectal cancer from January 1998 to December 2011 were analyzed retrospectively. Multivariate analysis was performed using Cox proportional hazard regression model in forward stepwise regression. Patients were divided into different subgroups according to the number of lymph nodes sample.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>LNR and N stage were independent risk factors for stage III colorectal cancer, the prognostic value of LNR was better than that of N stage [Odds ratio were 1.838(95% CI:1.563~2.161) vs. 1.625 (95% CI:1.392~1.898)]. Subgroup analysis showed that, when the number of lymph nodes sample was less than 13, the prognostic value of LNR was better than that of N stage (Odds ratio were 1.836 vs. 1.639). But when the number of lymph nodes sample was more than 13, they were comparable (Odds ratio were 1.876 vs. 1.853).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The prognostic value of LNR and N stage were comparable for stage III colorectal cancer, but when the number of lymph nodes sample was less than 13, LNR was more valuable.</p>