Table 1 Main characteristics of cases included in the study.

Median Age [Years]

62.2 (45–85)

57.2 (38–75)*

Male:Female

66:4

43:6

Median tumor size [cm]

2.5 (0.6–5.2)

3.4 (1.0–6.5)*

Grading (G1/G2/G3)

5/43/22

1/25/23

Median number of investigated lymph nodes

30.4 (4–76)

31.5 (5–82)

N0/N+

30/40 (43% N+)

35/14 (71% N+)*

Median number of nodal metastases in N+

2 (1–25)

3 (1–17)