Table 2 Comparison of pathological characteristics between the two groups
|  | Total (n = 296) | Autotransplantation group (n = 99) | Preservation group (n = 197) | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Tumor size (cm) | 1.0 (0.6–1.5) | 1.0 (0.7–1.5) | 1.0 (0.6–1.5) | 0.364 |
Multifocality | Â | Â | Â | 0.840 |
 Yes | 192 (64.9%) | 65 (65.7%) | 127 (64.5%) |  |
 No | 104 (35.1%) | 34 (34.3%) | 70 (35.5%) |  |
ETE | Â | Â | Â | 0.451 |
 Yes | 22 (7.4%) | 6 (6.1%) | 16 (8.1%) |  |
 No | 274 (92.6%) | 93 (93.9%) | 171 (91.9%) |  |
Number of resected CLN | 10 (7–15) | 12 (8–17) | 10 (6–14) | 0.015 |
Number of CLNM | 1 (0–4) | 2 (0–5) | 1 (0–3) | 0.162 |
T stage | Â | Â | Â | 0.681 |
 T1–2 | 272 (91.9%) | 93 (93.9%) | 179 (90.9%) |  |
 T3–4 | 24 (8.1%) | 6 (6.1%) | 18 (9.1%) |  |
N stage | Â | Â | Â | 0.335 |
 N0 | 116 (39.2%) | 33(33.3%) | 83 (42.1%) |  |
 N1a | 119 (40.2%) | 43(43.4%) | 76 (38.6%) |  |
 N1b | 61 (20.6%) | 23(23.3%) | 38 (19.3%) |  |
TNM | Â | Â | Â | 0.865a |
 I | 277(93.6%) | 94(94.9%) | 183(92.9%) |  |
 II | 18(6.1%) | 5(5.1%) | 13(6.6%) |  |
 III | 1(0.3%) | 0(0%) | 1(0.5%) |  |
Recurrence risk | Â | Â | Â | 0.534 |
 Low risk | 215 (72.6%) | 74 (74.7%) | 141 (71.6%) |  |
 Intermediate risk | 70 (23.6%) | 23 (23.2%) | 47 (23.9%) |  |
 High risk | 11 (3.8%) | 2 (2.1%) | 9 (4.5%) |  |