Figure 6 (left panel) demonstrates that, within these 702 node-positive patients, a highly significant correlation ( P < 0.0001) existed between the numbers of RNM at presentation and the rates of LRR through 15 postoperative years.
The five node-negative BT+RRA patients who had distant spread between 4 and 20 years after successful RRA survived with their microscopic lung metastases. Within the pN1 group, the difference in 15-year rates for TRR (any site) between 26% in the 345 ablated patients and 17% in the 357 BT-alone patients was of borderline significance ( P = 0.047).