Lymph Node Stations Research Articles

Robotic‐assisted thoracoscopic surgery improves perioperative outcomes in overweight and obese patients with non–small‐cell lung cancer undergoing lobectomy: A propensity score matching analysis

BackgroundThe effectiveness of robotic‐assisted lobectomy (RAL) for patients with non–small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has not been fully evaluated.MethodsThis retrospective study compared the perioperative outcomes of NSCLC patients who underwent RAL and video‐assisted lobectomy (VAL) using propensity score matching (PSM) analysis. Subgroup analyses were then performed.ResultsA total of 822 NSCLC patients (359 RAL cases and 463 VAL cases) were included, and there were 292 patients in each group after PSM. Compared with the VAL group, the RAL group had a significantly higher number of lymph nodes (LNs) harvested (10 vs. 8, p < 0.001) and more LN stations examined (6 vs. 5, p < 0.001). The operative duration (95 minutes vs. 115 minutes, p < 0.001) and intraoperative estimated blood loss (65 mL vs. 80 mL, p < 0.001) were significantly reduced, and the drainage volume on postoperative day (POD) 1 (240 mL vs. 200 mL, p < 0.001) and hospitalization costs (¥81084.96 vs. ¥66142.55, p < 0.001) were significantly higher in the RAL group. Subgroup analysis indicated that the incidence of postoperative complications (17.9% vs. 26.7%, p = 0.042) was significantly reduced in the RAL group for overweight and obese patients (body mass index [BMI] ≥24 kg/m2), which became insignificant in the BMI < 24 kg/m2 subgroup (31.0% vs. 24.8%, p = 0.307).ConclusionRAL might have potential advantages in terms of lymph node assessment, reducing intraoperative blood loss, and shortening operation duration. Overweight and obese patients could benefit more from RAL because of reduced risk of postoperative complications.

Diagnostic Value of Mediastinal Lymphadenopathy in Differentiating Pulmonary Tuberculosis from Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Children

Background: Diagnosis of childhood pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is often based on clinical features in combination with radiologic findings because of paucibacillary nature of the disease in children. It may be difficult to make a clinical diagnosis because of the overlapping clinical features of pulmonary TB and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). On computed tomography (CT) scanning, the presence of typical LAP can suggest TB as a possible cause. Objectives: To compare the features of mediastinal LAPs between two patient groups based on contrast-enhanced chest CT. Methods: A total of 45 pulmonary patients with TB and 38 patients with CAP (aged ≤ 18 years) were enrolled in this retrospective study. The presence and CT features of lymph node involvement and the incidence of associating parenchymal/pleural findings were analyzed in two groups. Results: All patients with TB and 36 of the 38 patients with CAP had at least one mediastinal LAP. There was no significant difference between the two groups according to the incidence of lymph node and multiple site involvement and also involved lymph node stations (P &gt; 0.05). However, lymph node size was larger in the TB group (P = 0.04). Twenty-two percent of patients with TB had mediastinal LAP without parenchymal/pleural involvement. Conclusions: Although the lymph node size was larger in TB group than in CAP group, CT features of mediastinal lymph node involvement overlapped between two groups. Nevertheless, mediastinal LAP without parenchymal/pleural involvement on CT is seen in a significant number of TB patients.

Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy and Surgery for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Versus Definitive Chemoradiotherapy With Salvage Surgery as Needed: The Study Protocol for the Randomized Controlled NEEDS Trial.

BackgroundThe globally dominant treatment with curative intent for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) with subsequent esophagectomy. This multimodal treatment leads to around 60% overall 5-year survival, yet with impaired post-surgical quality of life. Observational studies indicate that curatively intended chemoradiotherapy, so-called definitive chemoradiotherapy (dCRT) followed by surveillance of the primary tumor site and regional lymph node stations and surgery only when needed to ensure local tumor control, may lead to similar survival as nCRT with surgery, but with considerably less impairment of quality of life. This trial aims to demonstrate that dCRT, with selectively performed salvage esophagectomy only when needed to achieve locoregional tumor control, is non-inferior regarding overall survival, and superior regarding health-related quality of life (HRQOL), compared to nCRT followed by mandatory surgery, in patients with operable, locally advanced ESCC.MethodsThis is a pragmatic open-label, randomized controlled phase III, multicenter trial with non-inferiority design with regard to the primary endpoint overall survival and a superiority hypothesis for the experimental intervention dCRT with regard to the main secondary endpoint global HRQOL one year after randomization. The control intervention is nCRT followed by preplanned surgery and the experimental intervention is dCRT followed by surveillance and salvage esophagectomy only when needed to secure local tumor control. A target sample size of 1200 randomized patients is planned in order to reach 462 events (deaths) during follow-up. Clinical Trial Registrationwww.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT04460352.

Redefine the Role of Proton Beam Therapy for the Locally-Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Assisting the Reduction of Acute Hematologic Toxicity.

PurposeTo investigate the potential clinical benefit of utilizing intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) to reduce acute hematologic toxicity for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC) patients and explore the feasibility of a model-based patient selection approach via the normal tissue complication probability (NTCP).MethodsTwenty patients with LA-NSCLC were retrospectively selected. Volumetric modulated arc photon therapy (VMAT) and IMPT plans were generated with a prescription dose of 60 Gy in 30 fractions. A wide range of cases with varied tumor size, location, stations of metastatic lymph nodes were selected to represent the general cancer group. Contouring and treatment planning followed RTOG-1308 protocol. Doses to thoracic vertebral bodies (TVB) and other organ at risks were compared. Risk of grade ≥ 3 acute hematologic toxicity (HT3+) were calculated based on the NTCP model, and patients with a reduction on NTCP of HT3+ from VMAT to IMPT (△NTCP_HT3+) ≥ 10% were considered to ‘significantly benefit from proton therapy.’ResultsCompared to VMAT, IMPT significantly reduced the dose to the TVB, the lung, the heart, the esophagus and the spinal cord. Tumor distance to TVB was significantly associated with △NTCP _HT3+ ≥ 10%. For the patients with tumor distance ≤ 0.7 cm to TVB, the absolute reduction of dose (mean, V30 and V40) to TVB was significantly lower than that in patients with tumor distance > 0.7 cm.ConclusionIMPT decreased the probability of HT3+ compared to VMAT by reducing the dose to the TVB in LA-NSCLC patients. Patients with tumor distance to TVB less than 0.7 cm are likely to benefit most from proton over photon therapy.

B-mode and Doppler ultrasonography patterns of axillary and supraclavicular lymphadenopathy associated with mRNA COVID-19 vaccine

In this study, we present the ultrasound imaging features of lymph nodes arising in the regional lymph node chain after the first or second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Ipsilateral lymphadenopathy adjacent to the vaccine injection site is an extremely rare but expected adverse reaction following COVID-19 vaccination. Although axillary lymphadenopathy is more common, cases of supraclavicular lymphadenopathy have also been reported after widespread vaccination against COVID-19. Ultrasonography examinations were performed on seven patients with no previous pathological conditions, who presented to our radiology department after receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Bilateral axillary, supraclavicular and subclavicular lymph node stations were explored. These patients typically present with enlarged hypoechoic lymph nodes with the loss of fatty hilum, asymmetric or diffuse cortical thickening, and increased hilar and cortical vascularization on the color doppler ultrasonography of the ipsilateral axillary and supraclavicular regions. Radiologists and clinicians should be aware of the ultrasonographic features of these lymph nodes and should inform the patient that these lymph nodes are often a self-limiting process. Thus, unnecessary axillary lymph node biopsies should be avoided, and patients should be treated conservatively.

Imaging Assessment of Interval Metastasis from Melanoma.

Interval metastasis is a particular metastatic category of metastatic localizations in the lymph nodes in patients with melanoma. Interval nodes are generally located at nonregional lymphatic stations placed along the pathway of the spread of melanoma, such as the epitrochlear lymph node station, the popliteal fossa, and the retroareolar station. Imaging techniques for evaluation of patients with interval metastasis from melanoma diseases include ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), lymphoscintigraphy (LS), and positron emission tomography (PET). A literature review was conducted through a methodical search on the Pubmed and Embase databases. The evaluation of lymph node metastases represents a critical phase in the staging and follow-up of melanoma patients. Therefore, a thorough knowledge of the imaging methods available and the interactions between the clinician and the radiologist are essential for making the correct choice for individual patients, for a better management, and to improve treatment and survival.

Lymph node distribution in patients with remnant gastric cancer.

Remnant gastric cancer (RGC) is defined as a carcinoma that develops in the gastric remnant from 5years after gastrectomy, regardless of the primary gastric disease. The pattern of lymph node dissemination in these patients is not well understood. The present study aims to understand the lymph node distribution of patients with RGC in a single center. In a total of 1380 patients with gastric cancer, between 1998 and 2020, 43 patients operated on for RGC were analyzed. The pattern of lymph node dissemination was evaluated based on the number of dissected lymph node stations, the number of positive lymph node stations, the positivity index at each analyzed station, the number of dissected lymph nodes per patient, and the positivity index per lymph node station. A mean of 13.0 ± 8.1 lymph nodes were dissected. The incidence of lymph node involvement by dissected station was higher at Stations 19, 11p, 3, 4sb and 7 (50, 40, 37.5, 36 and 31.7%, respectively). Among the positive dissected stations, Station 3 with 52.2%, 4sb with 39.1% and 4sa with 34.8% were the most affected. There was no predilection for lymph node involvement when comparing the lesser and greater gastric curvature. The dissection of Stations 3, 4sb and 4sa is fundamental in surgical treatment with curative purposes. The totalization of gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy of the perigastric and supra-pancreatic stations should be the surgery of choice.

A Comparative Analysis of Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery and Thoracotomy in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer in Terms of Their Oncological Efficacy in Resection: A Systematic Review.

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is considered the standard procedure for surgical resection in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, there is still lingering speculation on its adequacy of lymph node (LN) dissection or sampling and the long-term survival benefits when compared to open thoracotomy. Given the above, we conducted a systematic review comparing VATS and thoracotomy in terms of their oncological effectiveness in resection.We explored major research literature databases and search engines such as MEDLINE, PubMed, PubMed Central, Google Scholar, and ResearchGate to find pertinent articles. After the meticulous screening, quality check, and applying relevant filters according to our eligibility criteria, we identified 16 studies relevant to our research question, out of which one was a randomized controlled trial, one meta-analysis, and 14 were observational studies. The study comprised 44,673 patients with NSCLC, out of whom 15,093 patients were operated by VATS and the remaining 29,580 patients by thoracotomy. The results indicate that VATS is equivalent to thoracotomy in total LNs (N1 + N2) and LN stations dissected. However, a thoracotomy may achieve slightly better mediastinal lymph node dissection (N2) in terms of assessing a greater number of mediastinal lymph nodes and nodal stations. This may be attributed to a better visual field during mediastinal nodal clearance by an open approach. Also, nodal upstaging was consistently more common with an open approach. In terms of long-term outcomes, both overall survival and disease-free survival rates were similar between the two groups, with VATS offering a slightly better survival benefit.Irrespective of the increased rates of nodal upstaging by an open approach, we conclude that VATS should be considered a highly efficient alternative to thoracotomy in both early and locally advanced NSCLC.

Useful on-site macroscopic quantitative evaluation of EBUS-TBNA samples

BackgroundEndobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a minimally invasive diagnostic test with a high diagnostic yield. Optimal specimen acquisition is of a key importance; however, rapid on-site cytology examination (ROSE) during EBUS-TBNA has limited access. In an attempt to provide immediate feedback to the operator, the intervention pulmonology team started to classify macroscopically every lymph node sample in terms of abundance. The main objective of this study was to clarify whether this on-site macroscopic evaluation of EBUS sample was related to histology results and therefore any helpful for clinical practice.ResultsFrom a total of 288 lymph node stations sampled, adequate/diagnostic histological results were present in 11.1% of “insufficient” samples, 40.9% “sufficient” samples, 76.4% “good” samples and 88.1% of “excellent” samples. This was statistically significant with p-value under 0.0001. Also, there was a statistical agreement between samples that were macroscopically “insufficient” or “sufficient” with “inadequate” and “dubious” histological results and also between macroscopically “good” and “excellent” samples and histological results that were adequate/diagnostic. And that statistical agreement was of moderate magnitude according to the “Landis and Koch” classification (k = 0.386).ConclusionsThe positive relationship between the on-site macroscopic evaluation of the EBUS sample as “excellent” and the “adequate/diagnostic” histological result is of high clinical importance since it represents a fast, cheap and easy method that provides immediate feedback to the operator influencing his conduct; by obtaining additional passes to achieve an “excellent” will ensure a higher percentage of samples with a diagnosis, accelerating the patients treatment.

Reciprocity between lymphadenectomy quality and adjuvant chemotherapy compliance in gastric cancer: post hoc analysis of two randomized controlled trials.

To investigate the effect of intraoperative lymph node (LN) dissection and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy on the overall survival (OS) of gastric cancer (GC) patients and their reciprocity. LN noncompliance was defined as the absence of more than one LN station, as described in the protocol for D2 lymphadenectomy in the Japanese Gastric Cancer Association. The definition of adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) noncompliance was that the chemotherapy planned dose does not meet the requirements. Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that the OS of patients with major LN noncompliance was significantly lower than that of patients with nonmajor LN noncompliance, and the OS of AC noncompliance patients was significantly lower than that of AC compliance patients. If there was nonmajor LN noncompliance during surgery, the OS of patients with AC compliance was significantly higher than that of patients with AC noncompliance (P = 0.035). In the case of major LN noncompliance during surgery, there was no statistically significant difference in OS between those with AC compliance and those with AC noncompliance (P = 0.682). Multivariate Cox regression analysis including AC noncompliance indicated that major LN noncompliance was an independent prognostic factor for poor OS (P = 0.012), while AC noncompliance was not an independent prognostic factor for OS (P = 0.609). Adequate lymph node dissection and adjuvant chemotherapy are both key steps to improve the awful prognosis of GC patients. Adjuvant chemotherapy may fail to remedy the poor prognosis caused by major LN noncompliance.

Spread of lymph node metastasis and adjuvant therapy for distal cholangiocarcinoma.

Lymphatic metastasis is a major route of metastasis in distal cholangiocarcinoma (DCC). The present study aimed to elucidate the pattern of lymph node (LN) metastasis and the effectiveness of LN dissection and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with DCC. Patients who underwent surgical resection with curative intent for DCC were enrolled. The nomenclature of the LN stations was defined according to the Japanese Society of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery guidelines. Effectiveness of LN dissection of each station was calculated using frequency of LN metastasis to the station and 5-year survival rate of patients with LN metastasis to that station. Of the 105 patients included in the study, 46 (43.8%) had LN metastasis, and 43 (41.0%) underwent postoperative adjuvant therapy. LN metastasis, serum carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 level > 37 U/mL, and positive bile duct margin were independent risk factors for shorter overall survival (OS). The most common metastatic LN station at surgery was No. 13 (32.7%), followed by No. 12 (19.2%), No. 17 (9.6%), and No. 8 (6.6%). There was no effectiveness of LN dissection of the station No. 8, 14, and 16. Adjuvant chemotherapy was significantly associated with longer OS in patients with LN metastasis but not in those with positive ductal margins or serum CA 19-9 level > 37 U/mL. Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy was associated with a better prognosis in patients with DCC and LN metastasis. However, a more effective therapeutic strategy is required to improve the prognosis of patients with other negative prognostic factors.

Mapping of Lymph Node Metastasis From Thoracic Esophageal Cancer: A Retrospective Study.

This retrospective study was designed to investigate the optimal extent of dissection for thoracic esophageal cancer (EC) based on the incidence of lymph node metastasis (LNM). We retrospectively identified 1014 patients with thoracic esophageal carcinoma who underwent esophagectomy at our institution between May 2018 and November 2020. Also, the location and rate of LNM in relation to the postoperative pathological results were retrieved. We separately counted the metastasis rates of routinely excised lymph node stations according to the Japan Esophageal Society (JES) staging system. A total of 1666 consecutive patients were screened, and 1014 were enrolled. Generally, the rates of LNM in thoracic EC may be arranged in the descending order of station 7 > station 106recR > station 2 > station 106recL. Esophageal cancer in the middle and lower thoracic segment also had a high rate of LNM along bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve. Stations 106tbL and 111 were the lowest frequent sites of metastasis with rate less than 5%; only the patients with clinically positive LNs need to dissect. The cT3-4, cN+, or G3 were independent risk factors for LNM and neoadjuvant therapy did not change the distribution of LNM for thoracic EC cases. This study accurately identified the distribution of LNM for thoracic EC patients. Neoadjuvant therapy could not change the overall distribution of LNM in thoracic EC patients. However, whether LNs dissection at stations 106tbL and 111 is related to the survival of thoracic EC or not, needs a long follow-up time to verify.

Value of [68Ga]Ga-somatostatin receptor PET/CT in the grading of pulmonary neuroendocrine (carcinoid) tumours and the detection of disseminated disease: single-centre pathology-based analysis and review of the literature

BackgroundAlthough most guidelines suggest performing a positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) with somatostatin receptor (SSTR) ligands for staging of pulmonary carcinoid tumours (PC), only a limited number of studies have evaluated the role of this imaging tool in this specific patient population. The preoperative differentiation between typical carcinoid (TC) and atypical carcinoid (AC) and the extent of dissemination (N/M status) are crucial factors for treatment allocation and prognosis of these patients. Therefore, we performed a pathology-based retrospective analysis of the value of SSTR PET/CT in tumour grading and detection of nodal and metastatic involvement of PC and compared this with the previous literature and with [18F]FDG PET/CT in a subgroup of patients.MethodsSSTR PET/CT scans performed between January 2007 and May 2020 in the context of PC were included. If available, [18F]FDG PET/CT images were also evaluated. The maximum standardized uptake (SUVmax) values of the primary tumour, of the pathologically examined hilar and mediastinal lymph node stations, as well as of the distant metastases, were recorded. Tumoural SUVmax values were related to the tumour type (TC versus AC) for both SSTR and [18F]FDG PET/CT in diagnosing and differentiating both tumour types. Nodal SUVmax values were compared to the pathological status (N+ versus N−) to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of SSTR PET/CT in detecting lymph node involvement. Finally, a mixed model analysis of all pathologically proven distant metastatic lesions was performed.ResultsA total of 86 SSTR PET/CT scans performed in 86 patients with PC were retrospectively analysed. [18F]FDG PET/CT was available in 46 patients. Analysis of the SUVmax values in the primary tumour showed significantly higher SSTR uptake in TC compared with AC (median SUVmax 18.4 vs 3.8; p = 0.003) and significantly higher [18F]FDG uptake in AC compared to TC (median SUVmax 5.4 vs 3.5; p = 0.038). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis resulted in an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.78 for the detection of TC on SSTR PET/CT and of 0.73 for the detection of AC on [18F]FDG PET/CT. A total of 267 pathologically evaluated hilar and mediastinal lymph node stations were analysed. ROC analysis of paired SSTR/[18F]FDG SUVmax values for the detection of metastasis of TC in 83 lymph node stations revealed an AUC of 0.91 for SSTR PET/CT and of 0.74 for [18F]FDG PET/CT (difference 0.17; 95% confidence interval − 0.03 to 0.38; p = 0.10). In a sub-cohort of 10 patients with 12 distant lesions that were pathologically examined due to a suspicious aspect on SSTR PET/CT, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 100% was observed.ConclusionOur findings confirm the higher SSTR ligand uptake in TC compared to AC and vice versa for [18F]FDG uptake. More importantly, we found a good diagnostic performance of SSTR PET/CT for the detection of hilar and mediastinal lymph node metastases of TC. Finally, a PPV of 100% for SSTR PET/CT was found in a small sub-cohort of patients with pathologically investigated distant metastatic lesions. Taken together, SSTR PET/CT has a very high diagnostic value in the TNM assessment of pulmonary carcinoids, particularly in TC, which underscores its position in European guidelines.

Lymphadenectomy for lung carcinoids: Which factors may predict nodal upstaging? A multi centric, retrospective study.

To investigate risk factors for nodal upstaging in patients with lung carcinoids and to understand which type of lymphadenectomy is most appropriate. Data regarding patients with lung carcinoids, who underwent surgical resection and lymphadenectomy in five institutions from January 1, 2005to December 31, 2019, were collected and retrospectively analyzed. Clinical and pathological tumor characteristics were correlated to analyze lymph node upstaging. The analysis was conducted on 283 patients. Pathology showed 230 typical and 53 atypical carcinoids. Nodal and mediastinal upstaging occurred in 33 (11.6%) and 16 (5.6%) patients, respectively. At the univariable analysis, nodal upstaging was significantly correlated with central location (p = 0.003), atypical histology (p < 0.001), pT dimension (p = 0.004), and advanced age (p = 0.043). The multivariable analysis confirmed atypical histology (odds ratio[OR]: 11.030; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.837-25.153,p < 0.001) and central location (OR: 3.295; 95%CI: 1.440-7.540,p = 0.005) as independent prognostic factors for nodal upstaging. Atypical histology (p < 0.001), pT dimension (p = 0.036), number of harvested lymph node stations (p = 0.047), and type of lymphadenectomy (p < 0.001) correlated significantly with mediastinal upstaging. The multivariable analysis confirmed atypical histology (OR: 5.408;95% CI: 1.391-21.020,p = 0.015) and pT (OR: 1.052; 95%CI: 1.021-1.084,p = 0.001) as independent prognostic factors. Atypical histology, dimension, and central location are associated with a high-risk for occult hilo-mediastinal metastases, and mediastinal radical dissection may predict nodal upstaging. Thus, we suggest radical mediastinal lymph node dissection in high-risk tumors, reserving sampling, or lobe-specific dissection in peripheral, small typical carcinoids.

Risk Factors for Para-Aortic Lymph Node Metastasis in Esophagogastric Junction Cancer: Results from a Prospective Nationwide Multicenter Study

Several studies have reported a high incidence of metastasis to para-aortic station 16a2lat (no. 16a2lat) among patients with esophagogastric junction (EGJ) cancer. However, the risk factors for no. 16a2lat metastasis are unclear. This study aimed to clarify the risk factors for no. 16a2lat metastasis in patients with EGJ cancer. Among 371 prospectively enrolled patients with EGJ cancer, 344 patients who underwent no. 16a2lat lymph node dissection were analyzed. Background factors were compared between the patients with and those without no. 16a2lat metastasis. The association between the histologic status of 10 regional lymph node stations and that of no. 16a2lat metastasis was evaluated. Among the background factors, clinical N2-3 was the only independent risk factor for no. 16a2lat metastasis (odds ratio [OR], 5.90; p = 0.003). The metastasis rate of no. 16a2lat was 11.8% (11/93) for the patients with cN2-3 disease and 2.0% (5/251) for those with cN0-1 disease. The multivariate analysis showed that nos. 2 and 7 metastases were independent risk factors for no. 16a2lat metastasis, with respective ORs of 5.53 (p = 0.018) and 4.00 (p = 0.041). The patients with neither station no. 2 nor no. 7 metastasis did not exhibit no. 16a2lat metastasis, whereas the rate of no. 16a2lat metastasis was 23.7% for the patients with metastases of both stations. Clinical N2-3 and histologic positivity of station nos. 2 and 7 were independent risk factors for no. 16a2lat metastasis. These findings could potentially assist in determining the indication for no. 16a2lat dissection for patients with EGJ cancer.

COVID-19 vaccine-induced lymphadenopathies: incidence, course and imaging features from an ultrasound prospective study

Aimslymphadenopathy can occur after COVID-19 vaccination and when encountered at ultrasound examinations performed for other reasons might pose a diagnostic challenge. Purpose of the study was to evaluate the incidence, course and ultrasound imaging features of vaccine-induced lymphadenopathy.Methods89 healthy volunteers (median age 30, 76 females) were prospectively enrolled. Vaccine-related clinical side effects (e.g., fever, fatigue, palpable or painful lymphadenopathy) were recorded. Participants underwent bilateral axillary, supraclavicular and cervical lymph node stations ultrasound 1–4 weeks after the second dose and then again after 4–12 weeks in those who showed lymphadenopathy at the first ultrasound. B-mode, color-Doppler assessment, and shear-wave elastography (SWE) evaluation were performed. The correlation between lymphadenopathy and vaccine-related side effects was assessed using the Fisher’s exact test.ResultsPost-vaccine lymphadenopathy were found in 69/89 (78%) participants (37 single and 32 multiple lymphadenopathy). Among them, 60 presented vaccine-related side effects, but no statistically significant difference was observed between post-vaccine side effect and lymphadenopathy. Ultrasound features of vaccine-related lymphadenopathy consisted of absence of fatty hilum, round shape and diffuse or asymmetric cortical thickness (median cortical thickness of 5 mm). Vascular signal was mainly found to be increased, localized in both central and peripheral regions. SWE showed a soft cortical consistence in all cases (median value 11 Kpa). At follow-up, lymph-node morphology was completely restored in most cases (54/69, 78%) and in no case lymphadenopathy had worsened.ConclusionA high incidence of vaccine-induced lymphadenopathy was found in a population of healthy subjects, with nearly complete regression within 4–12 weeks.

Index of estimated benefit from lymph node dissection for stage I–III transverse colon cancer: an analysis of the JSCCR database

Main lymph node metastasis (LNM) dissection of transverse colon (TC) cancer is a difficult surgical procedure. Nonetheless, the main LNM ratio and the benefit of main lymph node (LN) dissection in TC cancer were unclear. This study aimed to identify high-risk patients for LNM and to evaluate the benefit of LN dissection in TC cancer. Data for 26,552 colorectal cancer patients between 2007 and 2011 were obtained from the JSCCR database. Of these, 871 stage I-III TC cancer patients underwent surgery with radical LN dissection. These patients were evaluated using the index of estimated benefit from lymph node dissection (IEBLD), where IEBLD = (LNM ratio of each LN station) × (5-year overall survival (OS) rate of the patients with LNM) × 100. None of the patients with depth of invasion pT1-2 had main LNM. The presence of main LNM was associated with depth of invasion pT4, CEA-4H (carcinoembryonic antigen 4 times higher than preoperative cutoff value), or type 3, and 323 patients (37.1%) who had these factors were high-risk patients for main LNM. In these high-risk patients, the LNM ratio, 5-year OS rate of patients with LNM and IEBLD values, respectively, were 43.9%, 70.3%, and 30.5 for the pericolic LN; 20.3%, 66.0%, and 15.1 for the intermediate LN; and 9.6%, 58.5%, and 5.6 for the main LN. Main LNM is associated with depth of invasion pT4, CEA-4H, or type 3. The IEBLD for the main LN of high-risk TC cancer patients was over 5.

Prognostic Value of the Regional Lymph Node Station in Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor.

Little is known regarding the impact of lymph node dissection on survival benefit after curative resection for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (PNET). This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of lymph node dissection based on tumor location of PNET. A retrospective study, including 50 patients with surgical resection for PNET between 2004 and 2020, was performed. The efficacy index (EI) was calculated by multiplication of the incidence of lymph node metastasis (LNM) at the station and the 5-year survival rate of patients with LNM at the station. In the pancreatic head tumors, the peri-pancreatic head and superior mesenteric artery lymph node stations had high EI of 13.3 and 25, respectively. In contrast, other stations, including stations 8 and 12, had zero EI. In the pancreatic body and tail tumors, only the splenic artery lymph node station had a survival benefit from lymph node dissection with an EI of 6.7. The extent of lymph node dissection for PNET should be decided based on the efficacy of lymph node dissection in accordance with tumor location. Our findings may be helpful in determining the extent of lymph node dissection required.

Endoscopic nodal staging in oligometastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) being treated with stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (ENDO-SABR)

BackgroundResearch in treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has shown promising results with stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) of oligometastatic disease, wherein distant disease may be limited to one or a few distant organs by host factors. Traditionally, PET/CT has been used in detecting metastatic disease and avoiding futile surgical intervention, however, sensitivity and specificity is limited to only 81 and 79%, respectively. Mediastinal staging still identifies occult nodal disease in up to 20% of NSCLC patients initially thought to be operative candidates. Endobronchial ultrasound and transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a minimally invasive tool for the staging and diagnosis of thoracic malignancy. When EBUS is combined with endoscopic ultrasound using the same bronchoscope (EUS-B), the diagnostic sensitivity and negative predictive value increase to 84 and 97%, respectively. Endoscopic staging in patients with advanced disease has never been studied, but may inform treatment if a curative SABR approach is being taken.MethodsThis is a multi-centre, prospective, cohort study with two-stage design. In the first stage, 10 patients with oligometastatic NSCLC (lung tumour ± hilar/mediastinal lymphadenopathy) with up to 5 synchronous metastases will be enrolled An additional 19 patients will be enrolled in the second stage if rate of treatment change is greater than 10% in the first stage. Patients will be subject to EBUS or combined modality EBUS/EUS-B to assess bilateral lymph node stations using a N3 to N2 to N1 progression. Primary endpoint is defined as the rate of change to treatment plan including change from SABR to conventional dose radiation, change in mediastinal radiation field, and change from curative to palliative intent treatment.DiscussionIf a curative approach with SABR for oligometastatic disease is being explored, invasive mediastinal staging may guide treatment and prognosis. This study will provide insight into the use of endoscopic mediastinal staging in determining changes in treatment plan of NSCLC. Results will inform the design of future phase II trials.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT04852588. Date of registration: April 19, 2021. Protocol version: 1.1 on December 9, 2021.

130: PATTERN OF LYMPH NODE METASTASES IN GASTRIC CANCER—A SIDE-STUDY OF THE MULTICENTER LOGICA-TRIAL

Abstract Background and aim The relation between tumor characteristics and the pattern of lymph node (LN) metastases in gastric cancer is unclear, especially following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). Therefore, the aim of this study is to analyze the pattern of LN metastases of gastric cancer. Methods Individual LN stations were separately collected (no. 7–9, 11 and 12a) or clearly marked at the resection specimen (no. 1–6), and were analyzed for all patients included in the LOGICA-trial. The LOGICA-trial was a multicenter randomized trial comparing laparoscopic versus open gastrectomy in ten hospitals. Total and distal D2-gastrectomy were performed for resectable gastric cancer (cT1–4aN0–3bM0). The pattern of metastases per LN station was related to tumor location, cT-stage, Lauren classification and NAC-treatment. In addition, the distribution of LN metastases over the individual LN stations was assessed for four subgroups based on tumor location, cT-stage, Lauren classification and NAC-treatment, and several combinations of these characteristics. Results Between 2015–2018, 212 patients underwent D2-gastrectomy, of whom 158 (75%) received NAC. LN metastases were present in 121 patients (57%). Proximal tumors metastasized predominantly to proximal LN stations (no. 1, 2, 7 and 9; OR &amp;gt; 1, P &amp;lt; 0,05), and distal tumors to distal LN stations (no. 5, 6 and 8; OR &amp;gt; 1, P &amp;gt; 0,05). However, distal tumors still metastasized to proximal LN stations, and vice versa. Each individual LN station (no. 1–9, 11 and 12a) showed metastases, regardless of the tumor location, cT-stage, histological subtype and NAC-treatment, including station 12a for cT1N0-tumors. Although LN metastases were present more frequently in cT3–4- versus cT1–2-stage (59% versus 51%; P = 0,259) and in diffuse versus intestinal tumors (66% versus 52%; P = 0,048), the pattern of LN metastases was similar for these subgroups. A sensitivity analysis was performed with only the NAC-treated patients to test the robustness of these results, which showed a similar pattern of LN metastases after NAC. Conclusion Although the pattern of LN metastases is related to tumor location in gastric cancer, metastatic spread occurred in all LN stations (no. 1–9, 11 and 12a), regardless of the tumor location, cT-stage (including cT1N0-tumors), histological subtype and NAC-treatment. Therefore, all LN stations (including 12a; D2-lymphadenectomy) should be routinely dissected during gastrectomy.