Obturator Nodes Research Articles

Outcomes of radical prostatectomy in patients with prostate cancer at the Aristide Le Dantec University Hospital

Le but était d´évaluer les résultats carcinologiques de la prostatectomie radicale. Il s´agissait d´une étude rétrospective monocentrique au service d´urologie-andrologie de l´Hôpital Aristide Le Dantec de Dakar du 1er juin 2010 au 31 mai 2016. Nous avons colligé 60 cas de prostatectomie radicale par voie rétropubienne associée à un curage ganglionnaire ilio-obturateur. Après la prostatectomie radicale (PR), le taux d’antigène prostatique spécifique (PSA) était indétectable (<0,1 ng/ml) chez 20 patients (33,3%). Onze malades (18,3%) qui avaient une récidive biochimique, ont une hormonothérapie complémentaire. Une réponse a été obtenue après instauration du traitement avec un taux de PSA total redevenu indétectable après un suivi de 8 mois. La durée moyenne de la survie globale était de 17,5 mois avec une médiane de 9,49. Le taux de survie globale cumulé à 1 an, 3 ans et 4 ans étaient respectivement de 42,4, 13,6 et 6,8%. La durée moyenne de la survie sans récidive était de 17,3 mois avec une médiane de survie sans récidive biochimique qui était de onze (11) mois. La durée moyenne de la survie spécifique était de 8,1 mois avec une médiane de 3 mois. Les marges de résection étaient positives chez sept (7) patients soit un taux de 11,6%. Quatre(4) patients avaient un envahissement ganglionnaire. La prostatectomie radicale indiquée dans quelques cas dans notre pratique, est une méthode thérapeutique efficiente avec de bons résultats carcinologiques.

Prospective Non-randomized Control Trial on Role of Systematic High Para-Aortic Lymphadenectomy in Endometrial Cancer: Indian Study

Endometrial cancer (EC) accounts for approximately 10% of all cancers in females and is the second most common gynecologic cancer. The primary goal of surgical staging in EC is to identify extrauterine disease. Pelvic and para-aortic lymph node dissection (PLND and PaLND) is the gold standard in the detection of lymph node metastases in EC. However, there is still no uniformity worldwide regarding the scope and extent of lymph node dissection in EC. The present prospective non-randomized study was conducted to establish the importance of systematic lymphadenectomy (LND), especially PaLND above the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA), and to identify the risk factors associated with lymph node metastasis. A total of 210 patients with EC were included. All patients underwent comprehensive surgical staging which included simultaneous PLND and PaLND. In addition for non-endometrioid, additional omental and peritoneal biopsies were also performed. PLND consisted of complete removal of common iliac, external iliac, internal iliac and obturator lymph nodes as per standard techniques. The extent of PaLND was up to the renal veins. Pelvic lymph nodes (PLN), para-aortic lymph nodes (PaLN) harvested below the IMA and PaLN dissected above the IMA were labeled separately and submitted for histopathological examination (HPE). Patient’s demographic factors, surgical outcomes and tumor histological findings were tabulated for analysis. Patients diagnosed with EC were most commonly in their seventh decade (59.5%). The mean time for LND was 35 min. In 66% of the cases with positive PLN, the PaLN was also positive. Twenty-nine (13.8%) patients had both PLN and PaLN involvement. In all cases of positive PaLN, the nodes between IMA and renal veins were the only positive nodes. In 15 (7.1%) patients, PaLN were the only positive nodes. The mean PaLN yield was 9.1. Predictors of PaLN positivity were pelvic node positivity, Grade III tumors and lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI). Major complications observed were wound infection, paralytic ileus and subacute intestinal obstruction. In oncology, a good loco-regional control has the greatest impact on survival. Systematic para-aortic lymphadenectomy done with good surgical technique results in minimal morbidity and mortality without any additional blood transfusion requirement. The trend toward greater use of complete surgical staging has been accompanied by a judicious use of adjuvant therapy. This has led to marked decrease in the use of pelvic radiation therapy and its complications and has a significant impact on the cost of treatment.

Pelvic lymph node dissection in the treatment of cervical and uterine neoplasms – correlation with the histologic type and disease stage

Introduction. The cervical and uterine neoplasms involve standardized treatments, decided by a multidisciplinary team, according to disease staging. Performed whenever possible, surgeries involve, in the first place, the dissection of the obturator fossa, common iliac and interaortocaval lymph nodes. The postoperative (pT) histopathological (HP) examination may indicate tumor aggressivity through the presence or absence of neoplastic cells on the surgical spe­ci­men and in the obturator lymph nodes. Materials and me­thod. Our clinic has recorded 123 patients (2019-2020), sub­jec­ted to surgery for cervical and uterine neo­plasms, and their obturator lymph nodes HP exams were correlated with the stage of the disease. Results. 7.31% of the patients had tumor cells in the obturator lymph nodes. Conclusions. The tumor cells present in the obturator lymph nodes are correlated with advanced disease stages and an aggressive histopathologic type.

Metastatic Ovarian Tumor of Vulvar Malignant Melanoma in a 43-Year-Old Woman: A Case Report and Literature Review

An ovarian malignant melanoma sometimes occurs from ovarian teratoma. Ovarian metastatic malignant melanoma is extremely rare. We describe a patient in whom vulvar melanoma (previously resected) metastasized to the ovary, making ovarian metastatic malignant melanoma. A 43-year-old Japanese woman was referred to us because of left ovarian tumor. She had undergone resection for malignant melanoma on the right labia minora with inguinal lymph node metastasis (pT1bN1aM0, stage IIIA, FIGO 2008). Eighteen months after this surgery, CT scans revealed left ovarian tumor and swelled pelvic lymph nodes, with a pelvic examination disclosing a left adnexal solid mass, with normal serum CA125 level (21.7 U/mL). Laparotomy revealed a left solid ovarian tumor measuring 4 cm, which was covered with a smooth grayish capsule. The right ovary, uterus, and pelvic cavity appeared normal. Upon sectioning during the surgery, the cross-sectional surface of the left ovary revealed a dark brown solid tumor. Following an intra-operative frozen-section diagnosis as metastatic melanoma, total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and pelvic lymph dissection was performed. Histological examination confirmed the diagnosis as malignant melanoma metastasis to the left ovary and the obturator lymph node: the same laterality (left) as the primary site. The tumor was entirely composed of malignant melanoma cells with no evidence of teratoma. Combined chemotherapy with dabrafenib mesylate and trametinib was planned based on the positive BRAF mutations. This case highlights the importance that physicians should have high index of suspicion for the occurrence of ovarian melanoma metastasis after melanoma surgery. We also made extensive literature review on this issue, of which description may contribute to better understanding of this condition.

The feasibility and technical strategy of a fascia space priority approach in laparoscopic lateral lymph node dissection for advanced middle and low rectal cancer: a retrospective multicentre study.

IntroductionLaparoscopic lateral lymph node dissection (LLND) is an important treatment for patients with lateral lymph node metastasis.AimTo assess the technical feasibility and investigate the surgical outcomes after LLND using the fascia space priority approach for patients with advanced middle and low rectal cancer.Material and methodsConsecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic LLND using the fascia space priority approach from June 2017 to June 2020 were identified from 12 medical centres in mainland China. Three anatomic fascia spaces were dissected to establish the boundaries of the LLND, and the obturator and internal iliac lymph nodes were excised in an en bloc manner. Retrospective clinical data including patient characteristics, surgical details, and pathology were analysed.ResultsA total of 112 patients were identified. All surgeries were completed laparoscopically with no conversions. The mean operation time was 343.6 ±103.8 min for the entire procedure. The median blood loss was 100 ml (range: 100–700 ml). The median lymph node yield was 6 (range: 1–41), and lymph nodes were positive in 39.3% (44/112) of the patients. Sixteen (14.3%) patients had Clavien-Dindo I–II complications, no Clavien-Dindo III–IV complications were identified. The incidence of complications between the bilateral dissection group and the unilateral dissection group was not statistically different (p = 0.19). The complication rate between the “nCRT” group and the “no nCRT” group was not significantly different (p = 0.62) either. There were no perioperative deaths.ConclusionsLaparoscopic LLND using the fascia space priority approach is feasible and safe for patients with lateral lymph node metastasis.

A Case of Sigmoid Colon Cancer with a Solitary Metastasis to the Left Obturator Lymph Nodes

A Case of Sigmoid Colon Cancer with a Solitary Metastasis to the Left Obturator Lymph Nodes

Extended Versus Limited Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection During Radical Prostatectomy for Intermediate- and High-risk Prostate Cancer: Early Oncological Outcomes from a Randomized Phase 3 Trial

BackgroundThe role of extended pelvic lymph node dissection (EPLND) in the surgical management of prostate cancer (PCa) patients remains controversial, mainly because of a lack of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). ObjectiveTo determine whether EPLND has better oncological outcomes than limited PLND (LPLND. Design, setting and participantsThis was a prospective, single-center phase 3 trial in patients with intermediate- or high-risk clinically localized PCa. InterventionRandomization (1:1) to LPLND (obturator nodes) or EPLND (obturator, external iliac, internal iliac, common iliac, and presacral nodes) bilaterally. Outcome measurements and statistical analysisThe primary endpoint was biochemical recurrence–free survival (BRFS). Secondary outcomes were metastasis-free survival (MFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and histopathological findings. The trial was designed to show a minimal 15% advantage in 5-yr BRFS by EPLND. Results and limitationsIn total, 300 patients were randomized from May 2012 to December 2016 (150 LPLND and 150 EPLND). The median BRFS was 61.4 mo in the LPLND group and not reached in the EPLND group (hazard ratio [HR] 0.91, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.63–1.32; p = 0.6). Median MFS was not reached in either group (HR 0.57, 95% CI 0.17–1.8; p = 0.3). CSS data were not available because no patient died from PCa before the cutoff date. In exploratory subgroup analysis, patients with preoperative biopsy International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) grade groups 3–5 who were allocated to EPLND had better BRFS (HR 0.33, 95% CI 0.14–0.74, interaction p = 0.007). The short follow-up and surgeon heterogeneity are limitations to this study. ConclusionThis RCT confirms that EPLND provides better pathological staging, while differences in early oncological outcomes were not demonstrated. Our subgroup analysis suggests a potential BCRFS benefit in patients diagnosed with ISUP grade groups 3–5; however, these findings should be considered hypothesis-generating and further RCTs with larger cohorts and longer follow up are necessary to better define the role of EPLND during RP. Patient summaryIn this study, we investigated early outcomes in prostate cancer patients undergoing prostatectomy according to the anatomic extent of lymph node resection. We found that extended removal of lymph nodes did not reduce biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer in the expected range.

PO-1499: Incidental dose to obturator nodes in prostate radiotherapy trials CHHiP, PROFIT and PIVOTALboost

PO-1499: Incidental dose to obturator nodes in prostate radiotherapy trials CHHiP, PROFIT and PIVOTALboost

Impact of Pelvic Intensity-modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) on Lymph Node Coverage and Dose to Critical Organs, Compare to Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy (3D-CRT), in Localized High-Risk Prostate Cancer

Men with high risk prostate cancer (HR-PrCa) are typically treated with combined androgen deprivation therapy and curative radiotherapy (RT) consisting of pelvic nodal and prostate/seminal vesicle (PrSV) irradiation followed by PrSV boost RT. 3D-CRT or IMRT are used for the treatment of pelvic nodes. A phase II randomized study examining the effect of RT technique on patient Quality of Life (QoL) was completed in our institution. Here, we report an early analysis of the dosimetric impact of 3D-CRT versus IMRT in patients participating in this study. A total of 105 men with HR-PrCa were randomized at 1:1 ratio to receive either pelvic 3D-CRT (standard 4-field conformal technique) or multi-beam IMRT, consisting of 4500cGy in 25 fractions to planning target volume (PTV) 1, followed by boost RT to PTV2 of 2496cGy in 13 fractions. The latter was delivered using a 7-field IMRT in all patients. Organs at risk (OAR) and clinical target volumes (CTV) were delineated on CT simulation images. The lymph node target included the common, internal, external iliac, obturator and pre-sacral lymph nodes in accordance with RTOG guidelines. CTV1 consisted of nodal CTV plus PrSV. CTV2 was minimized to PrSV. The PTV consisted of an expansion of 7 mm beyond CTV. For consistency, in comparison between the two techniques, IMRT fields were modified to results to similar superior border coverage as 3D-CRT, at the level of L5-S1. Bladder and rectum were contoured as solid organs. To take inter-fractional bowel motion into account, bowel was delineated as whole pelvic and abdominal cavity excluding bones, muscle, and other OAR. Pelvic RT with 3DCRT missed significant percentage of pelvic nodal volume. PTV1 D95% showed mean difference of -4.96, 95% CI (-6.41, -1.74); p = 0.0013 and D99% showed mean difference of -11.56, 95% CI (-14.96, -8.17); p< 0.00001 in favor of IMRT. There was significant difference in PTV1 heterogeneity index (D2%-D95%/D50%) (Mean diff = 0.22, 95%CI (0.14, 0.29); P<0.00001). IMRT decreased dose to OAR. Rectum V30 was 97% in 3DCRT compare to 93.41% in IMRT arm with absolute difference of 3.81% (95% CI (1.52, 6.11); P = 0.0014). Bladder V40 and V50 were significantly reduced (V40: 84 % vs 62% for 3DCRT vs IMRT, absolute difference of 22% (95%, CI (15.55, 28.2); P<0.0001); V50 absolute reduction of 18% with IMRT (95%, CI (11.53, 24.48); P<0.0001). Similarly, IMRT reduced total body/bone irradiation significantly. This randomized study of 3D-CRT versus pelvic IMRT is an appropriate setting to investigate the dosimetric impact of pelvic IMRT and help define its potential benefits on patient QoL. This early analysis suggests that utilization of IMRT for pelvic RT could offer dosimetric advantages by improve lymph node coverage and reducing RT dose to OAR. The results are in agreement with an improved bowel-related QoL observed in this study. On-going analysis examines correlations between dosimetric and patient QoL data.

Standardized Step-by-step Technique Using Surgical Landmarks in Robotic Lateral Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection

We aimed to show that a standardized step-by-step robotic approach using surgical landmarks could make lateral pelvic lymph node dissection (LPND) less complicated. We performed robot-assisted LPND consisting of 4 steps using surgical landmarks. The first step is a dissection of uretero-hypogastric fascia, which envelopes the ureter and the hypogastric nerve. The second step is a dissection of the medial side of the external iliac vein located at the lateral border of the obturator lymph nodes (LNs) group. The third step is a dissection of the vesico-hypogastric fascia, which is at the medial border of the obturator LNs group. The final step is a dissection of the internal iliac artery until the Alcock’s canal. Indocyanine green was injected just before surgery around the dentate line to identify the lateral pelvic LNs. Standardization using a robotic approach for LPND guided by surgical landmarks allows a safer and more effective surgery.

Failed Total Hip Arthroplasty: Diagnostic Performance of Conventional MRI Features and Locoregional Lymphadenopathy to Identify Infected Implants.

Very little has been published about the diagnostic performance of MRI in total hip arthroplasty (THA) infection. To determine the diagnostic performance of conventional MRI features and of new lymph nodal indices to identify infection in patients with failed THA. Retrospective. In all, 119 patients (66 females; age 66.9 ± 12.4 years) with failed THA. Metal artifact reduction sequence (MARS) protocol including short tau inversion recovery and turbo spin-echo T1 - and T2 -weighted sequences at 1.5T. Patients underwent pelvis MRI prior to failed THA revision. MRIs were reviewed to identify periprosthetic bone destruction, soft-tissue mass, effusion, synovitis, lamellated synovitis, extracapsular edema, fibrous periprosthetic membrane, bone edema, and extracapsular collection/sinus tract. The number and maximum diameter of inguinal, obturator and iliac lymph nodes of the affected hip were assessed and normalized to those of the unaffected hip to calculate the ratio of nodal size (RNS), ratio of node number (RNN), difference of nodal size (DNS), and difference of node number (DNN). The Mann-Whitney U-and chi-square test were used. Diagnostic performance of indices and odds ratios (OR) were calculated. RNS, RNN, DNS, and DNN indices were significantly different (P = 0.000) between infected and noninfected THA, with accuracies ranging from 84.8% (RNS) and 93.1% (RNN). All other MRI features were significantly more prevalent in infected THA (P ≤ 0.002), except bone destruction, periarticular soft-tissue mass, and fibrous membrane (P ≥ 0.031). Sensitivities ranged from 7.9% (soft-tissue mass) to 76.3% (effusion/bone edema), specificity from 45.7% (bone destruction) to 97.5% (synovitis/lamellated synovitis), accuracy from 49.6% (bone destruction) to 81.5% (synovitis), OR from 0.261 (soft-tissue mass) to 35.550 (synovitis). Conventional MRI features have limited accuracy to differentiate septic and aseptic THA failure. Lymph nodal indices, particularly those related to nodal number, may represent biomarkers of THA infection. 3 TECHNICAL EFFICACY STAGE: 2.

Lymph Node Mapping in Patients with Penile Cancer Undergoing Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection.

A map of pelvic lymph node metastasis in patients with penile cancer helps to clarify the pattern of pelvic spread and define the reasonable limits of dissection, and it has not been established. We aim to provide an accurate map of lymph node metastasis in patients with penile cancer and determine the reasonable extent of pelvic lymph node dissection. We enrolled patients with penile cancer undergoing pelvic lymph node dissection (128) at our institution from 1999 to 2018. The numbers of removed lymph nodes and positive lymph nodes at 10 distinct regions were recorded. The chi-square and Fisher exact tests were used. The median number of pelvic lymph nodes retrieved was 18 (IQR 10-30), with the majority being from the external iliac package (43.0%) and obturator package (31.9%). Pelvic lymph node metastasis was present in 57/128 (44.5%) patients. The median number of positive pelvic lymph nodes removed was 2 (IQR 1-4), with the majority being from the external iliac package (50.0%) and obturator package (36.6%). Advanced T-stage was related to higher risk of pelvic lymph node metastasis, which was present in 30.3%, 44.2%, 59.0% and 58.3% of patients with pT1, pT2, pT3 and pT4, respectively. Notably, 2 patients had crossover metastasis from 1 inguinal region to the contralateral pelvic region. We present a detailed map of pelvic lymph node metastasis in patients with penile carcinoma. The external iliac and obturator packages appear to be most commonly involved. Optimal pelvic lymph node dissection may extend to the common iliac artery, including common iliac, external iliac, internal iliac and obturator lymph nodes. Extranodal extension in inguinal nodes may not be as important as previously thought.

Potential risks in sentinel lymph node biopsy for cervical cancer: a single-institution pilot study

BackgroundSentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy is an attractive technique that is widely performed in many oncological surgeries. However, the potential risks in SLN biopsy for cervical cancer remains largely unclear.MethodsSeventy-five patients with histologically confirmed cervical cancer were enrolled between May 2014 and June 2016. SLN biopsies were performed followed by pelvic lymphadenectomies and all resected nodes were labeled according to their anatomic areas. Only bilateral detections of SLNs were considered successful. Patients’ clinicopathologic feature, performance of SLN detection, and distributions of lymph node metastases were analyzed.ResultsOf the 75 enrolled patients, at least one SLN was detected in 69 (92.0%), including 33 in bilateral and 36 in unilateral. SLNs were most detected in the obturator area (52 of 69 patients, 75.4%) and 26 (37.7%) patients presented SLNs in more than one area of hemipelvis. Lymphovascular invasion was found to be the only factor that adversely influenced SLN detection, while the tumor diameter, growth type, histological grade, deep stromal invasion, and neoadjuvant chemotherapy showed no significant impacts. Patients with lymphovascular invasion showed a significantly higher rate to have unsuccessful detection (90.9% versus 41.5%, P < 0.001) and lymph node metastasis (40.9% versus 3.8%, P < 0.001) compared with those without. Nodal metastases were confirmed in 11 patients, of whom 9 (81.8%) had lymphovascular invasion and 7 (63.6%) had non-SLN metastasis. The most frequently involved SLNs were obturator nodes (9/11, 81.8%). In addition, the parametrial nodes also have a high rate to be positive (4/11, 36.4%), although they were relatively less identified as SLNs. Besides, 3 patients showed metastases in the laterals without SLN detected.ConclusionsIn cervical cancer, lymphovascular invasion is a significant factor for unsuccessful SLN detection. The risk of having undetected metastasis is high when SLN is positive; therefore, further lymphadenectomy may be necessary for these patients.

Urachal carcinoma: Impact of recurrence pattern and lymphadenectomy on long-term outcomes.

BackgroundUrachal carcinoma is a rare nonurothelial malignant tumor with high rates of local recurrence and systemic metastasis. Although radical resection is widely considered the standard treatment, there is still a debate regarding the benefits of lymphadenectomy. To explore these factors, we investigated the recurrence pattern of urachal cancer and the impact of lymphadenectomy on long‐term survival.MethodsThe data of 62 patients pathologically diagnosed with urachal carcinoma at Sun Yat‐sen University Cancer Center from 2002 to 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Lymphadenectomy was defined as lymph nodes retrieved from the obturator, internal iliac, and external iliac lymph node stations. The Kaplan‐Meier method and Cox regression model were used to identify prognostic factors. OS and DFS were the primary endpoints.ResultsOf the 47 males and 15 females included, 54 patients underwent partial cystectomy, and 27 patients underwent lymphadenectomy. The number of patients with Sheldon stage IIIA, IIIB, IIIC, IVA, and IVB were 43 (69.4%), 4 (6.5%) 3 (4.8%), 6 (9.7%), and 6 (9.7%), respectively. The median DFS was 32.7 months, and the mean OS was 114.6 months. Sheldon stage (P < .001) and tumor size (P = .001) were identified as independent prognostic factors for DFS, whereas Sheldon stage (P = .003), peritoneal metastasis (P = .006), distant metastasis (P = .024), and recurrence in pelvic lymph nodes (P = .015) were independent prognostic factors for OS.ConclusionsUrachal carcinoma has a high recurrence rate, but only peritoneal metastasis, distant metastasis, and recurrence in pelvic lymph nodes were found to be associated with OS. Lymphadenectomy was recommended because of its role in accurately staging the disease, and further research is needed to focus on lymphadenectomy and standardized the procedure.

Primary mesorectal carcinoid tumour, a case report and review of literature

: Carcinoid tumours of unknown origin (CUO) are rare and account for only 10% of carcinoid tumours (1). Utilisation of 68-gallium Dotatate positron emission computerised tomography (PET-CT) offers increased sensitivity and characterization of CUO, compared to traditional Octreotide scans (2). Development of this may allow investigation into the mesentery as a potential primary site. A 55-year-old woman was referred with a 4-month history of proctalgia and obstructive defecation. Digital rectal examination (DRE) revealed a posterior retro-rectal mass. Computerised tomography (CT), biopsy and octreotide scan along with elevated serum chromogranin A levels confirmed a carcinoid mass in the mesorectum, distinct from the bowel wall. Laparoscopic ultra-low anterior resection with ileostomy formation was performed. Eighteen months post-operatively, surveillance CT thorax, abdomen and pelvis (TAP) highlighted an enlarged lymph node in the right external iliac chain, which was positive on gallium PET-CT. Following multidisciplinary (MDT) discussion, a laparoscopic right obturator lymph node resection was undertaken after which post-operative histology confirmed metastatic well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumour. Management of CUO is challenging and as such should be individualized with an MDT-based approach. The mesenteric organ should be considered as a potential primary site in the setting of mesenteric carcinoid when no other primary focus is identifiable. Future guidelines should reflect this.

Simultaneous integrated intensity modulated radiotherapy boost for gynecological cancer when brachytherapy is not an option

Objective: Brachytherapy (BT) lowers the risk of recurrence and improves the survival rate when used after external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) in cervical cancers. In endometrial cancers vaginal cuff BT lowers the risk of vaginal recurrence. New treatment methods have been investigated since BT is not an option for some patients mainly due to difficulties in the placement of BT applicators. Simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) has recently been investigated as an alternative modality in patients when BT is not suitable after EBRT. Materials and Methods: Five patients with cervical cancer and four patients with endometrial cancer were treated with SIB IMRT. In the five cervical cancer patients SIB treatment volumes were given a 74 Gy dose in 2,54 Gy fractions and common iliac and presacral lymphatic lymph node volumes were given 50,4 Gy in 1,74 Gy fractions. In the four patients with endometrial cancer the vagina and paravaginal-parametrial regions received a dose of 60 Gy in 2,3 Gy fractions using a 10 mm margin while a dose of 45 Gy in 1,73 fractions was administered to common iliac, external-internal iliac and obturator lymph nodes. Results: The five patients with the diagnosis of inoperable cervical cancer remained in complete remission (CR) through a median follow-up of 45 months (18-78 months) with a local control (LC) rate of 100%. Acute side effects were seen in 2 patients with cervical cancer and in 2 patients with endometrial cancer. Late side effects were observed in one patient in each of the cervical and endometrial cancer groups. Discussion: SIB-IMRT is an alternative treatment option for patients with cervical or endometrial cancer. Although this pilot study describes a limited number of patients it does suggest long term favorable results can be obtained with this method.

Benign High-Flow Priapism With a Diffuse and Intense 18F-FDG Uptake on 18F-FDG PET/CT Scanning

We present benign high-flow priapism with intensive F-FDG uptake as an unusual finding in a case of testicular teratocarcinoma with a history of left orchiectomy and chemotherapy. F-FDG PET/CT scan showed pulmonary metastases, left obturator node involvement, and intense F-FDG uptake in the penis. Upon examination, the patient had a painless erection that lasted for couple of days. Because of pulmonary metastases, second-line chemotherapy regimen was started by his physician. The patient's priapism resolved spontaneously, with no episode of recurrence at 2 years' follow-up.

Oncological Outcomes of Patients with Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer and Lateral Pelvic Lymph Node Involvement

IntroductionThe optimal management of patients with radiologically positive lateral pelvic lymph nodes in locally advanced rectal cancer remains unclear. We compared local recurrence rates and oncological outcomes of patients with locally advanced cancer with and without lateral pelvic lymph nodes. MethodsPatients who underwent curative surgery for stage III rectal adenocarcinoma between 2009 and 2014 and had a preoperative MRI at our institution as well as preoperative neoadjuvant treatment were included. Patients with positive lateral pelvic lymph nodes (iliac or obturator nodes) on preoperative MRI (LPND +) were compared to patients with no lateral pelvic nodal disease (LPND −). Data were collected from a prospectively maintained institutional database. Differences between the groups were compared in univariate analysis. Log-rank test was used to evaluate overall and disease-free survival between the groups. ResultsA total of 125 patients met inclusion criteria with a mean age of 56.3±12.2 and 75% were male. Median follow-up was 44 months (IQR 32, 106). Positive LPND was present on preoperative MRI in 43/125 (34.4%) patients who were in the LPND (+) group. Seventeen out of 43 patients had a post-neoadjuvant treatment MRI and 15 patients had a decrease in size of nodes or disappearance of LPND. On univariate analysis, LPND (+) and LPND (−) groups were comparable. Local recurrence rates were higher in the LPND (+) group, although this was not statistically significant (16.3% vs. 6%, p = 0.06). Overall and disease-free survival rates were comparable between the LPND (+) and LPND (−) groups (p = 0.97, p = 0.51). ConclusionsManagement of patients with advanced rectal cancer and radiologically positive lateral pelvic lymph nodes is challenging due to high local recurrence rates. Further studies are needed to develop care pathways for the optimal treatment processes.

Robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery beyond total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer

Rectal surgery is the standard treatment for patients with non-metastatic rectal cancer. Expert surgery, which includes total mesorectal excision (TME) (1), is of crucial importance for mid-rectal and low rectal cancer patients in that it provides complete removal of the tumor-bearing rectum and its associated lymph nodes within the mesorectum and thus minimizes the risk of resection margin positivity and local recurrence. However, patients with advanced low rectal cancer occasionally develop metastases to the lateral pelvic lymph nodes like common iliac, internal iliac, external iliac, and obturator nodes, which are located outside the surgical field of TME (2,3). Additional treatment is therefore often required to reduce local recurrence.

A Case with Residual Obturator Lymph Node Resected Laparoscopically after Lateral Lymph Node Dissection

A Case with Residual Obturator Lymph Node Resected Laparoscopically after Lateral Lymph Node Dissection