Pattern Of Lymph Node Metastasis Research Articles

Regularity and correlation analysis of regional lymph node metastasis in nonoperative patients with non-small cell lung cancer based on positron emission tomography/computed tomography images

BackgroundDefinitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) is the standard treatment for locally advanced, inoperable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Previous studies have mainly focused on examining local failure and recurrence patterns after surgery and the principles of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in surgical candidates with NSCLC. However, these studies were just only able to guide postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) and the patterns of LNM in patients with resected NSCLC was inadequate to represent that in locally advanced inoperable NSCLC patients for guiding target volume delineation of CCRT. In this study, we aimed to analyze the metastasis regularities and establish the correlations between different lymph node levels in NSCLC patients without any intervention using positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) images.MethodsOverall, 358 patients with N1–N3 NSCLC admitted in our hospital between 2018 and 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The diagnosis of metastatic lymph nodes was reviewed and determined using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer standard and the standardized value of the PET/CT examination. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed to investigate the correlations between the different levels were evaluated by using of the chi-square test and logistic regression model.ResultsThe lymph nodes with the highest metastasis rates in patients with left lung cancer were in order as follows: 10L, 4L, 5, 4R, and 7; while in those with right lung cancer they were 10R, 4R, 7, 2R, and 1R. Notably, we found left lung patients were more likely to have contralateral hilar, mediastinal and supraclavicular lymph nodes involved, and the right lung group exhibited a higher propensity for ipsilateral mediastinum and supraclavicular lymph node invasion. Furthermore, correlation analysis revealed there were significant correlative patterns in the LNM across different levels.ConclusionsThis study elucidated the patterns of primary LNM in patients with NSCLC who had not undergone surgery (without any treatment interventions) and the correlations between lymph node levels. These findings were expected to provide useful reference for target volume delineation in definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced NSCLC patients.

803. 2-YEAR RESULTS IN ESOPHAGOGASTRIC JUNCTION CANCER TREATMENT

Abstract Background Esophagogastric junction (EGJ), also known as cardia, tumors have unique characteristics with a widespread of lymph node (LN) metastatic patterns influenced by the extent of esophageal involvement. Besides, there is no worldwide consensus about its classification and the optimal lymphadenectomy and surgical resection extend. Recently, mapping the distribution of LN metastasis in these patients could provide some insights about the extent that should be the target. Furthermore, the balance between resection extension and the procedure safety is also difficult to achieve. This work aims to review the last 2 years of EGJ tumor treatment in a single oncological center. Methods We present a retrospective, single center study that included all the patients with EGJ cancer undergone surgical resection between 2022 and 2023. These tumors were classified using our modified Siewert (mSiewert) classification based on mapping endoscopy with measures of the full extension and not only the tumor’s epicenter. Patient demographics, tumor characterization, neoadjuvant treatment, surgical procedure and postoperative results were assessed, alongside with pathological and oncological metrics as recurrence, disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Results We included 64 cardia cancer patients who underwent a curative treatment strategy, with a median age of 68 years, mostly men (87.5%), with a median BMI of 25 kg/m2. 68.2% were classified as ECOG-PS 0 however 62.5% were classified as ASA III-IV. Most tumors were moderately (39.2%) or poorly (31.4%) differentiated adenocarcinomas. Majority were locally advanced (cT3, 78.1%) and in stage III (85.9%). Regarding tumor location, 49.2% were classified as mSiewert I-II (49.2%), followed by I-II-III (18%) and II-III (18%). 36.1% had esophageal involvement ≥4cm, 87.5% received neoadjuvant treatment split between the CROSS and FLOT protocols. Our resection rate was 85.9%. We mostly performed Mckeown esophagectomy (49.1%) and transhiatal esophagectomy (18.2%). We had a 12.7% admission rate to the intensive care unit and a 27.3% major complication rate (Clavien-Dindo ≥ 3b). Anastomotic dehiscence occurred in 16.4% of cases, with hospital mortality rate of 3.6%. The median hospital stay was 6 days, with a 16.4% readmission rate. Pathological staging revealed that 47.3% were stage III, with a median lymph node yield of 28 and a 98.2% R0 resection rate. Most patients received adjuvant treatment, primarily FLOT protocol or Nivolumab, in 38.2% and 29.1%, respectively. The recurrence rate was 28%, with a median time to recurrence of 26 weeks, mainly occurring as distant metastasis pattern (64.3%). One-year overall survival (OS) was 88.7%, and one-year disease-free survival (DFS) was 66.4%, with a median follow-up time of 48 weeks and only a 3.6% loss to follow-up rate. Conclusion This study highlights the unit’s adaptation of EGJ tumor treatment to new insights, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive classification and multimodal and multidisciplinary approach to enhance patient outcomes.

Tumor enhancement and shrinkage pattern in dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging for predicting pathologic complete response after human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-targeted therapy in breast cancer.

Targeted therapy with neoadjuvant chemotherapy for patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer has increased the rates of pathological complete response (pCR) and breast preservation surgery and improved the overall disease-free survival rate. This study aimed to determine whether tumor enhancement and shrinkage patterns in dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) can predict the efficacy of targeted therapy in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer and differentiate pCR from non-pCR. The data of 64 patients with HER2-positive breast cancer who received targeted therapy prior to surgery were retrospectively collected. All patients had complete postoperative pathological data. The pretreatment evaluation of the tumor enhancement pattern and the shrinkage pattern after two treatment cycles were assessed. The difference in the enhancement and shrinkage patterns between the pCR and non-pCR groups was evaluated via the χ2 test. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the value of enhancement and shrinkage patterns for predicting pCR in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer. There were statistically significant differences in tumor size, estrogen receptor (ER) status, lymph node metastasis, enhancement pattern, and shrinkage pattern between the pCR and non-pCR cases. Patients with a tumor size ≤20 mm were likely to achieve pCR. ER status, lymph node metastasis, and enhancement and shrinkage patterns each had good precision for predicting pCR, and the combination of enhancement and shrinkage patterns had the highest prediction accuracy. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that only enhancement pattern had a significant predictive value. Among patients with HER2-positive breast cancer, those with tumor size ≤20 mm, ER-negative status, no lymph node metastases, and mass enhancement and concentric shrinkage patterns are more likely to achieve pCR. Mass enhancement combined with concentric shrinkage had the highest accuracy in predicting pCR, indicating that preoperative imaging may be useful for guiding clinical decisions regarding targeted treatments.

399. LYMPH NODE METASTATIC PATTERNS AND SENTINEL LYMPH NODES FOR ESOPHAGEAL SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA AFTER DIFFERENT NEOADJUVANT REGIMENS

Abstract Background This study aimed to outline lymph node metastasis patterns in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) or chemotherapy (nCT), comparing regimens, assessing prognosis impact, and identifying potential sentinel lymph node stations for future individualized dissection. Methods Involving 578 ESCC patients undergoing nCRT (n=303) or nCT (n=275) followed by esophagectomy (2010-2022), we conducted propensity score matching, analyzing 171 pairs. Nodal metastasis patterns and station positivity associations with survival were assessed through univariate and multivariate models, adjusting for clinical factors. Results Among 171 nCRT patients, 36.8% had nodal metastases, 22.8% single-station, 8.2% two-station, and 5.8% ≥3-station occurrences. Specific station positivity correlated with poorer survival. The nCRT group had fewer nodal metastases (36.8% vs 50.3%), common sites being left gastric, right recurrent laryngeal nerve, and paraesophageal region. Increased nodal stations and positive nodes correlated with worse prognosis. In nCRT, mentioned areas were prognostic; in nCT, only left gastric nodal metastases were prognostic. Single and multi-station rates were similar, but nCT had more multi-station disease. For sentinel lymph nodes, positivity in left gastric, paraesophageal, right recurrent laryngeal nerve for nCRT, and subcarinal, left recurrent laryngeal nerve, paratracheal, left gastric, paraesophageal right recurrent laryngeal nerve for nCT, may indicate complex metastasis. Conclusions Over one-third of ESCC patients had post nCRT metastatic lymph nodes. Though nCRT reduced metastasis rates, survival outcomes didn't improve, emphasizing thorough lymph node dissection based on metastasis patterns.

1244P Association of tumor-draining lymph node metastatic patterns and neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy effectiveness in resectable non-small cell lung cancer

1244P Association of tumor-draining lymph node metastatic patterns and neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy effectiveness in resectable non-small cell lung cancer

Patterns of regional lymph node metastasis predict postoperative overall survival and disease-free survival in locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Lymph nodal characteristics are highly significant in predicting the survival of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, there is currently a scarcity of studies examining their role in locally advanced ESCC. In the present study, we attempted to depict the patterns of regional lymph node metastasis and investigate their predictive potential in locally advanced ESCC. Patients with locally advanced ESCC underwent esophagectomy at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College were included. Kaplan-Meier curve was used to compare the survival differences between groups. Cox regression was constructed to screen the independent risk factors. A total of 439 patients were included. We identified 10% as the optimal cutoff value for positive lymph node ratio (PLNR) with X-tile software. Statistically significant differences were found in both overall survival (OS, P<0.001) and disease-free survival (DFS, P<0.001) among different PLNR groups. PLNR [hazard ratio (HR): 1.85, P<0.001] and metastatic lymph nodes along the left gastric artery (HR: 1.63, P=0.02) were the independent prognostic factors for OS. While PLNR (HR: 1.77, P<0.001) and metastatic total main bronchus lymph nodes (HR: 2.78, P=0.047) were the independent prognostic factors for DFS. We discovered that higher PLNR is associated with poorer OS and DFS of locally advanced ESCC. The lymph nodes along the left gastric artery and the total main bronchus lymph nodes were independent prognosticators for OS and DFS, respectively.

Single-center external validation and reconstruction of multiple predictive models for skip lateral lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma.

The unique metastatic pattern of skip lateral lymph node metastasis (SLLNM) in PTC patients may lead to missed diagnosis of lateral cervical metastatic lymph nodes. Therefore, many different SLLNM prediction models were constructed. In this study, partially eligible models (Hu 2020, Wang 2020, and Zhao 2023 nomograms) were selected for external validation, and then new variables were incorporated for model reconstruction to extend clinical applicability. 576 PTC patients from our center were selected to evaluate the performance of the three nomograms using the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), calibration curves, and decision curve analyses (DCA). Three new variables were added to calibrate the model, including assessment of LN status on ultrasound (US-SLLNM), the distance from the tumor to the capsule (Capsular distance), and the number of central lymph node dissections (CLND number). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to screen independent predictors to reconstruct the model, and 1000 Bootstrap internal validations were performed. SLLNM were present in 69/576 patients (12.0%). In external validation, the area under the ROC curves (AUCs) for Hu 2020, Wang 2020, and Zhao 2023 nomograms were 0.695 (95% CI:0.633-0.766), 0.792 (95% CI=0.73-0.845), and 0.769 (95% CI:0.713-0.824), respectively. The calibration curves for the three models were overall poorly fitted; DCA showed some net clinical benefit. Model differentiation and net clinical benefit improved by adding three new variables. Based on multivariate analysis, female, age, and maximum tumor diameter ≤ 10 mm, located at the upper pole, Capsular distance < 0mm, US-SLLNM, CLND number ≤ 5 were identified as independent predictors of SLLNM and were used to construct the new model. After 1000 Bootstrap internal validations, the mean AUC of the model was 0.870 (95% CI:0.839-0.901), the calibration curve was close to the ideal curve, and the net clinical benefit was significant. Overall, these nomograms were well differentiated and provided some net clinical benefit, but with varying degrees of underestimation or overestimation of the actual risk and high false-negative rates. New dynamic nomogram was constructed based on the addition of new variables and larger samples, showing better performance.

Frequency of lymph node metastases at different neck levels in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Currently, neck dissection is a standard treatment for the majority of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients. However, the procedure can lead to a series of complications, significantly reducing patient quality of life and even affecting the antitumor immune response in patients undergoing immunotherapy. Therefore, in the era of precision surgery, gaining a deeper understanding of the patterns of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in OSCC is crucial. Literature searches were performed on PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, WANFANGDATA and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) (inception to April 10, 2024). In addition, a manual searching was conducted in Scopus, Google Scholar, and Education Resources Information Center (ERIC). We included observational studies that evaluated the frequency of LNM in OSCC patients. Systematic review and a random effects model meta-analysis were performed. The search identified 4694 articles, of which 17 studies included in our study. We calculated the frequency of LNM according to the data reported in the articles. Frequency of LNM=number of patients with positive lymph node / number of patients with OSCC. The frequency of LNM was 12% in level I (95%CI: 0.11 to 0.15, I2=38.01%), 20% in level II (95%CI: 0.17 to 0.22, I2=47.71%), 10% in level III (95%CI: 0.08 to 0.12, I2=49.10%), 2% in level VI (95%CI: 0.01 to 0.03, I2=27.58%), 1% in level V (95%CI: 0.00 to 0.01, I2=11.37%). The frequency of LNM is consistent with the "cascade theory" and appears to be no significant difference from different primary sites. The frequency of LNM were low in levels I-III and were very low in level IV-V which implicated that more conservative treatments may be considered for OSCC in the future. This study will help clinicians better determine the extent of surgery and preserve lymph nodes during neck dissection.

Assessment of Pattern of Cervical Lymph Node Metastasis in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Oral Cavity

Objective: Cervical lymph node involvement is crucial for prognostic factor for oral squamous cell carcinomas, and understanding nodal metastasis pattern is essential for optimal neck dissection, oncological control, and minimizing morbidity. This study reviews nodal involvement and skip metastasis in 316 oral SCC patients to determine the extent of neck dissection. Methods: The retrospective study analysed 316 patients with oral cancer diagnosed between 2017 and 2020, including those with primary oral cavity cancer who underwent neck dissection. A comprehensive assessment of patient data was used to determine the extent and size of the lesion and lymph node involvement. Preoperative staging was confirmed using various imaging techniques, including OPG, CT MRI, and biopsies. Histological examination results were used to categorize carcinomas based on differentiation levels and to identify nodal involvement patterns. Results: The most common subsite for 316 patients was the tongue (62%), followed by the buccal mucosa (19%), lower alveolus (10.2%), hard palate (3.2%), retro molar trigone (2.8%), floor of the mouth (1.6%), upper alveolus (0.9%), and lower lip (0.3%). Nodal metastasis were more common in Levels II and Ib, with less involvement in Level III and beyond. Tumour with a DOI greater than 10 mm showed higher nodal metastasis frequency, with an increased occurrence in Levels IA, IB, II, III, and IV. Conclusion: Nodal metastasis in oral cancer are common in Levels II and Ib, with variations based on subsite. Alveolus and buccal mucosa malignancies involve fewer lymph nodes beyond Level III, while tongue malignancies show greater involvement in lower levels Level IV involvement is more frequent with greater DOI, and skip metastasis are rare.

Incidence and patterns of lymph node metastases in head and neck rhabdomyosarcoma: One-institution study.

Head and neck rhabdomyosarcoma (HNRMS) is an aggressive malignant soft tissue tumor that easily develops lymph node metastasis (LNM) and distant metastasis. No literature investigates the pattern of LNM in HNRMS. Ninety-five consecutive patients with HNRMS newly diagnosed at one institution between November 2011 and July 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. All the patients underwent head and neck contrast-enhanced MRI and/or CT, PET-CT if necessary. The associations between LNMs and clinical characteristics and histopathological parameters were discovered. 44.2% of patients had evidence of LNM at diagnosis, and the most common LNM occurred in the ipsilateral retropharyngeal space. The primary tumor metastasizes to the retropharyngeal space, and then next to level II is the most common LN drainage basin. In multivariate analysis, only distant metastasis determines the prognosis, other than LN status. LNM has a high incidence in HNRMS and rarely causes contralateral metastasis for localized lesions or skip metastasis.

Comparison of PD-L1, VISTA, LAG-3, and GAL-3 Expressions and Their Relationships to Mismatch Repair Protein and p53 Expression in 529 Cases of Endometrial Carcinoma.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the expressions of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), V-domain Ig suppressor of T-cell activation (VISTA), lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3), and galectin-3 (GAL-3), in mismatch repair-deficient (MMRd)/MMR-proficient and abnormal p53 expressing endometrial carcinomas and their relationship with clinical-histopathological features. Patients who underwent surgery for endometrial carcinoma between January 2008 and December 2018 were included in the study. Immunohistochemical analysis of MLH1, PMS2, MSH2, MSH6, p53, PD-L1, VISTA, LAG-3, and GAL-3 was performed on the tissue samples of microarray. A total of 529 patients were included. MMRd and p53-mutant tumors accounted for 31.5% and 11.5% of cases, respectively. PD-L1 and LAG-3 expressions in the MMRd and p53-mutant groups were higher than in the MMR-proficient group (P < 0.001). GAL-3 expression in the MMR-proficient group was statistically higher than in the MMRd and p53-mutant groups (P < 0.001). Mean age, grade, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage, lymphovascular invasion, and lymph node metastasis were significantly higher in the p53-mutant group (P < 0.001). In the group with PD-L1 expression, nonendometrioid histologic type, tumor grade, and lymphovascular invasion were significantly higher (P < 0.001). Tumor grade, lymphovascular invasion, lymph node metastasis, and microcystic, elongated and fragmented pattern of invasion were significantly higher in the group with high VISTA expression (P < 0.05). Tumor grade was significantly higher in the group with LAG-3 expression (P < 0.001). Immunohistochemically determined subgroups and PD-L1, VISTA, LAG-3, and GAL-3 expression levels may be useful indicators of molecular features, and clinical outcomes also may have important implications for the development of targeted therapies in endometrial carcinoma.

Exploration of lymph node recurrence patterns and delineation guidelines of radiation field in middle thoracic oesophageal carcinomas after radical surgery: a real-world study.

Oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma is one of the most commonly diagnosed carcinomas in China, and postoperative radiotherapy plays an important role in improving the prognosis of patients. Carcinomas in different locations of the oesophagus could have different patterns of lymph node metastasis after surgery. In this multicentric retrospective study, we enrolled patients with middle thoracic oesophageal squamous cell carcinomas from 3 cancer centres, and none of the patients underwent radiotherapy before or after surgery. We analysed the lymph node recurrence rates in different stations to explore the postoperative lymphatic recurrence pattern. From January 1st, 2014, to December 31st, 2019, 132 patients met the criteria, and were included in this study. The lymphatic recurrence rate was 62.1%. Pathological stage (P = 0.032) and lymphadenectomy method (P = 0.006) were significant predictive factors of lymph node recurrence. The recurrence rates in the supraclavicular, upper and lower paratracheal stations of lymph nodes were 32.6%, 28.8% and 16.7%, respectively, showing a high incidence. The recurrence rate of the subcarinal node station was 9.8%, while 8.3% (upper, middle and lower) thoracic para-oesophageal nodes had recurrences. We recommend including the supraclavicular, upper and lower paratracheal stations of lymph nodes in the postoperative radiation field in middle thoracic oesophageal carcinomas. Subcarinal station is also potentially high-risk, while whether to include thoracic para-oesophageal or abdominal nodes needs careful consideration.

Lateral lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid cancer: Is there a difference between PTC and PTMC?

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) are generally characterized as less invasive forms of thyroid cancer with favorable prognosis. However, once lateral cervical lymph node metastasis takes place, the prognosis may be significantly impacted. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether there is a difference in the pattern of lateral lymph node metastasis between PTC and PTMC. A retrospective analysis was performed for PTC and PTMC patients that underwent central area dissection and unilateral lateral neck lymph node dissection (II-V area) between January 2020 and December 2021. Compared with PTMC group, the PTC group exhibited higher incidence of capsule invasion, extrathyroid invasion and lymphatic vessel invasion. Both the number and rate of central lymph nodes metastasis were elevated in the PTC group. While the number of lateral cervical lymph node metastasis was higher, the metastasis rate did not demonstrate significant difference. No significant differences were identified in the lymph node metastasis patterns between the 2 groups. The determination of the extent of lateral neck lymph node dissection solely based on the tumor size may be unreliable, as PTC and PTMC showed no difference in the number and pattern of lateral neck metastasis. Additional clinical data are warranted to reinforce this conclusion. For patients categorized as unilateral, bilateral, or contralateral cervical lymph node metastasis (including level I, II, III, IV, or V) or retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis who require unilateral lateral neck dissection, the size of the primary tumor may not need to be a central consideration when assessing and deciding the extent of lateral neck dissection.

Differences in Lymph Node Metastases Patterns Among Non-pancreatic Periampullary Cancers and Histologic Subtypes: An International Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study and Systematic Review

BackgroundStandard lymphadenectomy for pancreatoduodenectomy is defined for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and adopted for patients with non-pancreatic periampullary cancer (NPPC), ampullary adenocarcinoma (AAC), distal cholangiocarcinoma (dCCA), or duodenal adenocarcinoma (DAC). This study aimed to compare the patterns of lymph node metastases among the different NPPCs in a large series and in a systematic review to guide the discussion on surgical lymphadenectomy and pathology assessment.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study included patients after pancreatoduodenectomy for NPPC with at least one lymph node metastasis (2010–2021) from 24 centers in nine countries. The primary outcome was identification of lymph node stations affected in case of a lymph node metastasis per NPPC. A separate systematic review included studies on lymph node metastases patterns of AAC, dCCA, and DAC.ResultsThe study included 2367 patients, of whom 1535 had AAC, 616 had dCCA, and 216 had DAC. More patients with pancreatobiliary type AAC had one or more lymph node metastasis (67.2% vs 44.8%; P < 0.001) compared with intestinal-type, but no differences in metastasis pattern were observed. Stations 13 and 17 were most frequently involved (95%, 94%, and 90%). Whereas dCCA metastasized more frequently to station 12 (13.0% vs 6.4% and 7.0%, P = 0.005), DAC metastasized more frequently to stations 6 (5.0% vs 0% and 2.7%; P < 0.001) and 14 (17.0% vs 8.4% and 11.7%, P = 0.015).ConclusionThis study is the first to comprehensively demonstrate the differences and similarities in lymph node metastases spread among NPPCs, to identify the existing research gaps, and to underscore the importance of standardized lymphadenectomy and pathologic assessment for AAC, dCCA, and DAC.

Proposals for the delineation of neck clinical target volume for definitive Radiation therapy in patients with oral/ oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer based on lymph node distribution

Purpose/Objective(s)To establish the distribution pattern of cervical lymph node metastasis (LNM) and propose optimized clinical target volume (CTV) boundaries specific to oral/ oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer (OSCC/OPSCC). Materials/Methods531 patients with pathologically confirmed OSCC/OPSCC were enrolled from January 2013 to June 2022. Patients were stratified into two groups based on the minimal distance from the lesion's edge to the body's midline: ≤1 cm or > 1 cm. The geometric center of cervical metastatic LN was marked on a template CT. LN distribution probability maps were established. The relationships between the LN distribution and consensus guidelines were analyzed to propose modifications for CTV boundaries specific to OSCC/OPSCC. ResultsA total of 1962 positive LNs were enrolled. Compared with the > 1 cm group, the ≤ 1 cm group has following feature tendencies: male smokers, younger, median organs, large gross lesion, infiltrative growth pattern, contralateral LNM. The most frequently involved level of LNM was ipsilateral II, but ipsilateral Ib had the highest involvement rate in the > 1 cm OSCC group. In addition, tongue cancer had a higher incidence of LN extranodal extension (ENE), which mainly distributes in ipsilateral level II. The skip metastasis was prone to from level III to Vb (3.5 %) in LN(+)/ENE (-), and level Ib to VIa (3.7 %) in LN(+)/ENE (+). Accordingly, we proposed the following modifications: 1. only including lateral and posterior margin of submandibular gland within 5 mm; 2. retracting posterior boundary of level II to front edge of levator scapula muscle, and descending the upper boundary to transverse process of C2 vertebra only for OSCC; 3. including posterior third of thyroglossal muscle or anterior edge of sternocleidomastoid muscle; 4. sparing level Va in case of only level II involvement; 5. including upper area of the thyroid cartilage plate in case of level Ib LN(+)/ENE (+); 6. sparing level VIIa is considered. ConclusionThis is the first description of LN topographic spread patterns for OSCC/OPSCC. Modified CTV for prophylactic irradiation was proposed to spare the organs at risk and minimize adverse effects.

The boundary of posterior to level V region and the theoretical feasibility of irradiation dose reduction of level Va in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

The lymph node involvement in the posterior to level V (PLV) region is mainly observed in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Recently, we have reported the distribution of metastatic lymph nodes in the PLV region and there are correlations between the neck node levels (NNL) of NPC, but what is the boundary of the PLV region and how to delineate it remains unclear, and we further to elaborate whether the bilateral level Va should be covered as intermediate-risk nodal regions (CTVn2, about 60 Gy equivalent) for all T and N categories based on these correlations. A total of 1021 consecutive NPC patients with N1-3 stage from January 2012 to December 2020 were reviewed. The lymph node metastasis level of each patient was evaluated according to the updated guidelines proposed in 2013. According to the distribution pattern of lymph node metastasis and the anatomical structure in the PLV region, the boundaries of PLV region was delineated, and whether it is appropriate to cover the bilateral level Va as CTVn2 for all the NPC patients was further discussed. The correlations of level Va with other NNL were studied using logistic regression model. The cranial boundary of PLV region is the caudal border of cricoid cartilage, the caudal boundary is the plane serratus anterior muscle begins to appear, the anterior boundary is the anterior border of trapezius, and the posterior boundary is the convergence of levator scapulae and trapezius. Laterally, the PLV region is limited by the medial edge of trapezius and medially by the lateral surface of levator scapulae. The nodal spread in level Va is based on the lymph node metastasis of level IIb in NPC. The PLV region is a missing NNL of head and neck tumors, especially in NPC. The proposed boundaries of the PLV region can provide a preliminary proposal for the further revision of NNL in head and neck tumors. It is theoretically feasible to reduce the prophylactic irradiation dose of the bilateral level Va in patients with N0 stage or with isolated metastases in level VIIa.

Prospective assessment of adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction (AEG) following radical resection: Real-world insights from the CLAEG study.

TPS415 Background: The CLAEG study (ChiCTR1900026131) is a prospective, real-world data evaluation of the clinical outcomes of patients with AEG following radical resection to investigate lymph node (LN) metastasis patterns and refine treatment strategies. Methods: Data from 44 hospitals in China were collected using a designed CRF, comprising baseline, surgical details, pathology results and recovery progress from January 1,2020. Data cut-off was August 31, 2023. The study is ongoing. Results: A total of 1322 patients were enrolled, and only 946 patients with complete data were included in the analysis. The median age was 65 years (range, 24-90). Among them, 28 patients were classified as Siewert type I, 601 as type II, and 317 as type III. Laparoscopic surgery was performed in 845 patients, while 101 underwent open surgery, with no significant difference in postoperative complication rate between them. However, the laparoscopic group demonstrated superior favorable outcomes in terms of postoperative recovery times, with shorter postoperative exhaust time (3.0 days vs 3.6 days, p&lt;0.001), feeding time (5.0 days vs 5.8 days, p=0.013), discharge time (11.6 days vs 14.6 days, p=0.002), as well as lower intraoperative blood loss (103.9 ml vs 163.4 ml, p=0.001). Among the patients, 891 underwent transhiatal approach, while 55 underwent thoracoabdominal approach, and no significant differences in postoperative complication rates, intraoperative blood loss and hospital stay were observed between these approaches. However, the transhiatal approach was associated with a shorter operative time (244.2 min vs 309.3 min, p&lt;0.001). LN dissection was performed in all patients within the abdominal region, with additional mediastinal LN dissection in 293 patients. The LN metastasis rates were 7.04%, 0% and 5.71% for No. 110, 111 and 112, respectively. Within the abdominal LNs, category-1 nodes included No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8a, 9, 11, 19, while category-2 included No. 6, 12a, 20. Total gastrectomy was performed in 657 patients, while proximal gastrectomy was performed in 289 patients, and there were no significant differences in the rates of postoperative complications, postoperative recovery times and hospital stay between them. However, total gastrectomy took less operation time (243.7 min vs 258.0 min, p=0.019), and more LNs (36.6 vs 23.3, p&lt;0.001) were detected in abdomen. Conclusion: The CLAEG study confirms the safety and feasibility of laparoscopy in AEG surgery, although its long-term oncology effectiveness requires further investigation. Transhiatal surgery is advantageous due to its shorter operation time. Both proximal and total gastrectomy can be considered as viable surgical options. AEG patients have a higher rate of abdominal LN metastasis but a lower rate of mediastinal node involvement, emphasizing the importance of precise abdominal LN retrieval. Clinical trial information: ChiCTR1900026131 .

Investigating the influence of primary uterine tumor site on pelvic and para-aortic lymph node metastatic pattern and evaluating the risk factors for lymph node metastases in endometrial carcinoma: A retrospective study.

To assess the metastatic pattern in pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes in relation with the primary uterine tumor site and to evaluate risk factors for lymph node metastases. 212 patients with endometrial cancer who underwent surgical treatment from December 2014 to December 2019 were selected. The clinical and pathological data were retrospectively analyzed. The factors and uterine primary tumor site related to lymph node metastasis were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analysis. Among the 212 patients with endometrial cancer, 17 cases had lymph node metastasis, and thus the metastasis rate was 8.02%. Univariate analysis revealed that lymph node metastasis was significantly correlated with Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage, depth of myometrial invasion, tumor size, pathological grade, and lymphovascular space invasion (P < .05) and was not correlated with age, pathological type, and cervical involvement (P > .05). Primary uterine tumor site (fundus, horns, body or lower uterine segment) with or without cervical involvement was associated with different lymph nodes' metastatic sites. The lymph node metastatic pathways of endometrial cancer mainly include obturator lymph nodes and para-aortic lymph nodes, and skip metastasis may occur; endometrial carcinoma may jump and metastasize to para-aortic lymph nodes, specially when the lesion is located in the uterine fundus and uterine horns (cornua of uterus); there is a significant correlation between the location of lymph node metastasis and the location of primary uterine malignant tumor.

Lymph node dissection in small peripheral lung cancer: Supplemental analysis of JCOG0802/WJOG4607L

ObjectiveThe optimal region of lymph node dissection (LND) during segmentectomy in patients with small peripheral non–small cell lung cancer requires clarification. Through a supplemental analysis of the Japan Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG) 0802/West Japan Oncology Group (WJOG) 4607L, we investigated the associated factors, distribution, and recurrence pattern of lymph node metastases (LNMs) and proposed the optimal LND region. MethodsOf the 1106 patients included in the JCOG0802/WJOG4607L, 1056 patients with LNDs were included in this supplemental analysis. We investigated the distribution and recurrence pattern of LNMs along with the radiologic findings (with ground-glass opacity, part-solid tumor; without ground-grass opacity component, pure-solid tumor). ResultsThe radiologic findings were the only significant factor for LNMs. Of 533 patients with part-solid tumors, 8 (1.5%) had LNMs. Further, only 3 (0.5%) patients had pN2 disease, and no patients had interlobar LNMs from nonadjacent segments. Of the 523 patients with pure-solid tumors, 55 (10.5%) had LNMs, and 28 (5.4%) had pN2 disease. Five patients had metastases to nonadjacent interlobar lymph nodes (LNs). Two (2.0%) patients with S6 tumors had upper mediastinal LNMs. In addition, the incidence of mediastinal LN recurrence in patients with S6 lung cancer was greater in those who underwent selective LND than those who underwent systematic LND (P = .0455). ConclusionsNonadjacent interlobar and mediastinal LND have little impact on pathologic nodal staging in patients with part-solid tumors. In contrast, selective LND is recommended at least for patients with pure-solid tumors.

Risk factors associated with preferential lateral lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Lateral lymph node metastasis (LLNM) is common in patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), usually occurring after central lymph node metastasis (CLNM). However, some patients experience LLNM without first developing CLNM. This study aimed to identify the risk factors for developing LLNM without CLNM. We retrospectively reviewed 421 patients diagnosed with PTC who underwent lobectomy or total thyroidectomy with central and ipsilateral lateral lymph node dissection. We collected clinicopathological data and used univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses to determine the risk factors associated with LLNM without CLNM. The LLNM without CLNM frequency was 18.3% (77/421). Univariate analyses demonstrated that age over 55 years, primary tumor in the upper portion of the thyroid, the number of central lymph node (CLN) and LLNM, primary tumor size, and the summed size of multi-foci tumors smaller than 1 cm were significantly associated with LLNM without CLNM (p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that LLNM without CLNM was more likely to occur in patients aged ≥55 years (odds ratio [OR], 2.309; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.133-4.704; p = 0.021), and primary tumor in the upper portion of the thyroid (OR, 0.524; 95% CI, 0.295-0.934; p = 0.028). The lymph node metastasis pattern in patients with PTC is not constant. Therefore, surgeons should evaluate the lateral lymph nodes, especially in patients older than 55 years or when the primary tumor is in the upper portion of the thyroid.