Radical Lymph Node Research Articles

Renal Cell Carcinoma with Isolated Lymph Node Involvement: Long-term Natural History and Predictors of Oncologic Outcomes Following Surgical Resection

BackgroundRenal cell carcinoma (RCC) with isolated lymph node (LN) involvement has historically been associated with poor prognosis. However, a subset of patients may experience long-term survival. ObjectiveTo examine the natural history of RCC with isolated LN involvement following surgical resection with long-term follow-up, and to evaluate clinicopathologic features associated with disease progression and survival. Design, setting, and participantsA total of 138 patients with isolated pN1M0 RCC underwent partial or radical nephrectomy and LN dissection from 1980 to 2010. InterventionPartial or radical nephrectomy with LN dissection. Outcome measurements and statistical analysisMetastasis-free survival (MFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and overall survival (OS) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Associations between clinicopathologic features and oncologic outcomes were evaluated using Cox regression models. Results and limitationsMedian follow-up among survivors was 8.5 yr. The 5-yr and 10-yr MFS, CSS, and OS rates were 16% and 15%, 26% and 21%, and 25% and 15%, respectively. The median time to development of metastases was only 4.2 mo. On multivariable analysis, symptoms at presentation (hazard ratio [HR] 2.40; p=0.03), inferior vena cava tumor thrombus (HR 1.99; p=0.003), clear cell (HR 2.21; p=0.01) and collecting duct/not otherwise specified (HR 4.28; p<0.001) histologic subtypes, pT4 stage (HR 2.64; p=0.005), and coagulative tumor necrosis (HR 2.51; p<0.001) were independently associated with development of metastases. MFS rates at 1 yr after surgery were 71%, 63%, 33%, and 7% for patients with one, two, three, and four to five adverse features, respectively. Limitations include surgical selection bias. ConclusionsAlthough isolated pN1 disease portends a poor prognosis, a small subset of patients experience durable long-term survival after surgical resection of isolated lymphatic metastases. Adverse prognostic features may enhance patient risk stratification and facilitate multimodal management approaches. Patient summaryAlthough isolated lymph node metastases portend a poor prognosis, a small subset of patients experience long-term survival following surgical resection.

Diagnosis of micrometastasis in muscle invasive bladder cancer through immunohistochemistry analysis: is there indication for routine evaluation?

Muscle invasive bladder cancer (BC) has a mortality rate of 50% in 5 years, despite the aggressive treatments currently used. The diagnosis of latent tumor cells in histologically normal lymph nodes (LN) may have prognostic value and may explain the tumoral recurrence in BC. Here we evaluated the use of the AE1AE3 cytokeratin marker through immunohistochemical examination of LNs to diagnose micrometastasis in patients with BC undergoing radical cystectomy (RC) and lymph node dissection. Sixty-one patients with pN0 diseases who were submitted to RC were studied. Conventional histological evaluation indicated that these patients did not have lymph node metastasis. Histological sections were reviewed and analyzed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) using the AE1AE3 antibody in single sections. The total number of removed LNs was 832, averaging 13.64 LNs per patient. The IHC evaluation revealed that LN from 2/61 (3.27%) patients had micrometastasis. At the time of the last follow-up, 41% of all patients were in complete disease remission and 41.1% had died from BC. Our study shows that histological analysis using hematoxylin eosin (HE) method by experienced pathologists is sufficient for the diagnosis of LN metastasis and, therefore, there is no indication for routine IHC evaluation in patients at histopathological pN0 stage.

SEOM Clinical Guideline for treatment of muscle-invasive and metastatic urothelial bladder cancer (2016).

The goal of this article is to provide recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of muscle-invasive and metastatic bladder cancer. The diagnosis of muscle-invasive bladder cancer is made by pathologic evaluation after transurethral resection. Recently, a molecular classification has been proposed. Staging of muscle-invasive bladder cancer must be done by computed tomography scans of the chest, abdomen and pelvis and classified on the basis of UICC system. Radical cystectomy and lymph node dissection are the treatment of choice. In muscle-invasive bladder cancer, neoadjuvant chemotherapy should be recommended in patients with good performance status and no renal function impairment. Although there is insufficient evidence for use of adjuvant chemotherapy, its use must be considered when neoadjuvant therapy had not been administered in high-risk patients. Multimodality bladder-preserving treatment in localized disease is an alternative in selected and compliant patients for whom cystectomy is not considered for clinical or personal reasons. In metastatic disease, the first-line treatment for patients must be based on cisplatin-containing combination. Vinflunine is the only drug approved for use in second line in Europe. Recently, immunotherapy treatment has demonstrated activity in this setting.

Long-term Outcomes of MRI Stage IIB Cervical Cancer.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to assess parametrial invasion (PMI) in cervical cancer. Discordance between MRI findings and International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging is not uncommon because FIGO staging depends on physical examination. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the long-term outcomes of MRI stage IIB cervical cancer. A total of 312 patients with MRI stage IIB cervical cancer were retrospectively found between 2002 and 2011. Of these patients, 171 (group 1) were FIGO stage IIB cervical cancers and 141 (group 2) were MRI stage IIB cervical cancers that were negative PMI on physical examination. Group 1 was treated with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy, and group 2 was treated with radical hysterectomy and lymph node dissection. The FIGO stages and pathologic findings of group 2 were recorded. Groups 1 and 2 were compared regarding 5-year overall survival rate. The FIGO stages of group 2 were IB1 in 51 (36.2%), IB2 in 28 (19.9%), and IIA in 62 (44%), whereas those of group 1 were all IIB. Group 2 showed lymphovascular space invasion in 71 (50.4%), lymph node metastasis in 48 (34.0%), PMI in 46 (32.6%), and vagina invasion in 9 (6.4%). Five-year overall survival rates of groups 1 and 2 were 73.7% and 84.5%, respectively (P = 0.013). Magnetic resonance imaging stage IIB cervical cancers with negative PMI on physical examination should be surgically treated because of better survival rate than FIGO stage IIB cervical cancers.

Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Gallbladder: A Case Report and Literature Review

Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) of the gallbladder is exceedingly rare. Only a few studies of pure gallbladder LCNEC without other histologic components have been reported in the literature. Therefore, this condition's biological behavior, appropriate treatment modalities, and overall patient prognosis remain largely unclear. In this report, we present a case involving resected pure gallbladder LCNEC. Additionally, we review relevant literature on LCNEC and discuss the clinical management of LCNEC, including histopathologic features. An 86-year-old woman presented with a gallbladder tumor that measured 25 mm on the body of the gallbladder that was incidentally detected by abdominal ultrasonography. The diagnosis of pure LCNEC without other histologic components was immunohistochemically confirmed after radical cholecystectomy and lymph node dissection in the hepatoduodenal ligament. The postoperative course was uneventful, and no evidence of recurrence or metastasis was observed after 6 months of follow-up. We reviewed 9 case reports describing pure LCNEC of the gallbladder, including the present case. Clinical symptoms and radiologic findings for pure LCNEC were nonspecific. The overall prognosis was poor, but early detection with complete resection might result in a relatively good prognosis.

Insufficient Lymph Node Sampling in Patients with Colorectal Cancer Perforation is Associated with an Adverse Oncological Outcome.

The impact of lymph node (LN) dissection on long-term outcomes for patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) perforation remains unclear. We aim to investigate factors associated with poor prognosis and recurrence in patients with CRC, with special reference to cancer perforation and LN dissection. The subjects comprised 550 patients who underwent colorectal surgery for CRC at Stage II or III (TNM classification) between February 2006 and November 2013. Short- and long-term outcomes of patients with or without CRC perforation were evaluated. We also sought risk factors on poor prognosis, focusing on LN dissection in patients with CRC perforation. A total of 508 underwent surgery for CRC without perforation (the non-perforation group) and 39 for CRC with perforation (the perforation group). Both overall survival and recurrence-free survival rates were significantly lower in the perforation group than in the non-perforation group (overall survival, P=0.009; recurrence-free survival, P<0.001). The relapse rates at the peritoneum (P=0.002), lung (P=0.007) and LNs (P=0.021) were significantly higher in the perforation group than in the non-perforation group. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards model revealed that CRC perforation (hazard ratio [HR] 2.55, 95% confidential interval [CI] 1.16-4.98, P=0.022), LN dissection <12 (HR 1.83, 95% CI 1.07-3.13, P=0.027), and Stage III (HR 1.79, 95% CI 1.06-3.08, P=0.031) were significant and independent risk factors for poor prognosis. Conducting <12 LN dissections independently increased the risk of reduction in overall survival for patients with CRC perforation. Thus, radical LN dissections should be performed to improve patients' survival rates, when patients' general and surgical conditions allow.

Clinical outcome of transthoracic esophagectomy with thoracic duct resection: Number of dissected lymph node and distribution of lymph node metastasis around the thoracic duct.

The number of dissected lymph nodes (LNs), surgical outcomes, and postoperative recurrence-free survival (RFS) were compared between thoracic duct (TD)-preserved and TD-resected groups. The distribution of metastasis in LNs around TD (TDLN) was reviewed. Transthoracic esophagectomy (TTE) with TD resection for esophageal cancer patients has been one of the standard procedures. Because the adipose tissue surrounding the TD contains LNs, TD resection might be necessary for radical LN dissection. However, few studies have investigated the oncological outcome of TTE with TD resection. Two hundred fifty-six consecutive patients who underwent TTE between 2004 and 2015 were retrospectively reviewed and classified into TD-preserved or TD-resected groups. The number of dissected LNs for each LN station and surgical outcomes were compared. RFS was analyzed in 155 patients who underwent TTE before December 2012. Since 2013, the TDLN number was prospectively examined, independent of the regional LNs (n = 72). Of these, the TDLN number for each location (TDLN-Ut/Mt/Lt) was investigated and the correlation between TDLN metastasis and clinicopathological factors was analyzed. The TD was preserved in 89 patients and resected in 167 patients. Patients with TD resection showed significant advanced stage. There was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative complications, including pneumonia, anastomotic leakage, and chylothorax. The number of dissected mediastinal LNs was significantly increased in the TD-resected group. The 5-year RFS rate of cStage I patients was 67.3% in the TD-preserved group against 90.3% in the TD-resected group, showing a tendency towards RFS extension that did not quite reach statistical significance (P = 0.055). The mean TDLN-Ut/Mt/Lt numbers were 0.89/0.56/0.44, respectively. Eight of 72 (11%) patients displayed TDLN metastasis. Metastatic TDLNs were observed on the same or cranial level of the primary lesion in 7 of 8 patients. Transthoracic esophagectomy with TD resection could increase the number of dissected mediastinal LNs without increase of postoperative complication. TDLN metastasis was observed in patients with advanced disease. A prospective trial, investigating the survival between TD-preserved and TD-resected groups, should be conducted to clarify if TD should be resected in TTE.

Comparison of laparoscopy-assisted and open radical gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer: A retrospective study in a single minimally invasive surgery center.

Laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy (LAG) has gained international acceptance for the treatment of early gastric cancer (EGC). However, the use of laparoscopic surgery in the management of advanced gastric cancer (AGC) has not attained widespread acceptance. This retrospective large-scale patient study in a single center for minimally invasive surgery assessed the feasibility and safety of LAG for T2 and T3 stage AGC. A total of 628 patients underwent LAG and 579 patients underwent open gastrectomy (OG) from Jan 2004 to Dec 2011. All cases underwent radical lymph node (LN) dissection from D1 to D2+. This study compared short- and long-term results between the 2 groups after stratifying by pTNM stages, including the mean operation time, volume of blood loss, number of harvested LNs, average days of postoperative hospital stay, mean gastrointestinal function recovery time, intra- and post-operative complications, recurrence rate, recurrence site, and 5-year survival curve. Thirty-five patients (5.57%) converted to open procedures in the LAG group. There were no significant differences in retrieved LN number (30.4 ± 13.4 vs 28.1 ± 17.2, P = 0.43), proximal resection margin (PRM) (6.15 ± 1.63 vs 6.09 ± 1.91, P = 0.56), or distal resection margin (DRM) (5.46 ± 1.74 vs 5.40 ± 1.95, P = 0.57) between the LAG and OG groups, respectively. The mean volume of blood loss (154.5 ± 102.6 vs 311.2 ± 118.9 mL, P < 0.001), mean postoperative hospital stay (7.6 ± 2.5 vs 10.7 ± 3.6 days, P < 0.001), mean time for gastrointestinal function recovery (3.3 ± 1.4 vs 3.9 ± 1.5 days, P < 0.001), and postoperative complications rate (6.4% vs 10.5%, P = 0.01) were clearly lower in the LAG group compared to the OG group. However, the recurrence pattern and site were not different between the 2 groups, even they were stratified by the TNM stage. The 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 85.38%, 79.70%, 57.81%, 34.60% and 88.31%, 75.49%, 56.84%, 33.08% in patients with stage Ib, IIa, IIb, and IIIa, respectively, in the LAG and OG groups. There were no statistically significant differences in the OS rate for patients with the same TNM stage between the 2 groups. LAG with radical LN dissection is a safe and technically feasible procedure for the treatment of AGC staged below T3.

Merkel cell carcinoma: value of sentinel lymph-node status and adjuvant radiation therapy

Sentinel lymph-node (LN) biopsy (SLNB) is a valuable tool to assess the regional LN status in Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). However, its prognostic value is still debated. This study was undertaken to assess SLNB usefulness for MCC management and to determine the impact of SLNB status on disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) by comparing SLNB-positive versus -negative patients according to demographic, clinical and treatment characteristics. In this retrospective, multicenter observational study, SLNB was proposed to all patients referred for clinically N0 MCC. Treatment schedule consisted of wide-margin surgical resection of primary MCC followed by adjuvant radiation therapy (aRT) to the primary site and, for SLNB-positive patients, radical LN dissection followed by regional aRT. Univariate and multivariate analyses determined factors associated with DFS and OS. Among 87 patients with successful SLNB, 21 (24.1%) were SLNB-positive. Median follow-up for the entire series was 39 months; respective 3-year DFS and OS rates were 73% and 81.4%, respectively. Univariate analysis (all patients) identified SLNB-negativity as being associated with prolonged OS (P = 0.013) and aRT (all sites considered) was associated with longer DFS (P = 0.004) and OS (P = 0.018). Multivariate analysis (all patients) retained SLNB status and aRT (all sites considered) as being associated with improved DFS (P = 0.014 and 0.0008) and OS (P = 0.0020 and 0.0019). Moreover, for SLNB-negative patients, tumor-bed irradiation was also significantly associated with prolonged DFS (P = 0.006) and OS (P = 0.014). The present study demonstrates that SLNB-negativity is a strong predictor of longer DFS and OS in stage I and II MCC patients. The similar benefit for aRT on tumor bed observed in this study has to be confirmed by a prospective study. The results advocate for SLNB being considered to all MCC patients.

Outcome of radical cystectomy series in the management of muscle invasive bladder cancer: Liverpool experience.

396 Background: Cystectomy has become one of the standard forms of therapy for patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer with long term follow-up data supporting radical surgical management. Methods: Data are collected retrospectively on patients who underwent cystectomy at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital. The aim was to document the overall survival of patients undergoing cystectomy at this centre. Results: Data were collected on 147 patients between September 2007 and June 2013. Median patient age was 66 (IQR: 61, 72) with 33 (23%) females. 107 (73%) patients had muscle invasive TCC, 13 (9%) had recurrent non-muscle invasice disease, 9 (6%) had salvage surgery following radical radiotherapy and 6 (4%) had persistent carcinoma in situ. 28 patients (20%) had hydronephrosis. 34 (23%) patients underwent neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. 2 (1%) patients had Combined synchronous urethrectomy and 5 (3%) had Combined synchronous nephroureterectomy. Post operatively positive lymph nodes were observed in 22 (19%) of surgical specimens and 83 (72%) had persistent muscle invasive disease. Survival rates at 12 and 60 months are 0.92 (0.88, 0.97) and 0.52 (0.39, 0.71) respectively. Multivariate analysis show that post operative T (HR: 3.99 (1.05, 15.18)) and N (HR: 5.40 (2.17, 13.44)) status are both independent predictors of over all survival. Conclusions: Real life data from our centre showed that the patient population and overall survival estimates for patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer treated with radical cystectomy and lymph node dissection are consistent with previous published literature. .

Progress on complete video-assisted thoracic surgery for lung cancer

Complete video-assisted thoracic surgery (cVATS) for lung cancer has the advantages of significantly minimal trauma, markedly light postoperative pain and rapid post-operative recovery, which has been increasingly applied in clinic. Its main operation methods consist of lobectomy, segmentectomy, pneumonectomy and sleeve lobectomy. cVATS for lung cancer can achieve the same radical tumor resection and lymph node dissection as the open thoracotomy, which contributes to a satisfactory long-term outcome. Key words: Carcinoma, non-small-cell lung; Thoracoscopy; Surgical procedures, minimally invasive

Correlation of the clinical frailty scale with long-term survival after radical cystectomy.

314 Background: Demographic changes account for an increasingly large proportion of elderly patients with urothelial carcinoma of the bladder. It remains under debate to which extent a patient might benefit from major surgery such as the radical cystectomy. Current tools for preoperative assessment of biological age might be of limited significance. The frailty concept, which refers to a biological syndrome of decreased reserve to stressors and resistance to stressors, has gained recent recognition for measuring patient’s physiological reserve and has been linked to adverse outcomes after surgery. Methods: Clinical, surgical and pathological data of patients undergoing radical cystectomy and lymph node dissection at Hannover Medical School with a minimum age of 60 years were retrospectively collected from 2000 to 2010. Frailty was assessed using the clinical frailty scale by Rockwood et al. derived from the Canadian Study of Health and Aging (CSHA). The relationship between frailty and various risk assessment tools such as the ASA-score, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and Karnofsky score (KS) in regard of long-term follow-up data was analyzed. Results: Our cohort included 255 patients (male 197, female 58). Mean age was 70 years (SD ±6.14). Patients were categorized into “not frail” (n=53, 21%), “vulnerable and mildly frail” (n=156, 61%), and “moderately/severely frail” (n=46, 18%). Higher CSHA was associated with increased CCI and higher rate of perioperative complications (each p&lt;0.001). 179 (70%) patients had died during follow-up (mean follow-up, 61 months). Median survival differed significantly between groups (68 vs. 29 vs. 12 months, p&lt;0.0001). In univariate analyses ASA, CCI, KI, and CSHA correlated with long-term survival (each p&lt;0.001). In multivariate analysis only CSHA remained predictor of survival besides age, lymph node involvement, resection margins, and T-stage. Conclusions: The clinical frailty scale is an easy to use tool. It correlates with survival and perioperative complications after radical cystectomy. This study warrants further assessment of the frailty concept; however, it still has to be determined whether the clinical frailty scale is superior to other frailty assessment schemes.

Unexpected Lymph Node Disease in Resections for Pulmonary Metastases

Pulmonary metastasectomy is widely accepted for different malignant diseases. The role of mediastinal lymph node (LN) dissection in these procedures is discussed controversially. We evaluated our results of LN removal at the time of pulmonary metastasectomy with respect to the frequency of unexpected LN disease. This was a retrospective analysis of 313 resections performed in 209 patients. Operations were performed in curative intention. Patients with known thoracic LN involvement and those without lymphadenectomy (n = 43) were excluded. Patients were analyzed according the type of LN dissection. Subgroups of different primary cancers were evaluated separately. Sublobar resections were performed in 256 procedures with lymphadenectomy, and 14 patients underwent lobectomy. Patients underwent radical lymphadenectomy (n = 158) or LN sampling (n = 112). The overall incidence of unexpected tumor in LN was 17% (radical lymphadenectomy, 15.8%; sampling, 18.8%). Unexpected LN involvement was found in 17 patients (35.5%) with breast cancer, in 120 (9.2%) with colorectal cancer, and in 53 (20.8%) with renal cell carcinoma. The 5-year survival was 30.2% if LN were tumor negative and 25% if positive (p = 0.19). LN sampling vs radical removal had no significant effect on 5-year survival (23.6% vs 30.9%; p = 0.29). Dissection of mediastinal LN in resection of lung metastases will reveal unexpected LN involvement in a relevant proportion of patients, in particular in breast and renal cancer. Routine LN dissection appears necessary and may become important for further therapeutic decisions. On the basis of our data, LN sampling seems to be sufficient.

Cranial-to-caudal approach for radical lymph node dissection along the surgical trunk in laparoscopic right hemicolectomy.

Complete mesocolic excision with central vascular ligation is considered to contribute to superior oncological outcomes after colon cancer surgery [1]. For advanced right-sided colon cancer, this surgery sometimes requires lymph node (LN) dissection along the superior mesenteric vein (SMV), with division of the middle colic vessels, or their right branches, at origin [2]. Here, we present cranially approached radical LN dissection along the surgical trunk during laparoscopic right hemicolectomy. The omental bursa is first opened wide, and the gastrocolic trunk of Henle is exposed, using the right gastroepiploic vessels and the accessory right colic vein (ARCV) as landmarks. After division of ARCV, SMV and middle colic vein (MCV) are identified. After dividing MCV at its root, LN dissection along SMV is conducted in a cranial-to-caudal manner. Concurrently, the middle colic artery, or its right branch, is exposed and divided at origin. The transverse colon is then raised ventrally, and LN dissection along SMV using a cranial-to-caudal approach is again performed. The ileocolic and right colic vessels are divided at origin. The ascending and transverse mesocolon, including the pedicles, are then separated from the retroperitoneal tissues, pancreatic head, and duodenum, using a medial approach. The key characteristics in this procedure consist of easy access to pancreas, early division of ARCV and middle colic vessels at origin, and easy dissection along SMV. We performed a laparoscopic colectomy using this approach for 18 patients with right-sided colon cancer. The mean operative time and blood loss were 288 min and 83 ml, respectively. The mean number of harvested LNs was 24. There were 6 cases with positive LN metastasis. There were no recurrent cases at a median follow-up period of 24 months. We consider this approach to be safe and useful for radical LN dissection along SMV for right-sided colon cancers.

Contrast-enhanced sonography for detection of secondary lymph nodes in a melanoma tumor animal model.

To investigate the use of contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging (US) for detection of secondary lymph nodes (LNs) in a naturally occurring melanoma swine model compared to surgery and pathologic assessment. Twenty-seven Sinclair swine were studied. The perfluorobutane microbubble contrast agent Sonazoid (GE Healthcare, Oslo, Norway) was administered (1.0 mL total dose) around the melanoma, and contrast-enhanced US was used to localize contrast-enhanced sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs). Then Sonazoid (dose, 0.25-1.0 mL) was injected into the SLNs to detect contrast-enhanced efferent lymphatic channels and secondary LNs. After peritumoral injection of blue dye, a surgeon (blinded to the contrast-enhanced US results) performed a radical LN dissection. Contrast-enhanced US was used to guide removal of any enhanced secondary LNs left after radical LN dissection. Clustered conditional logistic regression analyzed the benefit of contrast-enhanced US-directed secondary LN dissection over radical LN dissection using pathologic findings as the reference standard. A total of 268 secondary LNs were resected, with 59 (22%) containing metastases. Contrast-enhanced US detected 92 secondary LNs; 248 were identified by radical LN dissection; and 68 were identified by both methods. Metastases were detected in 20% (51 of 248) and 40% (37 of 92) of the secondary LNs identified by radical LN dissection and contrast-enhanced US, respectively. Thus, secondary LNs detected by contrast-enhanced US were nearly 5 times more likely to contain metastases than secondary LNs removed by radical LN dissection (odds ratio, 4.8; P < .0001). Twenty-two of the 180 secondary LNs (12%) identified only by radical LN dissection contained metastases, whereas contrast-enhanced US identified 20 secondary LNs after the surgeon completed the radical LN dissection, of which 8 (40%) contained metastases. Secondary LNs can be detected by using contrast-enhanced US after injection of Sonazoid into SLNs. Secondary LNs detected with contrast-enhanced US are significantly more likely to contain metastases than those removed by radical LN dissection.

Extent of lymph node dissection: common hepatic artery lymph node dissection can be omitted for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Controversy persists regarding the adequate extent of lymph node (LN) dissection in thoracic esophageal cancer (EC) surgery. Oncologic efficacy should be balanced with the increased risk of postoperative complications after aggressive radical LN dissection. Here, we evaluate the effectiveness of common hepatic artery LN dissection in surgery for thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Among a total of 1,563 EC patients who underwent surgery from May 2005 to December 2012 at the Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, 1,248 thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were selected for this study, including 682 patients who underwent esophagectomy with common hepatic artery LN dissection and 566 patients who underwent esophagectomy without common hepatic artery LN dissection. The clinical data of patients were retrospectively analyzed. In addition, the locoregional LN metastasis, relationship between metastatic rates of common hepatic artery LN and clinicopathological factors were analyzed. A propensity score match analysis were performed to control for potential differences in the characteristics of patients with EC cell carcinoma, and postoperative complications were analyzed after propensity score-matching. The metastatic rate of common hepatic LN was 3.5%. Logistic regression analysis revealed tumor diameter, N classification and pTNM stage were risk factors for common hepatic LN metastasis. Matching based on propensity scores produced 361 patients in each group. The overall incidence of postoperative complications was 32.70% and 35.45%, respectively, no significant difference was found (P=0.432). The metastatic rate of common hepatic artery LN is low. For patients who undergo resection for Stage I thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, the dissection of common hepatic artery LN may be safely omitted.

Tips and Tricks To Optimize Efficiency during a Robotic Assisted Minimally Invasive (RAMI) Radical Hysterectomy and Lymph Node Dissection

Tips and Tricks To Optimize Efficiency during a Robotic Assisted Minimally Invasive (RAMI) Radical Hysterectomy and Lymph Node Dissection

The Initial Implementation of the Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy (SLNB) for Breast Cancer Management in Malta

Over the past two decades, the sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) based on sentinel node (SN) being the first lymph node that harbors metastases, revolutionized breast cancer management. SLNB presents much less morbidity when compared to radical axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) where all nodes are dissected irrespective of their metastatic involvement. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of SLNB by investigating whether the histological characteristics of the SNs identified using scintigraphy are predictive of the histological characteristics of the ALN basin. Methods: Fifty-five female breast cancer patients underwent lymphoscintigraphy and SLNB followed by ALND. The histological status of the SN/s was correlated to the histological status of the ALNs to determine whether the SN accurately stages the ALNs in breast cancer. Results: During surgery, SNs were successfully isolated in 52 out of 55 cases (94.5%) (range, 0 to 9). No SNs were identified in 3 cases (5.5%). Results demonstrate a significant association (p = 0.05) between the metastatic status of SNs and the corresponding ALNs in 42 out of 52 patients (80.8%), but with a high false-negative rate (FNR) of 37.5%. Conclusion: The findings of this study show that the sentinel node concept provides the benefits of SLNB in the majority of instances. However, further work is required in reducing the FNR. Once the effectiveness of SLNB as a staging technique is locally established, the need of ALND in SN-negative patients would be limited, thus improving the quality of life of Maltese breast cancer patients.

Long-Term Treatment Outcome after Only Popliteal Lymph Node Dissection for Nodal Metastasis in Malignant Melanoma of the Heel: The Only “Interval Node” Dissection Can Be an Adequate Surgical Treatment

We present a patient with malignant melanoma on his heel. Wide local excision was performed, along with sentinel lymph node biopsy of the inguinal and popliteal lesions. The primary site was clear of tumor at all margins; the inguinal nodes were negative, but the popliteal node was positive for metastatic melanoma. Only radical popliteal lymph node dissection was performed. The patient went on to receive adjuvant chemoimmunotherapy. There was no recurrence or complication until the long-term followup. Popliteal drainage from below the knee is uncommon, and the rate of popliteal-positive and inguinal-negative cases is estimated to be less than 1% of all melanomas. There is no established evidence about how to treat lymph nodes in these cases. Because we considered popliteal nodes as a regional, not interval, lymph node basin, only popliteal lymph node dissection was performed, and good postoperative course was achieved. The first site of drainage is the sentinel node, and the popliteal node can be a sentinel node. The inguinal node is not a sentinel node in all lower extremity melanomas. This case illustrates the importance of individual detailed investigation of lymphatic drainage patterns from foot to inguinal and popliteal nodes.

1911 FACTORS INFLUENCING LYMPH NODE YIELD DURING RADICAL CYSTECTOMY WITH EXTENDED PELVIC LYMPHADENECTOMY: SINGLE-INSTITUTION EXPERIENCE WITH A STANDARDIZED DISSECTION TEMPLATE

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Lower lymph node density has been associated with favorable prognosis in patients with bladder cancer. Proposed mechanisms include removal of micrometastases and improved risk stratification. While the number of lymph nodes may vary between patients, the influence of patient and tumor characteristics on lymph node yield (LNY) during radical cystectomy have not been well explored. In this study, we seek to evaluate how these variables influence LNY, thereby impacting lymph node density and hence prognosis. METHODS: A retrospective database review of 2,464 patients who underwent radical cystectomy and lymph node dissection at the University of Southern California (USC) and affiliated hospitals between 1973-2008 was conducted. LNYs were categorized into four numerical brackets: 20, 21-40, 41-60, and 60. Associations between LNYs and clinicopathologic and demographic covariates were analyzed. RESULTS: Median patient age was 68 years. Fewer patients 65 years had LNY 20 (21%) compared to patients 65 years (31%, p 0.001). Greater proportion of obese patients had LNY 60 (39%) compared to overweight (34%) and underweight/normal patients (27%, p 0.018). A greater proportion of patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status score 3-4 had LNY 20 (21%) versus patients with ASA scores 1-2 (11%, p 0.001). LNY 60 was significantly associated with node-positive disease (54%) compared to patients with node-negative disease (18-21%, p 0.001). The presence of multiple tumors was also associated with LNY 60 compared to solitary or no tumors (18% versus 14% and 9%, respectively; p 0.022). 79% of patients who underwent cystectomy with intent to cure had LNY 20, compared to 49% of those without intent to cure (p 0.001). Those who received neoadjuvant radiotherapy (n 180, 7%) tended to have lower LNY, with 63% having LNY 20 and 3% having LNY 60, versus 23% and 21%, respectively, in those who did not receive neoadjuvant radiation (p 0.001). 44% of patients with positive surgical margins had LNY 20 compared to 26% of patients with negative surgical margins (p 0.001). Calculated LNYs were higher since the institution of node packeting at USC (p 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Several individual patient characteristics including age, body mass index, ASA score, stage, multifocality and positive surgical margins influence LNY. The influence of interplay between these factors on node dissection is a subject of further investigation.