空洞型非小细胞肺癌的预后分析

Objective To explore the survival and prognostic status of the cavitating non-small cell lung cancer. Methods A total 42 surgically treated patients with cavitating non-small cell lung cancer were studied retrospectively. Kaplan-Meiei was used to analyze the relationship between the prognostic factors and survival time. The cavitaing non-small cell lung cancer were matched 1:2 to the patients with non-small cell lung cancer that there is no cavity in X-ray, for gender, age, histology, lymph nodes dissection, stage, and whether receiving chemotherapy. The two groups were compared using the Log-rank test. Results The overall 1, 3, 5- year- survival rates for cavitating non-small cell lung cancer were 76.2%, 28.6%, and 14.7%, respectively. The diameter of the cavity and lymph nodes status significantly influenced syrvivals. 1he overall syrvival between the two groups of patients showed no sig- nificant differences (P=0.075). But the factors of women(P=O.040), younger than 60 years(P =0.032), NO of the lymph nodes dissection group(P=0.046), and staging Ⅰ were significantly influenced 5-year survivals(P=0.048). Conclusion The diameter of the cavity and lymph nodes status were correlated with the survival. The carcinomatous cavity are important prognosis factors for the nan-retail cell lung cancer patients of younger than 60 years, negative of lymph nodes dissection and staging Ⅰ , but whether the carci- nomtous cavity are important prognosis factors for the non-small cell lung cancer patients of woman was not determined.     

空洞型非小细胞肺癌的预后分析

Objective To explore the survival and prognostic status of the cavitating non-small cell lung cancer. Methods A total 42 surgically treated patients with cavitating non-small cell lung cancer were studied retrospectively. Kaplan-Meiei was used to analyze the relationship between the prognostic factors and survival time. The cavitaing non-small cell lung cancer were matched 1:2 to the patients with non-small cell lung cancer that there is no cavity in X-ray, for gender, age, histology, lymph nodes dissection, stage, and whether receiving chemotherapy. The two groups were compared using the Log-rank test. Results The overall 1, 3, 5- year- survival rates for cavitating non-small cell lung cancer were 76.2%, 28.6%, and 14.7%, respectively. The diameter of the cavity and lymph nodes status significantly influenced syrvivals. 1he overall syrvival between the two groups of patients showed no sig- nificant differences (P=0.075). But the factors of women(P=O.040), younger than 60 years(P =0.032), NO of the lymph nodes dissection group(P=0.046), and staging Ⅰ were significantly influenced 5-year survivals(P=0.048). Conclusion The diameter of the cavity and lymph nodes status were correlated with the survival. The carcinomatous cavity are important prognosis factors for the nan-retail cell lung cancer patients of younger than 60 years, negative of lymph nodes dissection and staging Ⅰ , but whether the carci- nomtous cavity are important prognosis factors for the non-small cell lung cancer patients of woman was not determined.     

空洞型非小细胞肺癌的预后分析

Objective To explore the survival and prognostic status of the cavitating non-small cell lung cancer. Methods A total 42 surgically treated patients with cavitating non-small cell lung cancer were studied retrospectively. Kaplan-Meiei was used to analyze the relationship between the prognostic factors and survival time. The cavitaing non-small cell lung cancer were matched 1:2 to the patients with non-small cell lung cancer that there is no cavity in X-ray, for gender, age, histology, lymph nodes dissection, stage, and whether receiving chemotherapy. The two groups were compared using the Log-rank test. Results The overall 1, 3, 5- year- survival rates for cavitating non-small cell lung cancer were 76.2%, 28.6%, and 14.7%, respectively. The diameter of the cavity and lymph nodes status significantly influenced syrvivals. 1he overall syrvival between the two groups of patients showed no sig- nificant differences (P=0.075). But the factors of women(P=O.040), younger than 60 years(P =0.032), NO of the lymph nodes dissection group(P=0.046), and staging Ⅰ were significantly influenced 5-year survivals(P=0.048). Conclusion The diameter of the cavity and lymph nodes status were correlated with the survival. The carcinomatous cavity are important prognosis factors for the nan-retail cell lung cancer patients of younger than 60 years, negative of lymph nodes dissection and staging Ⅰ , but whether the carci- nomtous cavity are important prognosis factors for the non-small cell lung cancer patients of woman was not determined.     

空洞型非小细胞肺癌的预后分析

Objective To explore the survival and prognostic status of the cavitating non-small cell lung cancer. Methods A total 42 surgically treated patients with cavitating non-small cell lung cancer were studied retrospectively. Kaplan-Meiei was used to analyze the relationship between the prognostic factors and survival time. The cavitaing non-small cell lung cancer were matched 1:2 to the patients with non-small cell lung cancer that there is no cavity in X-ray, for gender, age, histology, lymph nodes dissection, stage, and whether receiving chemotherapy. The two groups were compared using the Log-rank test. Results The overall 1, 3, 5- year- survival rates for cavitating non-small cell lung cancer were 76.2%, 28.6%, and 14.7%, respectively. The diameter of the cavity and lymph nodes status significantly influenced syrvivals. 1he overall syrvival between the two groups of patients showed no sig- nificant differences (P=0.075). But the factors of women(P=O.040), younger than 60 years(P =0.032), NO of the lymph nodes dissection group(P=0.046), and staging Ⅰ were significantly influenced 5-year survivals(P=0.048). Conclusion The diameter of the cavity and lymph nodes status were correlated with the survival. The carcinomatous cavity are important prognosis factors for the nan-retail cell lung cancer patients of younger than 60 years, negative of lymph nodes dissection and staging Ⅰ , but whether the carci- nomtous cavity are important prognosis factors for the non-small cell lung cancer patients of woman was not determined.     

空洞型非小细胞肺癌的预后分析

Objective To explore the survival and prognostic status of the cavitating non-small cell lung cancer. Methods A total 42 surgically treated patients with cavitating non-small cell lung cancer were studied retrospectively. Kaplan-Meiei was used to analyze the relationship between the prognostic factors and survival time. The cavitaing non-small cell lung cancer were matched 1:2 to the patients with non-small cell lung cancer that there is no cavity in X-ray, for gender, age, histology, lymph nodes dissection, stage, and whether receiving chemotherapy. The two groups were compared using the Log-rank test. Results The overall 1, 3, 5- year- survival rates for cavitating non-small cell lung cancer were 76.2%, 28.6%, and 14.7%, respectively. The diameter of the cavity and lymph nodes status significantly influenced syrvivals. 1he overall syrvival between the two groups of patients showed no sig- nificant differences (P=0.075). But the factors of women(P=O.040), younger than 60 years(P =0.032), NO of the lymph nodes dissection group(P=0.046), and staging Ⅰ were significantly influenced 5-year survivals(P=0.048). Conclusion The diameter of the cavity and lymph nodes status were correlated with the survival. The carcinomatous cavity are important prognosis factors for the nan-retail cell lung cancer patients of younger than 60 years, negative of lymph nodes dissection and staging Ⅰ , but whether the carci- nomtous cavity are important prognosis factors for the non-small cell lung cancer patients of woman was not determined.     

空洞型非小细胞肺癌的预后分析

Objective To explore the survival and prognostic status of the cavitating non-small cell lung cancer. Methods A total 42 surgically treated patients with cavitating non-small cell lung cancer were studied retrospectively. Kaplan-Meiei was used to analyze the relationship between the prognostic factors and survival time. The cavitaing non-small cell lung cancer were matched 1:2 to the patients with non-small cell lung cancer that there is no cavity in X-ray, for gender, age, histology, lymph nodes dissection, stage, and whether receiving chemotherapy. The two groups were compared using the Log-rank test. Results The overall 1, 3, 5- year- survival rates for cavitating non-small cell lung cancer were 76.2%, 28.6%, and 14.7%, respectively. The diameter of the cavity and lymph nodes status significantly influenced syrvivals. 1he overall syrvival between the two groups of patients showed no sig- nificant differences (P=0.075). But the factors of women(P=O.040), younger than 60 years(P =0.032), NO of the lymph nodes dissection group(P=0.046), and staging Ⅰ were significantly influenced 5-year survivals(P=0.048). Conclusion The diameter of the cavity and lymph nodes status were correlated with the survival. The carcinomatous cavity are important prognosis factors for the nan-retail cell lung cancer patients of younger than 60 years, negative of lymph nodes dissection and staging Ⅰ , but whether the carci- nomtous cavity are important prognosis factors for the non-small cell lung cancer patients of woman was not determined.     

空洞型非小细胞肺癌的预后分析

Objective To explore the survival and prognostic status of the cavitating non-small cell lung cancer. Methods A total 42 surgically treated patients with cavitating non-small cell lung cancer were studied retrospectively. Kaplan-Meiei was used to analyze the relationship between the prognostic factors and survival time. The cavitaing non-small cell lung cancer were matched 1:2 to the patients with non-small cell lung cancer that there is no cavity in X-ray, for gender, age, histology, lymph nodes dissection, stage, and whether receiving chemotherapy. The two groups were compared using the Log-rank test. Results The overall 1, 3, 5- year- survival rates for cavitating non-small cell lung cancer were 76.2%, 28.6%, and 14.7%, respectively. The diameter of the cavity and lymph nodes status significantly influenced syrvivals. 1he overall syrvival between the two groups of patients showed no sig- nificant differences (P=0.075). But the factors of women(P=O.040), younger than 60 years(P =0.032), NO of the lymph nodes dissection group(P=0.046), and staging Ⅰ were significantly influenced 5-year survivals(P=0.048). Conclusion The diameter of the cavity and lymph nodes status were correlated with the survival. The carcinomatous cavity are important prognosis factors for the nan-retail cell lung cancer patients of younger than 60 years, negative of lymph nodes dissection and staging Ⅰ , but whether the carci- nomtous cavity are important prognosis factors for the non-small cell lung cancer patients of woman was not determined.     

空洞型非小细胞肺癌的预后分析

Objective To explore the survival and prognostic status of the cavitating non-small cell lung cancer. Methods A total 42 surgically treated patients with cavitating non-small cell lung cancer were studied retrospectively. Kaplan-Meiei was used to analyze the relationship between the prognostic factors and survival time. The cavitaing non-small cell lung cancer were matched 1:2 to the patients with non-small cell lung cancer that there is no cavity in X-ray, for gender, age, histology, lymph nodes dissection, stage, and whether receiving chemotherapy. The two groups were compared using the Log-rank test. Results The overall 1, 3, 5- year- survival rates for cavitating non-small cell lung cancer were 76.2%, 28.6%, and 14.7%, respectively. The diameter of the cavity and lymph nodes status significantly influenced syrvivals. 1he overall syrvival between the two groups of patients showed no sig- nificant differences (P=0.075). But the factors of women(P=O.040), younger than 60 years(P =0.032), NO of the lymph nodes dissection group(P=0.046), and staging Ⅰ were significantly influenced 5-year survivals(P=0.048). Conclusion The diameter of the cavity and lymph nodes status were correlated with the survival. The carcinomatous cavity are important prognosis factors for the nan-retail cell lung cancer patients of younger than 60 years, negative of lymph nodes dissection and staging Ⅰ , but whether the carci- nomtous cavity are important prognosis factors for the non-small cell lung cancer patients of woman was not determined.     

空洞型非小细胞肺癌的预后分析

Objective To explore the survival and prognostic status of the cavitating non-small cell lung cancer. Methods A total 42 surgically treated patients with cavitating non-small cell lung cancer were studied retrospectively. Kaplan-Meiei was used to analyze the relationship between the prognostic factors and survival time. The cavitaing non-small cell lung cancer were matched 1:2 to the patients with non-small cell lung cancer that there is no cavity in X-ray, for gender, age, histology, lymph nodes dissection, stage, and whether receiving chemotherapy. The two groups were compared using the Log-rank test. Results The overall 1, 3, 5- year- survival rates for cavitating non-small cell lung cancer were 76.2%, 28.6%, and 14.7%, respectively. The diameter of the cavity and lymph nodes status significantly influenced syrvivals. 1he overall syrvival between the two groups of patients showed no sig- nificant differences (P=0.075). But the factors of women(P=O.040), younger than 60 years(P =0.032), NO of the lymph nodes dissection group(P=0.046), and staging Ⅰ were significantly influenced 5-year survivals(P=0.048). Conclusion The diameter of the cavity and lymph nodes status were correlated with the survival. The carcinomatous cavity are important prognosis factors for the nan-retail cell lung cancer patients of younger than 60 years, negative of lymph nodes dissection and staging Ⅰ , but whether the carci- nomtous cavity are important prognosis factors for the non-small cell lung cancer patients of woman was not determined.     

空洞型非小细胞肺癌的预后分析

Objective To explore the survival and prognostic status of the cavitating non-small cell lung cancer. Methods A total 42 surgically treated patients with cavitating non-small cell lung cancer were studied retrospectively. Kaplan-Meiei was used to analyze the relationship between the prognostic factors and survival time. The cavitaing non-small cell lung cancer were matched 1:2 to the patients with non-small cell lung cancer that there is no cavity in X-ray, for gender, age, histology, lymph nodes dissection, stage, and whether receiving chemotherapy. The two groups were compared using the Log-rank test. Results The overall 1, 3, 5- year- survival rates for cavitating non-small cell lung cancer were 76.2%, 28.6%, and 14.7%, respectively. The diameter of the cavity and lymph nodes status significantly influenced syrvivals. 1he overall syrvival between the two groups of patients showed no sig- nificant differences (P=0.075). But the factors of women(P=O.040), younger than 60 years(P =0.032), NO of the lymph nodes dissection group(P=0.046), and staging Ⅰ were significantly influenced 5-year survivals(P=0.048). Conclusion The diameter of the cavity and lymph nodes status were correlated with the survival. The carcinomatous cavity are important prognosis factors for the nan-retail cell lung cancer patients of younger than 60 years, negative of lymph nodes dissection and staging Ⅰ , but whether the carci- nomtous cavity are important prognosis factors for the non-small cell lung cancer patients of woman was not determined.     

Is there a therapeutic role for post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection in metastatic transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder?

PURPOSE: We identified a subset of patients with bladder cancer (transitional cell carcinoma) and regional nodal metastasis to the retroperitoneal lymph nodes without detectable systemic dissemination. While the majority of these patients respond initially to chemotherapy, most have disease relapse at the same site within a year. We report the results of a phase II study exploring the potential benefit of retroperitoneal lymph node dissection in patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder in whom disease has shown a significant response to chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 11 patients with biopsy proven metastatic transitional cell carcinoma in the retroperitoneal lymph nodes and no evidence of visceral metastatic disease in whom disease showed a significant response to chemotherapy underwent complete bilateral retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. The end point of study was disease specific survival, calculated from the time of retroperitoneal lymph node dissection to death from transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. RESULTS: Four patients underwent delayed retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. Seven patients underwent concurrent cystectomy, and pelvic and retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. There was no perioperative mortality. Nine patients had evidence of residual disease in the retroperitoneal nodes. Seven patients have recurrence outside of the original surgical field with a median time to recurrence of 7 months and 6 died at a median time to death of 8 months (range 5 to 14). One patient with retrocrural recurrence attained a complete response to salvage chemotherapy and remained disease-free 57 months after retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. For all 11 patients median disease specific and recurrence-free survival rates were 14 and 7 months, respectively. Four-year disease specific and recurrence-free survival rates were 36% and 27%, respectively. We stratified the patients based on the number of involved lymph nodes at retroperitoneal lymph node dissection and noted that viable tumor in no more than 2 lymph nodes correlated with greater disease specific and recurrence-free survival (p = 0.006 and 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection can be safely performed for metastatic transitional cell carcinoma. Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection has curative potential, particularly in patients with viable tumor in no more than 2 lymph nodes after chemotherapy.     

Renal cell carcinoma with retroperitoneal lymph nodes: role of lymph node dissection

PURPOSE: We better defined the benefits and morbidity of lymph node dissection in patients with localized renal cell carcinoma using the experience of patients treated at our institution. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed with outcome assessment based on the chart review of demographic, clinical and pathological data in 1,087 patients with renal cell carcinoma treated at our institution. Patients with renal cell carcinoma who did not undergo nephrectomy as part of cancer treatment, those with bilateral disease and those for whom nodal status was unknown were not included in this study. A total of 900 patients meeting these criteria who underwent nephrectomy for unilateral renal cell carcinoma at our medical center form the principal study population. RESULTS: Positive lymph nodes were associated with larger, higher grade, locally advanced primary tumors that were more commonly associated with sarcomatoid features. Positive nodes were 3 to 4 times more common in patients with metastatic disease and the majority of these patients could be identified preoperatively. The survival of patients with regional lymph node involvement only was identical to that of patients with distant metastatic disease only. Patients with regional nodes and distant metastases had significantly inferior survival to those with either condition alone. In node negative cases lymph node dissection can be performed with no additional morbidity but it confers no survival advantage. In node positive cases lymph node dissection can also be performed safely but it is associated with improved survival and a trend toward an improved response to immunotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Regional lymph node dissection is unnecessary in patients with clinically negative lymph nodes since it offers extremely limited staging information and no benefit in terms of decreasing disease recurrence or improving survival. In patients with positive lymph nodes lymph node dissection is associated with improved survival when it is performed in carefully selected patients undergoing cytoreductive nephrectomy and postoperative immunotherapy. When lymph nodes are present, they should be resected when technically feasible.     

Value of systematic mediastinal lymph node dissection during pulmonary metastasectomy

BACKGROUND: Systematic mediastinal lymph node dissection is the accepted standard when curative resection of bronchial carcinoma is performed. However, mediastinal lymph node dissection is not routinely performed with pulmonary metastasectomy, in which only enlarged or suspicious lymph nodes are removed. The incidence of malignant infiltration of mediastinal lymph nodes in patients with pulmonary metastases is not known. METHODS: Sixty-three patients who underwent 71 resections through a thoracotomy for pulmonary metastases of different primary tumors were studied prospectively. Selected patients showed no evidence of tumor progression or extrathoracic metastases and pulmonary metastasectomy was planned with curative intent. All patients underwent preoperative helical computed tomography (CT) scanning. Only patients with no evidence of suspicious mediastinal lymph nodes on the CT scan (less than 1 cm in the short axis) were included in this study. A mediastinal lymph node dissection was performed routinely with metastasectomy. RESULTS: In 9 patients (14.3%) at least one mediastinal lymph node revealed malignant cells in accordance with the resected metastases. When compared with the preoperative CT scan, additional pulmonary metastases were detected in 16.9% of performed operations. There was a trend toward an improved survival rate in patients without involvement of the mediastinal lymph nodes. The number of pulmonary metastases had no influence on survival. CONCLUSIONS: On a patient-by-patient basis, the frequency of misdiagnosed mediastinal lymph node metastases is about the same as compared with non-small cell bronchial carcinomas. Systematic mediastinal lymph node dissection reveals a significant number of patients, who otherwise are assumed free of residual tumor. The knowledge of metastases to mediastinal lymph nodes after complete resection of pulmonary metastases could influence the decision for adjuvant therapy in selected cases.     

Regional lymph node dissection in the treatment of renal cell carcinoma: is it useful in patients with no suspected adenopathy before or during surgery?

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the role of regional lymph node dissection (LND) in a series of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with no suspicion of nodal metastases before or during surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A series of 167 patients with RCC, free from distant metastases at diagnosis, and who underwent radical nephrectomy at our hospital between January 1990 and October 1997, was reviewed. The mean (median, range) follow-up was 51 (45, 19-112) months. Of the 167 patients, 108 underwent radical nephrectomy alone and 59 had radical nephrectomy with regional LND limited to the anterior, posterior and lateral sides of the ipsilateral great vessel, from the level of the renal pedicle to the inferior mesenteric artery. Of these 59 patients, 49 had no evidence of nodal metastases before or during surgery. The probability of survival was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method, using the log-rank test to estimate differences among levels of the analysed variables. RESULTS: The overall 5-year survival was 79%; the 5-year survival rate for the 108 patients who underwent radical nephrectomy alone was 79% and for the 49 who underwent LND was 78%. Of the 49 patients with no suspicion of lymph node metastases, one (2%) was found to have histologically confirmed positive nodes. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that there is no clinical benefit in terms of overall outcome in undertaking regional LND in the absence of enlarged nodes detected before or during surgery.     

Bilateral cervical lymph node metastases in well-differentiated thyroid cancer

We analyzed the regional lymph node metastases of 98 patients with thyroid cancer who underwent bilateral modified neck dissection. Bilateral jugular lymph node metastases were frequent in patients with papillary carcinoma of the thyroid, especially in those patients with obvious carcinoma in both lobes of the gland, cancer arising in the isthmus, clinically detectable bilateral lymphadenopathy, and recurrent thyroid cancer. In patients whose cancer was clinically confined to one lobe, and where there were no obviously enlarged contralateral lymph nodes, the occurrence of contralateral jugular lymph node metastasis was significantly correlated with the contralateral paratracheal lymph node metastasis. The bilateral lymphadenectomy appears to be appropriate in these instances.     

Clinical Significance of Lymph Node Micrometastasis in Ampullary Carcinoma

Background This study aimed to clarify the clinical significance of lymph node micrometastasis in ampullary carcinoma. Materials and Methods Pancreaticoduodenectomy with regional lymphadenectomy was performed for 50 consecutive patients with ampullary carcinoma. A total of 1,283 regional lymph nodes (median, 25 per patient) were examined histologically for metastases. Overt metastasis was defined as metastasis detected during routine histologic examination with hematoxylin and eosin. Micrometastasis was defined as metastasis first detected by immunohistochemistry with an antibody against cytokeratins 7 and 8. The median follow-up period was 119 months after resection. Results Overt metastasis was positive in 90 lymph nodes from 27 patients. Micrometastasis was positive in 33 lymph nodes from 12 patients, all of whom also had overt nodal metastases. Patients with nodal micrometastasis had a larger number of lymph nodes with overt metastasis (median, 3.5) than those without (median, 0; P < 0.001). Overt metastasis to distant nodes (superior mesenteric nodes, para-aortic nodes) was more frequent (P = 0.001 and P = 0.038, respectively) in patients with nodal micrometastasis. Nodal micrometastasis was found to be a strong independent prognostic factor on univariate (P < 0.0001) and multivariate (relative risk, 5.085; P = 0.007) analyses. From among the 27 patients with overt nodal metastasis, the outcome after resection was significantly worse in the patients with nodal micrometastasis (median survival time of 11 months) than in those without (median survival time of 63 months; P = 0.0009). Conclusions Immunohistochemically detected lymph node micrometastasis indicates intensive lymphatic spread, and thus adversely affects the survival of patients with ampullary carcinoma.     

Extranodal extension in regional lymph nodes is associated with outcome in patients with renal cell carcinoma

PURPOSE: The 2002 American Joint Committee on Cancer pN classification for renal cell carcinoma is based on the number of positive regional lymph nodes. We examined the associations of pathological features of lymph node metastases with patient outcome to improve the prognostic accuracy of the current classification. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied the records of 2,076 patients treated with radical nephrectomy for unilateral, sporadic pM0 renal cell carcinoma between 1970 and 2000. There were 34 patients with metastasis in a single regional lymph node (pN1) and 35 with metastases in more than 1 lymph node (pN2). Pathological features of lymph node metastases, including the number and percent of positive lymph nodes, total number of lymph nodes removed, grade, necrosis, extranodal extension, and largest dimension and surface area of metastases were determined by 2 urological pathologists (HHD and JCC). RESULTS: There was no statistically significant association between the pN classification and death from renal cell carcinoma (pN2 vs pN1 RR 1.05, 95% CI 0.62 to 1.79, p = 0.846). However, patients with extranodal extension were twice as likely to die of renal cell carcinoma than patients in whom metastases did not extend outside of the lymph node capsule (RR 2.02, 95% CI 1.18 to 3.45, p = 0.010). The 5-year cancer specific survival rate was 18% and 35% in patients with and without extranodal extension, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that a pN classification based on the presence or absence of lymph node metastases with a notation regarding the presence or absence of extranodal extension represents a significant improvement in the prognostic accuracy of the current pN classification.     

Intraoperative lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node biopsy for Merkel cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare cutaneous neoplasm which commonly spreads to the regional lymph nodes. The feasibility of identifying the sentinel node in patients with clinically node-negative Merkel cell carcinoma was evaluated. METHODS: Sentinel lymphatic mapping was performed in 18 patients with stage 1 Merkel cell carcinoma using the combination of isosulphan blue dye and 99mTc-radiolabelled sulphur colloid. Patients with tumour metastasis in the sentinel node underwent complete dissection of the remainder of the lymph node basin. RESULTS: Eighteen patients underwent removal of 35 sentinel nodes. Two patients demonstrated metastatic disease in the sentinel lymph nodes; complete dissection of the involved nodal basin revealed no additional positive nodes suggesting that the sentinel lymph node had been identified. The node-negative patients received no further surgical therapy, with no evidence of recurrent disease in the sentinel nodal basin at a median of 7 months' follow-up. CONCLUSION: Sentinel node biopsy is feasible in patients with Merkel cell carcinoma. It can be used to stage patients and provides important prognostic information. In those with subclinical nodal disease, it may direct early regional lymphadenectomy but the effect of such surgery on survival remains unclear.     

Renal cell carcinoma metastatic to the pancreas: Results of surgical management

Metastatic tumors to the pancreas are uncommon. Renal cell carcinoma is one of the few tumors known to metastasize to the pancreas. The purpose of the current report is to evaluate the surgical management and long-term outcome of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. A retrospective review of patients undergoing pancreatic resection for renal cell carcinomas metastatic to the pancreas or periampullary region between April 1989 and May 1999, inclusive, was performed. Time from initial presentation, other metastatic sites, surgical outcomes, and long-term survival were evaluated. During the 10-year time period, 10 patients underwent pancreatic resection for renal cell carcinoma metastases. Ofthose, six underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy and two underwent distal pancreatectomy, whereas the two remaining patients underwent total pancreatectomy for extensive tumor involvement throughout the entire gland. The mean time from nephrectomy for resection of the primary tumor to reoperation for periampullary recurrence was 9.8 years (median 8.5 years). The range was 0 to 28 years, with one patient presenting with a synchronous metastasis. The mean age of the patients was 61.2 years with 60% of patients being male and 90% being white. Pathologic findings included histologically negative lymph nodes and negative surgical margins in all patients. One patient had tumor involving the retroperitoneal soft tissue, but final margins were negative. The mean live patient follow-up was 30 months (median =1.5 months), with eight patients remaining alive. The Kaplan-Meier actuarial 5-year survival was 75%, with the longest survivor still alive 117 months following resection. The patient with retroperitoneal soft tissue involvement died 4 months after resection. The pancreas is an uncommon site of metastasis for renal cell carcinoma, typically occurring years after treatment of the primary tumor. When the metastatic focus is isolated and the tumor can be resected in its entirety, patients can experience excellent S-year survival rates. The current report suggests that pancreatic metastases from renal cell carcinoma should be managed aggressively with complete resection when possible. Presented at the Forty-First Annual Meeting of The Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, San Diego, Calif., May 2l–24, 2000.     

Lymph node metastasis from hilar cholangiocarcinoma: audit of 110 patients who underwent regional and paraaortic node dissection

OBJECTIVE: To assess the status of the regional and paraaortic lymph nodes in hilar cholangiocarcinoma and to clarify the efficacy of systematic extended lymphadenectomy. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: There have been no studies in which regional and paraaortic lymphadenectomies for hilar cholangiocarcinoma have been routinely performed. Therefore, the metastasis rates to the regional and paraaortic nodes, the mode of lymphatic spread, and the effect of extended lymph node dissection on survival remain unknown. METHODS: This study involved 110 patients who underwent surgical resection for hilar cholangiocarcinoma with lymph node dissection including both the regional and paraaortic nodes. A total of 2,652 nodes retrieved from the surgical specimens were examined microscopically. RESULTS: Of the 110 patients, 52 (47.3%) had no involved nodes, 39 (35.5%) had regional lymph node metastases, and 19 (17.3%) had regional and paraaortic node metastases. The incidence of positive nodes was significantly higher in the patients with pT3 disease than in those with pT2 disease. The pericholedochal nodes were most commonly involved (42.7%), followed by the periportal nodes (30.9%), the common hepatic nodes (27.3%), and the posterior pancreaticoduodenal nodes (14.5%). The celiac and superior mesenteric nodes were rarely involved. The 3-year and 5-year survival rates were 55.4% and 30.5% for the 52 patients without involved nodes, 31.8% and 14.7% for the 39 patients with regional node metastases, and 12.3% and 12.3% for the 19 patients with paraaortic node metastases, respectively. Of the 19 patients with positive paraaortic nodes, 7 had no macroscopic evidence of paraaortic disease on intraoperative inspection. The survival in this group was significantly better than in the remaining 12 patients. CONCLUSION: The paraaortic nodes and the regional nodes are frequently involved in advanced hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Whether extended lymph node dissection provides a survival benefit requires further study. However, the fact that long-term survival is possible despite pN2 or pM1 disease encourages the authors to perform an aggressive surgical procedure with extended lymph node dissection in selected patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma.