Intraoperative Subareolar Injection of <Superscript>99m</Superscript>Tc-Labeled Sulfur Colloid Results in Consistent Sentinel Lymph Node Identification

Background Preoperative parenchymal or peritumoral (PT) injection of ^99mTc-labeled sulfur colloid (TcSC) is the standard method for sentinel lymph node (SLN) identification in patients with breast cancer. Limitations of this method include variable identification rates, slow transit times, and painful injections. We hypothesize that TcSC will travel to the SLN within minutes after injection into the subareolar (SA) lymphatics, thus making an intraoperative injection technique feasible.Methods One hundred twenty-two women with invasive breast cancer were enrolled onto this prospective study. Immediately after the induction of general anesthesia, patients were injected with 1 to 2 mCi of filtered TcSC in the SA location. Then, 5 mL of 1% isosulfan blue dye was injected into the PT location. The SLN or SLNs were identified as radioactive, blue, or both and removed for pathologic evaluation.Results The mean patient age was 56 years. The mean tumor size was 1.5 cm. In 86.1% of patients, a transcutaneous axillary hot spot was identified by handheld gamma probe. The mean time from TcSC injection to axillary incision was 17.6 minutes. At least one SLN was identified in 99.2% of patients. The mean number of SLNs identified per patient was 1.83. The mean count of radioactive SLNs was 2715 cps. In 97.2% of patients, blue SLNs were also radioactive.Conclusions TcSC injected into the SA lymphatics rapidly drains to the SLN. The radioactive SLN is easily and quickly identified after an intraoperative SA TcSC injection. The simplicity of this method eliminates the inherent problems associated with standard PT injection.     

Melanoma Metastases in Regional Lymph Nodes Are Accurately Detected by Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy of Fine-Needle Aspirate Biopsy Samples

Background Nonsurgical assessment of sentinel nodes (SNs) would offer advantages over surgical SN excision by reducing morbidity and costs. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) of fine-needle aspirate biopsy (FNAB) specimens identifies melanoma lymph node metastases. This study was undertaken to determine the accuracy of the MRS method and thereby establish a basis for the future development of a nonsurgical technique for assessing SNs. Methods FNAB samples were obtained from 118 biopsy specimens from 77 patients during SN biopsy and regional lymphadenectomy. The specimens were histologically evaluated and correlated with MRS data. Histopathologic analysis established that 56 specimens contained metastatic melanoma and that 62 specimens were benign. A linear discriminant analysis–based classifier was developed for benign tissues and metastases. Results The presence of metastatic melanoma in lymph nodes was predicted with a sensitivity of 92.9%, a specificity of 90.3%, and an accuracy of 91.5% in a primary data set. In a second data set that used FNAB samples separate from the original tissue samples, melanoma metastases were predicted with a sensitivity of 87.5%, a specificity of 90.3%, and an accuracy of 89.1%, thus supporting the reproducibility of the method. Conclusions Proton MRS of FNAB samples may provide a robust and accurate diagnosis of metastatic disease in the regional lymph nodes of melanoma patients. These data indicate the potential for SN staging of melanoma without surgical biopsy and histopathological evaluation.     

Sentinel lymph node biopsy for ductal carcinoma in situ: an evolving approach at the University of Florida

While sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has virtually replaced axillary dissection as the initial diagnostic procedure for invasive breast cancer, the role of SLNB in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to review our experience with SLNB in DCIS. All patients with DCIS or DCIS with microinvasion (DCISM) who underwent SLNB from June 1997 to April 2002 at the University of Florida were included for analysis. The indications for SLNB were at the discretion of the treating surgeon. Lymphatic mapping involved a sequential dermal-peritumoral radiocolloid injection and dynamic lymphoscintigraphy followed by an intraoperative assessment of radioactivity with a handheld gamma probe. All sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) with radioactive counts>or=10% of the ex vivo counts of the most radioactive SLN were removed. Pathologic analysis consisted of slicing the SLN at 2 mm intervals for permanent section. All paraffin blocks of the SLNs were step sectioned in 4 microm sections (92 microm spacing) through the entire lymph node. Slides were then stained with an immunohistochemical stain for cytokeratin (AE1/AE3) and evaluated by microscopy. Nodal metastases were classified using the 6th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging manual. From April 1998 to April 2002, 43 patients with DCIS underwent SLNB at the University of Florida. Seven patients (16%) with multifocal or extensive DCIS (five patients) or DCISM (two patients) who underwent SLNB had a positive sentinel node. Two of the three patients considered positive by immunohistochemistry alone had either DCISM or invasive disease. Four (80%) of the five patients with extensive DCIS and a positive sentinel node were ultimately determined to have invasive or microinvasive disease. While SLNB remains controversial in DCIS, our data suggest that patients with extensive DCIS should undergo SLNB at the initial procedure to avoid the need for a second operation. Data from clinical trials are needed to determine the impact of SLNB results on overall survival in patients with DCIS.     

Correlation between the current TNM staging and long-term survival after curative D1 lymphadenectomy for stomach cancer

Background and aims This study aims to assess the tumour-related factors that influence long-term survival after curative gastrectomy with standard D1 lymphadenectomy for patients with stomach cancer.Patients and methods Patients who had undergone curative gastrectomy for carcinoma of the stomach at North Shore Hospital between 1990 and 2000 were identified from theatre records and the hospital database. Medical records were reviewed and included tumour location, type of operation, in-hospital mortality, gross morphology of tumour, histological type, and Helicobacter status; pathology slides were reviewed, and tumours were staged according to the new TNM staging. Patients were followed-up for 2–11 years. Length of survival was obtained for each patient from medical records or from family doctors.Results R0 gastrectomy was performed on 70 patients; median survival was 23 months, and all patients with early gastric cancer are currently still alive. T stage, nodal stage and histological type correlated significantly with survival, but multivariate analysis showed that T stage is the most significant predictor. Five-year survival was 26%. Significant survival difference was seen between T2a and T2b.Conclusion Histological subtype, lymph node metastases and depth of invasion are factors that affect survival of patients with gastric cancer; however, depth of invasion is more important than other variables. Tumour location and type of gastrectomy has no effect on survival. The latest TNM classification (sixth edition) gives a better prognostication than the previous classification.     

Sentinel node metastasectomy in thin ≤1-mm melanoma

Background and aims Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has been widely accepted as a precise tool to stage melanoma. In thin T1 melanomas (1 mm), the indication of SLNB is controversial since the risk of nodal metastasis is low. The aim of this study was to assess if SLNB detects occult nodal metastases among patients with thin melanomas.Patients and methods SLNB was performed prospectively in 135 patients with invasive melanoma in any depth category, including 56 T1 melanomas.Results Nodal metastases were detected in 18% by SLNB, and there were three sentinel-positive thin melanomas, constituting 5% of the T1 cases. Histopathologically, there were no factors of the primary tumors that would have predicted these metastases.Conclusion SLNB is a precise method to detect clinically silent nodal metastases in thin invasive melanoma. Certain histopathologic features of a thin primary lesion may correlate with the predictive probability of the sentinel node status. We were unable to identify these predictors, but the conclusions from this study are limited by the small sample size. Advanced melanoma is a lethal disease, and accurate staging is essential also in the T1 group. For stage III patients with occult nodal metastases, metastasectomy is a better option for cure than observation.     

Detection of early lymph node metastases in prostate cancer by laparoscopic radioisotope guided sentinel lymph node dissection

PURPOSE: Radioisotope guided sentinel lymph node (SLN) dissection (SLND) for prostate cancer has been shown to increase the sensitivity of detecting early metastases in open pelvic lymph node dissection. We developed a technique that allows SLND to be performed by laparoscopy in conjunction with laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 71 consecutive patients SLND was performed by 1 surgeon preceding laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. Mean preoperative prostate specific antigen was 8.88 ng/ml (range 2.1 to 25.4). At 24 hours prior to surgery 3 ml (200 MBq) Tc labeled human albumin colloid were injected into the prostate gland under transrectal ultrasound guidance. An especially designed laparoscopic gamma probe was used to measure radioactivity during surgery. SLNs were identified and removed. If frozen section analysis showed metastases, extended pelvic lymph node dissection was performed. RESULTS: Radioactivity was detected on 2, 1 and no sides in 50 (70.4%), 19 (26.7%) and 2 patients (2.8%), respectively. In 81 of the 142 pelvic side walls (54.7%) SLNs were exclusively outside of the obturator fossa. Histopathological examination showed metastases to SLNs in 9 patients (12.9%). Eight of the 11 detected metastases (72.7%) were outside of the obturator fossa. Lymph node metastases were exclusively found in Tc marked lymph nodes. Mean tumor size was 1.7 mm (range 0.2 to 3.9). CONCLUSIONS: SLND is feasible by laparoscopy. It detects micrometastases outside of the obturator fossa in a significant number of patients. We noted that the transperitoneal approach allowing wide exposure and a gamma probe with a 90-degree lateral energy window is the most important factor to enable successful laparoscopic SLND.     

Impact of the number of positive lymph nodes on disease-free survival in patients with pathological stage B1 nonseminomatous germ cell tumor

PURPOSE: The prognostic significance of the number of metastatic lymph nodes detected at surgery on survival is well documented for breast and colon cancer, and it has recently been reported in bladder cancer. We tested this hypothesis in patients with pathological stage B1 nonseminomatous germ cell tumor (NSGCT). MATERIAL AND METHODS: This series included 118 patients with pathological stage B1 NSGCT (5 or fewer positive lymph nodes) at primary retroperitoneal lymph node dissection who did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy at a followup of greater than 24 months. RESULTS: Five-year disease-free survival (DFS) was 68% at a median followup of 43 months. Median followup in patients without recurrence was 67.4 months and median time to recurrence was 5.0 months. The mean and median number of positive lymph nodes was 2.0. Five-year DFS for 1 or 2 and 3 to 5 positive lymph nodes was 72% and 59%, respectively (p = 0.0847). Five-year DFS for lymph node density less or greater than 0.05 was 75% and 66%, respectively (p = 0.261). Neither the number of positive lymph nodes (continuous and categorical p = 0.201 and 0.271) or the ratio of the number of positive lymph nodes to the total number resected (continuous and categorical p = 0.415 and 0.998, respectively) predicted recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Primary retroperitoneal lymph node dissection is curative in patients with pathological stage B1 NSGCT and DFS does not seem to be influenced by the number or the ratio of positive lymph nodes resected. This information may be helpful in limiting adjuvant chemotherapy in patients otherwise cured by surgery.     

Experience of sentinel node biopsy alone in early breast cancer without further axillary dissection in patients with negative sentinel node

AIMS: The aims of surgical therapy of breast cancer are loco-regional tumour control and staging. Axillary staging is still considered the single most important prognostic indicator in breast cancer. Surgical removal of axillary nodes remains the standard way to assess their involvement in most centres. The morbidity associated with axillary dissection (AD) is well recognized. In recent years sentinel node biopsy (SNB) has evolved. Multiple studies suggest it has the same accuracy as AD in axillary staging and less morbidity in early breast cancer (EBC). SNB has become the standard of practice in EBC in many parts of the world. In Australia, the preference has been to wait for the results of the Sentinel Node versus Axillary Clearance (SNAC) trial as well as other international trials before accepting SNB as a standard of care. The experience of a single surgeon with SNB alone in EBC without further completion axillary dissection (CAD) in negative sentinel node (SLN) is described in the present paper. METHODS: An audit was done of the senior author's prospective data from the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons database. Other information was added retrospectively from case notes. RESULTS: Between December 2000 and December 2003, 154 EBC cases (153 patients) underwent SNB alone. An average of four SLN was removed. Of these cases, 31.8% had positive SLNs (excluding 2.6% cases that had isolated tumour cells), of these, 93.9% had metastases (39.1% micro- and 60.9% macro-metastases) in axillary-SLN (ASLN) and almost all of these had CAD. ASLNs were the only positive nodes in 73.9%. Extra-ASLN retrieved in 68.8% of 34% demonstrated on lymphoscintigraphy. Of these, 12.1% were positive (6.1% micro- and macro-metastases each), all internal mammary. Mean follow up was 22.1 months. There was one local-regional-systemic and one systemic recurrence over this time. CONCLUSION: SNB has a valid role in staging of the axilla particularly in low-risk patients. After adequate self audit, SNB offers a minimal morbidity and reliable method of axillary staging. Patients choosing SNB alone must understand that the long-term results of the randomized controlled trial are still pending for level I evidence of long-term efficacy.     

Ultrasonography-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology before sentinel node biopsy in patients with penile carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: To assess the accuracy of ultrasonography (US)-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) for detecting occult lymph node metastases in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the penis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-three patients with 83 clinically node-negative inguinal regions were assessed with US and FNAC. The results were compared with histology from subsequent dynamic sentinel-node biopsy (DSNB) or inguinal lymph node dissection. RESULTS: Thirty-four groins in 27 patients were considered to be suspicious by US and the lymph nodes were aspirated. Nine nodes contained tumour cells and this was confirmed by subsequent lymph node dissection. The sensitivity and specificity of US-guided FNAC were 39% (nine of 23) and 100% (60 of 60), respectively. The number of groins requiring DSNB was reduced by 11% (nine of 83). CONCLUSION: US-guided FNAC can be used as the initial investigation in clinically node-negative groins. If tumour is confirmed then therapeutic inguinal lymph node dissection can be earlier and fewer DSNBs are required.