A Novel Nomogram to Identify Candidates for Extended Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection Among Patients with Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer Diagnosed with Magnetic Resonance Imaging-targeted and Systematic Biopsies

Background

Available models for predicting lymph node invasion (LNI) in prostate cancer (PCa) patients undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP) might not be applicable to men diagnosed via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-targeted biopsies.

Response to chemoradiotherapy and lymph node involvement in locally advanced rectal cancer

AIM: To establish the association between lymph node involvement and the response to neoadjuvant therapy in locally advanced rectal cancer.METHODS: Data of 130 patients with mid and low locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation followed by radical surgery over a 5-year period were reviewed. Tumor staging was done by endorectal ultrasound and/or magnetic resonance imaging. Tumor response to neoadjuvant therapy was determined by T-downstaging and tumor regression grading (TRG). Pathologic complete response (pCR) is defined as the absence of tumor cells in the surgical specimen (ypT0N0). The varying degrees TRG were classified according to Mandard’s scoring system. The evaluation of the response is based on the comparison between previous clinico-radiological staging and the results of pathological evaluation. χ² and Spearman’s correlation tests were used for the comparison of variables.RESULTS: Pathologic complete response (pCR, ypT0N0, TRG1) was observed in 19 cases (14.6%), and other 18 (13.8%) had only very few residual malignant cells in the rectal wall (TRG2). T-downstaging was found in 63 (48.5%). Mean lymph node retrieval was 9.4 (range 0-38). In 37 cases (28.5%) more than 12 nodes were identified in the surgical specimen. Preoperative lymph node involvement was seen in 77 patients (59.2%), 71 N1 and 6 N2. Postoperative lymph node involvement was observed in 41 patients (31.5%), 29 N1 and 12 N2, while the remaining 89 were N0 (68.5%). In relation to ypT stage, we found nodal involvement of 9.4% in ypT0-1, 22.2% in ypT2 and 43.7% in ypT3-4. Of the 37 patients considered “responders” to neoadjuvant therapy (TRG1 and 2), there were only 4 N+ (10.8%) and the remainder N0 (89.2%). In the “non responders” group (TRG 3, 4 and 5), 37 cases were N+ (39.8%) and 56 (60.2%) were N0 (P < 0.001).CONCLUSION: Response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation in rectal cancer is associated with lymph node involvement.     

Clinical parameters that predict histology of postchemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node mass in testicular cancer

BACKGROUND: Since the advent of cisplatin-based chemotherapy, the majority of metastatic testicular cancers can be cured by chemotherapy followed by retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND). However, postchemotherapy RPLND confers no therapeutic benefit if the residual mass contains no viable cells. Therefore, to determine which parameters predict a patient's likelihood of having only necrosis in the residual mass, we retrospectively analyzed clinical parameters of patients who underwent postchemotherapy RPLND. METHODS: Data from 27 patients with metastatic testicular cancer were analyzed. The histology of the primary tumor was seminoma in 11 cases and non-seminoma in 16 cases. All of the patients with non-seminoma showed a normalization of tumor markers after chemotherapy. Analysis of clinical parameters included data for the initial histology, pretreatment tumor marker levels, postchemotherapy retroperitoneal mass size, and the histology of the dissected RPLNs. RESULTS: Histological examination of dissected RPLNs showed residual tumor in 27% of seminoma patients and 38% of non-seminoma patients. In seminoma patients, no viable cells were found in all six patients with pretreatment lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels below 7.5 times the upper limit of normal, or in all five of the patients with postchemotherapy RPLNs less than 2.5 cm. In non-seminoma patients, no viable cells were found in nine of 10 patients with pretreatment alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels less than 2700 ng/mL, or in eight of nine patients with residual mass less than 2.5 cm. CONCLUSIONS: Both postchemotherapy RPLN mass size and pretreatment tumor marker levels are possible predictors for necrosis of the residual mass in testicular cancer patients.     

18F-FDG PET/CT对非小细胞肺癌区域淋巴结诊断的假阴性与假阳性研究

目的探讨18^F-FDG PET／CT在检测非小细胞肺癌（NSCLC）区域淋巴结中出现假阴性和假阳性的因素。方法随机选择手术治疗的NSCLC患者48例，术前1周内行18^F—FDG PET／CT检查，同期行CT增强扫描，术后根据病理检查结果分析PET／CT诊断NSCLC区域淋巴结转移的假阴性与假阳性因素。结果48例患者共切除区域淋巴结313枚，转移淋巴结51枚，PET／CT结果7枚假阴性。8枚假阳性，阳性预测值和阴性预测值分别为85％，97％，高于CT（57％，94％；P=0．002，0．045）。3枚假阴性淋巴结内的癌灶较小；2枚淋巴结短径约为0．4mm，小于PET／CT的空间分辨率；2枚紧邻原发灶的淋巴结，图像无法区分而视为原发灶。8枚假阳性淋巴结为患者在原发病灶基础上并发不同程度的肺部疾病和淋巴结炎症，使其糖代谢率增高。结论假阳性出于（1）淋巴结的短径小于PET／CT的空间分辨率；（2）淋巴结内的小癌灶糖代谢率较低；（3）紧邻原发灶的淋巴结与原发灶无法区分。原发肿瘤合并肺部疾病是导致PET／CT出现假阳性的重要原因。     

逆转录-聚合酶链反应检测胃癌淋巴结微转移

目的 检测胃癌常规病理检查阴性的淋巴结微转移的发生及与其它临床参考指标的关系。方法 利用逆转录－聚合酶链反应（RT－PCR）方法检测68枚胃癌胃周淋巴结癌胚抗原（CEA）mRNA基因表达，同时比较RT－PCR与免疫组化（IHC）方法的检测敏感性。结果 CEAmRNA RT－PCR是一种很敏感的方法，可以检测1／10^6个转移的癌细胞；检测19例胃癌患者取材的68枚胃周淋巴结，IHC阳性率28％（19／68），RT－PCR阳性率57％（39－68），两组之间差异有非常显著性意义（P＜0.01）；RT－PCR阳性率与胃部临床参考指标密切相关，且随着病期进展而增大。结论 CEA mRNA RT-PCR是比免疫组化更敏感的方法，可以预测胃癌淋巴结微转移，能够有效地避免已有微小转移的患者被漏诊。     

Surgical results of performing R4 gastrectomy for gastric cancer located in the upper third of the stomach

Because gastric cancers located in the upper third of the stomach are difficult to detect at an early stage, the surgical results remain poor. We performed R4 gastrectomy as a radical procedure for 25 patients, involving complete resection of the latero-aortic and interaorticovenous lymph modes above and below the left renal vein, in combination with the ordinary R2 or R3 gastrectomy (the R4 group). These patients were compared with 156 others who underwent R2 gastrectomy alone (the R2 group). There were no significant differences in operation time, blood loss, or the incidence of complications between the two groups; however, when the survival rates of the patients with tumors invading beyond the subserosa were compared, the 5-year survival rate was found to be significantly higher in the R4 group than in the R2 group. Furthermore, in patients with para-aortic nodal involvement, a significant survival advantage was observed in the R4 group, as compared with the R2 group. These results suggest that the R4 gastrectomy is a rational approach for patients with advanced gastric cancer located in the upper third of the stomach.     

羊心淋巴流阻断后血清生化指标的改变

为给临床心脏术后监测心淋巴管损伤程度及可能出现的并发症提供参考指标，以手术方法阻断羊心淋巴流并对其血清相关成份进行了测定。实验发现，实验组术后谷草转氨酶（ＳＧＯＴ）、谷丙转氨酶（ＳＧＰＴ）、碱性磷酸酶（ＡＫＰ）、乳酸脱氢酶（ＬＤＨ）均有不同程度的增高，以ＳＧＯＴ增高最为明显，术前均值为４７．５３Ｕ，术后２天增至１０４．２０Ｕ，高峰出现时间最早，多在术后２４小时。血清离子改变中低钾最为突出，血钾在术后２天明显降低（Ｐ＜０．０１），术后７天逐渐恢复，术后１４天恢复至术前水平。血清蛋白改变以球蛋白降低、白蛋白／球蛋白比值升高为主。提示心淋巴循环郁滞可导致心肌细胞损伤、毛细血管通透性和结构的改变。不同酶活性的变化对郁滞的敏感度存在着差异。     

Prevalence and localization of nodal metastases in squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity: role and extension of neck dissection

Lymph node (LN) metastases represent the most important negative prognostic factor in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oral cavity, even though controversies still exist regarding their management. The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze our experience in surgical management of SCC of the oral cavity with particular focus on the prevalence and localization of lymph nodal metastases and recurrences. The clinical records of 89 consecutive patients treated from 1983 to 2002 by concomitant surgery on both the T and N sites, excluding those undergoing salvage surgery, were reviewed. A total of 119 neck dissections (ND) were performed. Survival outcomes were calculated by the Kaplan–Meier method, while univariate comparisons by the log-rank and non-parametric tests were performed between different groups of patients. Five-year overall and determinate survivals were 50 and 57%, respectively. LN metastases were observed in 52% (56% of these showing extracapsular spread) and their presence strongly correlated with determinate survival (p < 0.0001). The prevalence of clinical and occult nodal disease was not related to the pT status. Neck levels II (59%) and I (56%) were most frequently involved. Metastases to level IV accounted for 15% of positive LN, even though 28% of them turned out to be skip metastases. Five neck recurrences were observed, only one of which was salvaged by surgery. The high prevalence of clinical and occult LN metastases in this setting suggests that ND should be performed on a nearly routine basis, even for lesions with a low-T category and a cN0 neck. Moreover, ND should always encompass level IV due to the possibility of skip metastases, particularly in tumors involving the oral tongue. In patients with a cN+ neck, levels from I to V should be addressed, particularly in the presence of metastases at levels III and IV.     

高频灰阶超声鉴别良恶性胸肌淋巴结

目的:评价灰阶超声在鉴别良、恶性胸肌淋巴结中的应用价值.材料和方法:研究对象为43枚乳癌患者的胸肌淋巴结,其中16枚为转移性胸肌淋巴结、27枚为非转移性胸肌淋巴结;另有19枚乳腺良性病变患者的胸肌淋巴结和22枚正常者的胸肌淋巴结作为对照组.使用仪器为HDI-3000型彩色多普勒超声诊断仪,配备5～12MHz宽频控头.运用超声测量胸肌淋巴结的长径、轮廓形态、长径-厚度比、髓皮质厚度比,作为鉴别良、恶性胸肌淋巴结的参数,比较良、恶性胸肌淋巴结在形态学上差异.结果:良、恶性胸肌淋巴结的长径、轮廓形态、髓皮质厚度比无显著性差异;恶性淋巴结长径-厚度比(1.7±0.4)明显低于良性淋巴结(2.0±0.5),P＜0.05.结论:灰阶超声在鉴别良、恶性胸肌淋巴结中具有一定的应用价值.     

恶性肿瘤局部淋巴结树突状细胞免疫组化研究

本文采用S-100蛋白为免疫学标记，对34例恶性肿瘤局部淋巴结内树突状细胞进行免疫组化定量研究。结果按S-100蛋白阳性细胞数目多少分为增多（7例）、减少（20例）及正常（7例）3组，统计学分析增多组均值（164.4个/mm^2)明显高于对照组（58.3个/mm^2)；减少组均值（16.5个/mm^2)组显低于对照组；而正常组均值（69.8个/mm^2)与对照组无显著差异。