Sentinel lymph node localization and staging with a low-dose of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) enhanced MRI and magnetometer in patients with cutaneous melanoma of the extremity - The MAGMEN feasibility study

BackgroundIn patients with melanoma, sentinel lymph node (SLN) status is pivotal for treatment decisions. Current routine for SLN detection combines Technetium^99m (Tc⁹⁹) lymphoscintigraphy and blue dye (BD). The primary aim of this study was to examine the feasibility of using a low dose of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) injected intracutaneously to detect and identify the SLN, and the secondary aim was to investigate if a low dose of SPIO would enable a preoperative MRI-evaluation of SLN status.MethodsPatients with melanoma of the extremities were eligible. Before surgery, a baseline MRI of the nodal basin was followed by an injection of a low dose (0.02–0.5 mL) of SPIO and then a second MRI (SPIO-MRI). Tc⁹⁹ and BD was used in parallel and all nodes with a superparamagnetic and/or radioactive signal were harvested and analyzed.ResultsFifteen patients were included and the SLNB procedure was successful in all patients (27 SLNs removed). All superparamagnetic SLNs were visualized by MRI corresponding to the same nodes on scintigraphy. Micrometastatic deposits were identified in four SLNs taken from three patients, and SPIO-MRI correctly predicted two of the metastases. There was an association between MRI artefacts in the lymph node and the dose SPIO given.DiscussionIt is feasible to detect SLN in patients with melanoma using a low dose of SPIO injected intracutaneously compared with the standard dual technique. A low dose of SPIO reduces the lymph node MRI artefacts, opening up for a non-invasive assessment of SLN status in patients with cancer.     

New and important changes in breast cancer TNM: incorporation of biologic factors into staging

Introduction: Cancer staging has historically been based solely on the anatomic extent of the tumor (T), spread to lymph nodes (N), and the presence of distant metastases (M). More recently biologic factors have been added to modify TNM stage groups to provide more accurate prognosis for patients.

Areas covered: The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) updated breast cancer staging in 2016 to include T, N, M, tumor grade and expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors and HER2. Addition of these factors changed the stage group for a large fraction of cases compared to prior TNM stage groupings. This updated ‘prognostic stage’ provides more robust and precise prognosis information.

Expert opinion: Inclusion of biological information in staging changes the meaning and the use of stage in clinical practice. This paper reviews the evidence supporting these changes, limitations affecting staging, and discusses the implications for clinical practice and the future of breast cancer staging.     

外科治疗ⅢA期N2非小细胞肺癌的预后分析及临床意义

目的 探讨影响ⅢA期N2非小细胞肺癌（NSCLC）预后的因素，并分析经手术治疗不同亚组病人的生存率差异。方法 分析1997年1月至2000年1月146例手术治疗的ⅢA期N2 NSCLC病人的可能影响预后因素：病理类型、肿瘤位置、肿瘤大小、手术方式、临床N2情况，N2转移组数及个数、术后辅助治疗等，并用Kaplan-Meier曲线及Logr ank检验生存率差异，Cox单因素、多因素分析各因素对生存率的影响。结果 ⅢA期N2 NSCLC病人的3年和5年生存率分别为19．86％和14．56％。单因素分析示肿瘤位置、临床N2情况、N2转移组数及个数是影响生存率的因素；多因素分析示肿瘤大小、临床N2情况，N2转移组数和肿瘤位置影响预后。右肺下叶肿瘤单组或单个N2转移，预后最好。结论 纵隔N2转移淋巴结的大小、个数和组数是影响术后生存率主要因素。手术前未发现N2转移（mN2），有1组N2转移（N2h），N2转移数少于4个者手术治疗效果好。右肺下叶肿瘤发生单组N2淋巴结转移预后好。     

Predictability of retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis by using clinicopathologic variables in surgically staged endometrial cancer

The purpose of this study was to predict lymphatic involvement in endometrial cancer using clinicopathologic variables of patients treated with surgical staging. Overall, 461 patients treated with an initial surgical staging procedure including complete pelvic-para-aortic lymphadenectomy were included. The mean number of resected lymph nodes was 27 (median 26; range 15-83), and 54 patients (12%) had lymphatic involvement. Of these patients, 32 had only pelvic, 15 had both pelvic and para-aortic, and 7 had isolated para-aortic metastases. In the multivariate analysis, deep myometrial invasion (P= 0.02), lymphvascular space invasion (P= 0.001), positive peritoneal cytology (P= 0.002), and cervical involvement (P= 0.003) predicted retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis (RLN) significantly. Two hundred seventy-four patients (59.4%) had at least one of these poor prognostic factors identified by multivariate analysis. In this patient population, 53 (19.3%) had lymphatic involvement compared to 1 patient in the group of 187 patients with low-risk criteria. Ninety-eight percent of patients with RLN were predicted by this model, and with the advent of accurate diagnostic techniques, 40% of patients could be saved from undergoing lymphadenectomy.     

Preoperative staging of gastrointestinal tumors by endosonography

Summary Intracavitary application of ultrasound was first performed for diagnostic purposes in 1967; since that time, it has been more and more widely used. As far as the gastrointestinal tract is concerned, endoscopically controlled ultrasonic probes provide visualization of the various layers of the intestinal wall. It is therefore possible to describe lesions of the esophagus, stomach, and the rectum with regard to their nature and depth of infiltration. Furthermore, periesophageal and perigastric organs can be visualized. It has become evident that endosonography is particularly important for pretherapeutic staging of tumors of the esophagus, stomach, and rectum. Here prospective comparative studies confirm the superiority of this new diagnostic procedure when compared to the methods available to date.     

微血管密度与淋巴结微转移作为食管癌分期补充参数的探讨

目的探讨食管鳞状细胞癌组织中微血管密度(MVD)及区域淋巴结微转移作为食管癌TNM分期补充参数的可行性和意义。方法取术前未经放或化疗的食管癌手术标本22例,Ⅷ因子相关抗原抗体检测癌组织MVD,区域淋巴结作常规HE染色和抗细胞角蛋白(CK)抗体免疫组化染色,检测区域淋巴结的转移和微转移。结合临床病理特征进行统计分析。结果肿瘤MVD平均值为41.6±14.32。MVD与肿瘤的分化程度、浸润深度、淋巴转移、术后早期复发相关(P<0.05);与年龄、性别、肿瘤大小无关(P>0.05)。CK免疫组化染色使淋巴结阳性率从30.11%提高至42.05%。N0期CK( )患者与N1期患者3年复发、转移率分别为40.0%和42.86%(P>0.05)。结论微血管密度和区域淋巴结微小转移是食管癌的重要预后因素,分别作为食管癌分期T、N因素的补充参数,对预示食管癌预后有重要意义。     

Primary carcinoma of gallbladder in Yazd, Iran: A 14-year study (1992–2006)

Aim: To investigate the clinico‐pathological profile and stage of disease at presentation of patients with carcinoma of the gallbladder diagnosed during 1992–2006 in Iran. Methods: During this study period 34 consecutive patients with gallbladder carcinoma were identified using a pathology‐based tumor database. The data extracted for each study patient included their gender, age at diagnosis, signs and symptoms, presence of gallstones and histopathological pattern of the gallbladder carcinoma and the UICC/AJCC TNM staging system was used for labeling the stages of the disease. Results: The median age of the 34 patients studied was 69.50 with most between 61 and 70 years of age. The age range of the men was between 53 and 80 years with a median age of 71.50 years and that of the women was between 33 and 79 years with a median age of 68.50 years. The most common symptom was pain in the right hypochondrium. More women had gallstones (15/34) than men (3/10). Adenocarcinoma was the most common histopathological type (91.18%) with the commonest subtype being papillary (47.06%). Eighteen patients had stage IB and stage IIA (52.94%) carcinomas whereas stages IIB and III were observed in six (17.6%) and seven cases (20.6%), respectively. Only three cases (8.82%) were seen in stage IV. The follow up of gall bladder carcinoma (GBC) patients in this study ranged from 6 to 60 months. However, there was a progressive reduction of patients attending follow‐up oncology clinic, particularly by those who had stages III and IV of the disease. Conclusion: Most patients (52.94%) presented with early disease (stage IB and IIA) which carries a good prognosis. Early detection of GBC and a national consensus for the evidence‐based management of GBC in Iran should be the major components of a strategy aimed at improving therapeutic outcome.