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.     

Selective lymphadenectomy in patients with Merkel cell (cutaneous neuroendocrine) carcinoma

Background: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive cutaneous tumor with a propensity for local recurrence, regional and distant metastases. There are no well-defined prognostic factors that predict behavior of this tumor, nor are treatment guidelines well established. Methods: Staging of patients with a new diagnosis of MCC was attempted using selective lymphadenectomy concurrent with primary excision. Preoperative and intraoperative mapping, excision, and thorough histologic evaluation of the first lymph node draining the tumor primary site [sentinel node] was performed. Patients with tumor metastasis in the sentinel node underwent complete resection of the remainder of the lymph node basin. Results: Twelve patients underwent removal of 22 sentinel nodes. Two patients demonstrated metastatic disease in their sentinel lymph nodes, and complete dissection of the involved nodal basin revealed additional positive nodes. The node-negative patients received no further surgical therapy, with no evidence of recurrent local or regional disease at a maximum of 26 months follow-up (median 10.5 months). Conclusions: While the data are preliminary and initial follow-up is limited, early results suggest that sentinel lymph node mapping and excision may be a useful adjunct in the treatment of MCC. This technique may identify a population of patients who would benefit from further surgical lymph node excision.     

肾癌区域淋巴结转移的临床分析

目的 了解肾癌区域淋巴结转移的临床特点及发生发展规律,提高对本病的诊治效果.方法 回顾性分析2004年1月至2008年12月19例肾癌伴有区域淋巴结转移患者的资料.男15例,女4例.年龄29～77岁,中位年龄57岁.肿瘤位于左肾12例,右肾7例.腹膜后肿大淋巴结最大径1.5～5.0 cm,中位数2.8 cm,其中4例影像学检查未发现肿大淋巴结,术中探查证实.行腹膜后肿大淋巴结切除11例,区域淋巴结清扫8例.结果 肾癌发生区域淋巴结转移占同期收治肾癌的1.6%(19/1213).术后19例均获随访,随访时间8～78个月,中位数34个月.无瘤生存6例,带瘤生存7例,死亡6例,5年生存率68.4%.腹膜后区域淋巴结清扫组与肿大淋巴结切除组生存期及术后复发转移率比较差异均无统计学意义(P=0.644;P=0.319).结论 肾癌发生单纯区域淋巴结转移少见,术前影像学可能漏诊,部分患者通过区域淋巴结清扫或肿大淋巴结切除可获得无瘤生存.

Abstract：

Objective To discuss the characteristics of renal cell carcinoma with regional lymph node metastasis at diagnosis. Methods The data of 19 patients diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma with regional lymph node metastases at diagnosis from January 2004 to December 2008 were reviewed.The median age was 57 years (29-77).The study group included 15 males and four females.The primary tumor was located in the left kidney in 12 patients and fight in seven patients.The median maximam diameter of retroperitoneal lymph nodes was 2.8 cm(1.5-5.0).The lymph nodes in four patients were not detected by the preoperative image examination,but were confirmed by intraoperative exploration.Eleven cases had enlarged retroperitoneal lymph nodes resected and eight had regional lymph nodes dissected. Results The patients with regional lymph node metastases at diagnosis of renal celI carcinoma accounted for 1.6% (19/1213) of the total renal cell carcinoma cases.With a median follow-up of 34 months,six patients were survival without progression,and seven were survival with progression.giving a 5-year survival rate of 68.4%.The survival and recurrence rates after surgery were not significantly different by Fisher test(P=0.644 and 0.319 respectively) between the patients who underwent retroperitoneal regional lymph node dissection and those who underwent enlarged lymph node resection. Condmiom Renal cell carcinoma with regional lymph node metastasis at diagnosis is uncommon.Some patients may achieve long-term tumor-free survival through regional lymph node dissection or enlarged Iymph nodes resection.     

Lymphoscintigraphy with sentinel lymph node biopsy in cutaneous Merkel cell carcinoma.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare cutaneous malignancy characterized by an aggressive clinical behavior with high rates of locoregional and systemic recurrence. Regional disease and distant metastases are associated with poor prognosis. Despite a predisposition of MCC to spread via the lymphatics, prophylactic lymph node dissection in the absence of clinically apparent lymph node involvement is controversial. The value of lymphoscintigraphy in cutaneous melanoma is established in lesions with ambiguous lymphatic drainage patterns. When used with sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), it can identify subjects with occult regional node metastasis. The authors present 2 patients with MCC who underwent regional node staging with lymphoscintigraphy-directed SLNB. Both patients had sentinel nodes that were positive for metastatic disease. In patients with MCC, minimally invasive regional node staging SLNB may be useful in limiting the sequelae of routine lymphadenectomies. Whether early identification and treatment of patients with occult regional node disease can influence survival in MCC is not known.     

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.     

Histopathologic validation of the sentinel lymph node hypothesis for breast carcinoma.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The sentinel node hypothesis assumes that a primary tumor drains to a specific lymph node in the regional lymphatic basin. To determine whether the sentinel node is indeed the node most likely to harbor an axillary metastasis from breast carcinoma, the authors used cytokeratin immunohistochemical staining (IHC) to examine both sentinel and nonsentinel lymph nodes. METHODS: From February 1994 through October 1995, patients with breast cancer were staged with sentinel lymphadenectomy followed by completion level I and II axillary dissection. If the sentinel node was free of metastasis by hematoxylin and eosin staining (H&E), then sentinel and nonsentinel nodes were examined with IHC. RESULTS: The 103 patients had a median age of 55 years and a median tumor size of 1.8 cm (58.3% T1, 39.8% T2, and 1.9% T3). A mean of 2 sentinel (range, 1-8) and 18.9 nonsentinel (range, 7-37) nodes were excised per patient. The H&E identified 33 patients (32%) with a sentinel lymph node metastasis and 70 patients (68%) with tumor-free sentinel nodes. Applying IHC to the 157 tumor-free sentinel nodes in these 70 patients showed an additional 10 tumor-involved nodes, each in a different patient. Thus, 10 (14.3%) of 70 patients who were tumor-free by H&E actually were sentinel node-positive, and the IHC lymph node conversion rate from sentinel node-negative to sentinel node-positive was 6.4% (10/157). Overall, sentinel node metastases were detected in 43 (41.8%) of 103 patients. In the 60 patients whose sentinel nodes were metastasis-free by H&E and IHC, 1087 nonsentinel nodes were examined at 2 levels by IHC and only 1 additional tumor-positive lymph node was identified. Therefore, one H&E sentinel node-negative patient (1.7%) was actually node-positive (p < 0.0001), and the nonsentinel IHC lymph node conversion rate was 0.09% (1/1087; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: If the sentinel node is tumor-free by both H&E and IHC, then the probability of nonsentinel node involvement is <0.1%. The true false-negative rate of this technique using multiple sections and IHC to examine all nonsentinel nodes for metastasis is 0.97% (1/103) in the authors' hands. The sentinel lymph node is indeed the most likely axillary node to harbor metastatic breast carcinoma.     

Sentinel lymph node dissection for merkel cell carcinoma

Merkel cell carcinoma is an aggressive neuroendocrine skin tumor whose treatment modality is still controversial. It resembles malignant melanoma in its cutaneous presentation, unpredictable biologic behavior, early regional lymph node involvement, early distant metastases, and high recurrence rate. Regarding these common features, we used sentinel node biopsy (a well-described technique for the treatment of malignant melanoma) in a 50-year-old man with Merkel cell carcinoma of the left arm. Only one sentinel lymph node was identified and it was revealed to be disease-free on histology. No further axillary dissection was performed. This case report shows that sentinel node biopsy is applicable to Merkel cell carcinoma.     

Size of metastasis in the sentinel node predicts additional nodal involvement in penile carcinoma

PURPOSE: The majority of patients with penile cancer with a tumor positive sentinel node do not benefit from complementary lymph node dissection because of absent additional involved nodes. We analyzed factors that may determine the involvement of additional nodes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 158 patients with clinically node negative penile carcinoma underwent sentinel node biopsy. Complementary inguinal lymph node dissection was performed when the sentinel node was tumor positive. The size of the sentinel node metastasis was measured and classified as micrometastasis--2 mm or less, or macrometastasis--more than 2 mm. Sentinel and dissection specimen nodes were step-sectioned. Factors were analyzed for their association with additional nodal involvement, including stage, diameter, grade, absence or presence of vascular invasion of the primary tumor, and sentinel node metastasis size. RESULTS: Tumor positive sentinel nodes were found in 46 groins and complementary lymph node dissection was performed. Nine of these 46 groins (20%) contained additional involved lymph nodes. On univariate and multivariate analyses the size of the sentinel node metastasis proved to be the only significant prognostic variable for additional lymph node involvement (each p = 0.02). None of the 15 groins with only micrometastasis in the sentinel node contained additional involved nodes. CONCLUSIONS: In penile carcinoma additional nodal involvement was related to the size of the metastasis in the sentinel node. Sentinel node micrometastasis was not associated with other involved lymph nodes. This finding suggests that these patients can be spared complementary lymph node dissection.     

Current State of Neck Dissection in the United States

The status of the cervical lymph nodes is the most important prognosticator in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. The neck dissection is both a therapeutic and staging procedure and has evolved to include various types with standardized level designations (I–VI) for lymph node groups: the radical neck dissection, modified radical neck dissection, the selective neck dissection, and the extended neck dissection. The gross and histologic examination of a neck dissection should provide the critical information (size of metastasis, number of lymph nodes involved) for staging purposes. Additionally, extracapsular spread of lymph node metastasis must be reported because of its significance as an adverse prognosticator. Current dilemmas in nodal disease are the detection of micrometastases, isolated tumor cells, and molecular positivity. The significance of these categories of disease is still unclear, though they may explain a subset of the estimated 10% of the regional recurrences in the neck despite pathologic node negativity by traditional methods of evaluation. Sentinel lymph node biopsy has been recently applied to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma to enhance the management of the clinicoradiographically node negative patients. While still investigational, sentinel lymph node biopsy shows promise in selecting patients who require a neck dissection. Rapid highly automated real-time RT-PCR based platforms will allow for incorporation of molecular findings into the intraoperative evaluation of a sentinel lymph node.     

Sentinel lymph node biopsy in the management of patients with primary cutaneous melanoma: review of a large single-institutional experience with an emphasis on recurrence

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the authors' experience with sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and the subsequent incidence and pattern of recurrence in patients with positive and negative nodes. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Lymphatic mapping with SLNB has become widely accepted in the management of patients with melanoma who are at risk for occult regional lymph node metastases. Because this procedure is relatively new, the pattern of recurrence after SLNB is not yet clear. METHODS: All patients with primary cutaneous melanoma who underwent SLNB from 1991 through 1998 were identified from a prospective single-institution melanoma database. RESULTS: Three hundred fifty-seven consecutive patients with localized primary cutaneous melanoma who underwent SLNB were identified. The sentinel node was identified in 332 patients (93%) and was positive in 56 (17%). Fourteen percent of patients had developed a recurrence at a median follow-up of 24 months. The median time to recurrence was 13 months. The 3-year relapse-free survival rates for patients with positive and negative nodes were 56% and 75%, respectively. SLN status was the most important predictor of disease recurrence. The site of first recurrence in patients with negative and positive nodes was more commonly locoregional than distant. Reexamination of the SLN in 11 patients with negative nodes with initial nodal and in-transit recurrence showed evidence of metastases in 7 (64%). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with positive sentinel nodes have a significantly increased risk for recurrence. The early pattern of first recurrence for patients with negative and positive results is characterized by a preponderance of locoregional sites, similar to that reported in previous series of elective lymph node dissection. These data underscore the need for careful pathologic analysis of the SLN as well as a careful, directed locoregional physical examination in the follow-up of these patients.     

Reoperative sentinel lymph node biopsy for ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence after previous axillary lymph node dissection: Report of a case

Sentinel lymph node biopsy has become a standard component of the evaluation of early-stage breast cancer, with a gradually increasing number of indications in this patient population. This report presents the case of a patient who underwent reoperative sentinel lymph node biopsy as part of an evaluation of ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence; she had previously undergone axillary lymph node dissection. Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy showed aberrant lymphatic drainage, and all three sentinel lymph nodes were positive for cancer. Although the optimal management of regional lymph nodes in patients with ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence who have already undergone axillary lymph node dissection has not been established, reoperative sentinel lymph node biopsy in this setting may therefore potentially enable the identification of subclinical, aberrantly located nodal metastasis.     

Reliability of sentinel lymph node biopsy with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity.

OBJECTIVES: Although sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) may reduce surgery-related complications related to unnecessary lymph node dissection and is now widely used for many patients with cutaneous melanoma and breast cancer, its use for oral cancer patients remains controversial. One of the main reasons for the reluctance to initiate SLNB for oral cancer is that the frequency of skip metastasis has not been clarified. The objectives of this study are to examine the frequency of skip metastasis and to evaluate SLNB for oral cancer. STUDY DESIGN: To shed light on these concerns, we first conducted a retrospective study of 296 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity who underwent neck dissection. Next, the accuracy of lymph node biopsy with and without detecting sentinel lymph node was examined. RESULTS: Ten patients showed skip neck metastasis in the level III-V region without level I-II involvement. Of these patients, 7 underwent neck dissection when their initially N0 neck progressed to N+, 2 underwent neck dissection when local recurrence occurred, and only 1 underwent surgery as an initial therapy. Most patients who underwent neck dissection as the initial therapy showed skip metastasis. Intraoperative lymph node biopsy without any attempt to detect sentinel lymph nodes by means of blue dye or lymphoscintigraphy was performed on 68 patients with oral cancer. Sixty-one (90%) were diagnosed correctly, whereas 7 diagnosed as N- actually had neck metastasis. SLNB with blue dye was performed on 21 patients. In 17 of them, sentinel lymph node was easily detected, resulting in a correct diagnosis for 16 patients (94%), while 1 with a false negative result actually had micrometastasis. CONCLUSION: These findings seem to suggest that SLNB is useful and can be applied to patients with oral cancer who undergo surgery as the initial therapy.     

Clinical importance of micrometastasis in sentinel lymph nodes

Introduction

We evaluated the incidence of micrometastasis and nonsentinel lymph node metastasis as well as local and axillary recurrence rates after level I-II axillary lymph node dissection.

Materials and methods

Patients (n = 760) with early-stage breast cancer underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy, and 45 patients (6.0%) with micrometastasis (0.2-2.0 mm) were included in this study. Data concerning tumor, patients’ characteristics and adjuvant treatments were recorded.

Results

The median age was 46 (26-67) years, median breast tumor size was 20 (1-50) mm, and median number of excised sentinel lymph nodes were 2 (1-5). All patients with micrometastasis underwent further level I-II axillary lymph node dissection. Eleven of 45 (24.4%) patients with micrometastasis in their sentinel lymph node biopsy had nonsentinel lymph node metastasis after an axillary lymph node dissection. There was no factor related to nonsentinel lymph node metastasis. Stage migration occurred in 4 of 45 patients (8.8%) due to the detection of micrometastases or macrometastases in nonsentinel lymph nodes.

Discussion

The classical treatment after detection of micrometastasis in sentinel lymph nodes is further axillary dissection. However, nonrandomized, nonprospective studies with 4-5 years follow up showed 0.6% axillary recurrence without further axillary lymph node dissection, although we still need the results of randomized controlled studies.     

Reliability of sentinel lymph node biopsy for staging melanoma

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of sentinel lymph node biopsy for staging melanoma. METHODS: Two hundred consecutive patients with a cutaneous melanoma of at least 1. 0 mm Breslow thickness, without palpable regional lymph nodes, were included from 1993 in a prospective cohort study in a single tertiary care hospital. One day after lymphoscintigraphy, sentinel node biopsy was performed, guided by a gamma probe and patent blue dye. Lymph node dissection was performed only if metastasis was found in a sentinel node. Median follow-up was 32 (range 3-61) months. No patient was lost to follow-up. RESULTS: A sentinel node was removed in 199 of 200 patients (mean 2.2 nodes per patient). Forty-eight patients (24 per cent) had metastasis in a sentinel node. Fifteen patients developed recurrence after removal of a tumour-negative sentinel node; six relapsed in the previously mapped basin (false-negative rate 11 per cent (six of 54)). The overall survival at 3 years was 93 per cent if the sentinel node was negative and 67 per cent if it was positive. Sentinel node status and Breslow thickness were strong predictors of recurrence and survival. Minor complications were seen in 18 patients. CONCLUSION: The sentinel node status was a strong prognostic factor, even with a false-negative rate of 11 per cent. Published in abstract form as Eur J Nucl Med 1999; 26(Suppl): S57     

The time has come to change the algorithm for the surgical management of early breast cancer

HYPOTHESIS: If the sentinel lymph nodes (SNs) draining a primary invasive breast cancer are free of tumor, then axillary lymph node dissection is not necessary for management of disease. DESIGN AND INTERVENTION: In July 2000, we reported our initial experience of a small cohort of patients who underwent axillary lymph node dissection only if their SNs were involved with metastases. We now report outcome data for all patients who underwent breast conservation and sentinel lymph node dissection without completion axillary lymph node dissection between October 1, 1995, and April 30, 1999. SETTING: Tertiary breast referral center. PATIENTS: Two hundred thirty-eight patients whose SN staining results were negative for tumor by both hematoxylin-eosin and imunohistochemical stains. Median age was 58.4 years. Most patients (85%) had a T1 tumor; 15% had a T2 tumor. Most (86%) had infiltrating ductal carcinoma with or without extensive ductal carcinoma in situ; 10% had invasive lobular cancer. RESULTS: At a median follow-up of 38.9 months (range, 6-69 months), we found no axillary recurrences, and 98.3% of patients are alive without evidence of disease. Three patients have died of causes not related to breast cancer. Four patients are alive with metastatic disease but have not developed axillary recurrences. CONCLUSIONS: Sentinel lymph node dissection is a safe and efficacious treatment option for patients with early breast cancer. It provides excellent regional control and is associated with excellent survival. A multicenter trial such as the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group Z0010 is needed to corroborate findings of this single-institution study.     

Outcome of patients with melanoma and histologically negative sentinel lymph nodes

HYPOTHESIS: Patients with melanoma and histologically negative sentinel lymph nodes identified by lymphatic mapping have a very good prognosis. DESIGN: Cohort study with follow-up information obtained from medical records and telephone interviews. SETTING AND PATIENTS: Of all patients with cutaneous melanoma who underwent intraoperative sentinel lymph node mapping between November 15, 1993, and April 18, 1997, at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, 89 were found to have no evidence of melanoma in their sentinel nodes. Forty-six lesions (51%) were on an extremity and 44 (49%) were of axial location. The median tumor thickness was 1.8 mm (range, 0.36-12.0 mm) and 11 tumors (12%) were ulcerated. INTERVENTIONS: Patients underwent intraoperative sentinel lymph node mapping with lymphazurin and radiolabeled sulfur colloid. Sentinel lymph nodes were analyzed by standard hematoxylin-eosin staining. Only 2 patients received adjuvant therapy following wide excision of the primary lesion. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Site of initial recurrence and time to initial recurrence. RESULTS: The median follow-up for all patients was 23 months (range, 2-54 months). Eleven patients (12%) developed melanoma recurrences, and 78 (88%) patients remain disease free. Regional lymph nodes were the initial site of recurrence in 7 (8%) of 89 patients, and 7 (7%) of 106 mapped basins. Four patients had recurrence without involvement of regional lymph nodes: 2 with distant metastases and 2 with in transit metastases. The median time to recurrence was 12 months (range, 2-35 months). Sentinel lymph nodes were reanalyzed using serial sections and immunoperoxidase stains in 7 patients with recurrence and metastatic melanoma was identified in 3 (43%). CONCLUSIONS: The risk for melanoma recurrence is relatively low in patients with histologically negative sentinel nodes identified by lymphatic mapping. Longer follow-up will improve our understanding of the prognostic value of this procedure.     

Dynamic sentinel node biopsy for penile cancer: reliability of a staging technique

PURPOSE: We determine the value of dynamic sentinel node biopsy for staging squamous cell carcinoma of the penis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 90 patients with clinically node negative penile cancer were prospectively entered in this study. Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy was performed after intradermal injection of 99mtechnetium nanocolloid around the primary tumor. The sentinel node was intraoperatively identified with the aid of intradermal administered patent blue dye and a gamma ray detection probe. Histopathological examination of sentinel nodes included serial sectioning and immunohistochemical staining. Regional lymph node dissection was performed only if metastasis was found in a sentinel node. Median followup was 36 months (range 5 to 95). RESULTS: Lymphoscintigraphy visualized 217 sentinel nodes in 159 inguinal regions of 88 patients. A total of 208 sentinel nodes were intraoperatively identified in 149 inguinal regions of 88 patients. Sentinel node metastasis was found in 19 inguinal regions of 18 patients. Four of 8 patients with unilateral clinical stage N1 disease had a tumor positive sentinel node on the opposite site. Regional recurrence after excision of a tumor negative sentinel node or after nonvisualization was seen in 5 patients, resulting in a false-negative rate of 22% (5 of 23). The 3-year disease specific survival was 98% and 71% for patients with a tumor negative or tumor positive sentinel node, respectively (p = 0.0018). CONCLUSIONS: Occult lymph node metastases in penile cancer can be detected with a sensitivity of about 80% by dynamic sentinel node biopsy, including preoperative lymphoscintigraphy, vital dye and a gamma ray detection probe.     

Merkel cell carcinoma. Prognosis and management.

Seventy patients with Merkel cell carcinoma were treated at Memorial Sloan-kettering Cancer Center between 1969 and 1989. The overall estimated 5-year survival rate was 64%. Factors predictive of improved survival included head and neck site and negative lymph nodes at presentation. Local recurrence was seen in 18 patients (26%) and did not correlate with patient-, tumor-, or treatment-related variables. Nine patients with local recurrence (50%) were free of disease following aggressive reoperation. Regional nodes were involved at some point during the course of the disease in forty-six patients (66%). Regional lymph node involvement was apparent within 2 years of diagnosis in 40 (87%) of 46 patients in whom it occurred. Systemic disease was nearly uniformly preceded by the appearance of nodal metastases and was uniformly fatal regardless of subsequent therapy. This suggests an orderly "cascade" pattern of spread for this tumor, in which elective regional lymph node dissection may be justified. Our recommendations for treatment include a wide excision of the primary tumor and either elective or early therapeutic regional node dissection. The role of adjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy remains unproven.     

Merkel Cell Carcinoma: Assessing the Effect of Wide Local Excision,Lymph Node Dissection,and Radiotherapy on Recurrence and Survival in Early-Stage Disease—Results From a Review of 82 Consecutive Cases Diagnosed Between 1992 and 2004

Background Wide surgical excision, lymph node dissection, and radiotherapy have been used with varying efficacy in the management of early-stage Merkel cell carcinoma. Methods Records of 82 patients with early-stage Merkel cell carcinoma between 1992 and 2004 were reviewed. Results Forty-two patients developed a recurrence, and 44 died during the study period. Twenty-nine patients presented with regional lymph node disease, which was independently associated with diminished survival (hazard ratio [HR], 4.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.55–10.75; P = .005). Lymphadenectomy was independently associated with prolonged disease-free survival (median, 28.5 vs. 11.8 months; HR, .46; 95% CI, .22–.94; P = .034) but not overall survival (P = .25). Margin-negative excision of the primary tumor (60 of 73) was not significantly associated with either prolonged disease-free survival (median, 16 vs. 14 months) or overall survival (median, 54 vs. 34 months). Forty-eight patients received radiotherapy: 36 to the primary site and 31 to the regional lymph nodes. Radiotherapy to both sites was associated with a longer median time to first recurrence (primary site, 24.2 vs. 11.8 months; regional lymph nodes, 46.2 vs. 11.3 months) and survival (primary site, 53.9 vs. 45.7 months; regional lymph nodes, 103.1 vs. 34.2 months). Administration of any radiotherapy was significantly associated with a prolonged time to first recurrence (HR, .39; 95% CI, .20–.75; P = .004) and survival (HR, .39; 95% CI, .18–.82; P = .013) on the Cox regression multivariate analyses. Conclusions Adjuvant radiotherapy to the primary site after surgical excision is recommended in early-stage disease. Involved regional lymph nodes should be treated with radiotherapy with or without lymphadenectomy.     

Detection of occult metastasis in squamous cell carcinoma of the penis using a dynamic sentinel node procedure

PURPOSE: We evaluated the so-called dynamic sentinel node procedure in patients with penile cancer. This new staging technique consists of excisional biopsy of the first lymph node onto which a tumor drains the so-called sentinel node, based on individual mapping of lymphatic drainage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 1994 to 1998, 55 consecutive patients with stage T2 or greater bilateral or unilateral node negative squamous cell carcinoma of the penis were prospectively entered in this study. Tumor stage was T2N0 in 42, T2N1 in 4 and T3N0 in 9 cases. To locate the sentinel node each patient underwent lymphoscintigraphy with 99mtechnetium nanocolloid injected intradermally around the tumor. The following day the sentinel node was identified intraoperatively using patent blue dye injected intradermally around the tumor and a gamma detection probe. Regional lymph node dissection was restricted to patients with a tumor positive sentinel node only. RESULTS: Scintigraphy revealed 125 sentinel nodes in 107 inguinal regions, including no sentinel node in 2 patients, 1 or more unilateral nodes in 10 and bilateral drainage in 43. At surgery 108 sentinel nodes were removed. In 8 patients with 2 or more sentinel nodes on lymphoscintigraphy only 1 was noted intraoperatively and in 9 an additional sentinel node was removed, which was not identified by scintigraphy. All nodes were identified with the gamma detection probe. In 1 patient a wound abscess developed. Regional lymph node dissection was performed in 11 patients with sentinel node metastasis. Median followup was 22 months (range 4.1 to 61). In 1 patient lymph node metastasis was noted at followup despite prior excision of a tumor-free sentinel node. CONCLUSIONS: The dynamic sentinel node procedure is a promising staging technique to detect early metastatic dissemination of penile cancer based on individual mapping of lymphatic drainage, and enables identification of patients with clinically node negative disease requiring regional lymph node dissection.