Oncological issues in staging mediastinal lymph node metastasis for left lung cancer

ObjectiveWe aimed to discuss the underlying oncological issues in staging of mediastinal lymph node metastasis in patients with left lung cancer who underwent extended radical lymphadenectomy (ERL).MethodsThis multi-institutional retrospective study analyzed 116 patients with left non-small-cell lung cancer who underwent bilateral paratracheal lymph node dissection (ERL) via median sternotomy. The clinicopathological records of patients with mediastinal lymph node metastasis were examined for prognostic factors, including age, sex, histology, tumor size, cN number, preoperative data, metastatic stations (number and distribution), pT, and adjuvant chemotherapy.ResultsMediastinal lymph node metastases were found in 43 patients, and right paratracheal lymph node metastases (pN3) were found in 13 patients. The 5-year overall survival rate was 25.2% in patients with pN3 tumors (n = 13) and 23.1% in patients with pN2 tumors (n = 30). The prognosis did not differ between patients with pN3 and pN2. Univariate analyses showed that histology, cN, and adjuvant chemotherapy were significant prognostic factors in patients with mediastinal lymph node metastasis. In these 43 patients, cN and adjuvant chemotherapy were significant independent prognostic factors in multivariate analysis.ConclusionsThe prognostic factors for left lung cancer with mediastinal lymph node metastasis were cN status and adjuvant chemotherapy, and not pN status (pN2 or pN3). We hope that the study results, which suggest that there may be no difference in prognosis between pN2 and pN3, would broaden the discussion of oncological issues in the staging of mediastinal lymph node metastasis of left lung cancer.     

Thoracoscopic mediastinal lymph node dissection for lung cancer

Mediastinal lymph node staging is an important component of the assessment and management of patients with operable non-small cell lung cancer and is necessary to achieve complete resection. During minimally invasive surgery, performance of an equivalent oncologic resection, including adequate lymph node dissection similar in extent to open thoracotomy, is absolutely necessary. We describe our techniques for video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) and Robot-assisted VATS (R-VATS) mediastinal lymph node dissection when performing thoracoscopic lobectomy for lung cancer. Between 2008 and 2011, 200 consecutive patients who underwent VATS or R-VATS lobectomies for early stage lung cancer were analyzed. In our series, we removed about 25 lymph nodes per case in both complete VATS and R-VATS. A thorough lymph node dissection in lung cancer is possible with either VATS or R-VATS technique without oncological compromise.     

Thoracoscopic mediastinal lymph node dissection for lung cancer

In lung cancer, mediastinum lymphatic spread occurs. We review our technique and experience of thoracoscopic mediastinal lymphnode dissection (MLND). Between 1997 and 2011, 992 patients with primary lung cancer underwent thoracoscopic major pulmonary resection with MLND. Initially we used a combination of electrocautery and clips to divide blood vessels and lymphatic channels; our current technique relies on a vessel sealing system (VSS) which is expeditious and leads to less lymphorrhea. Furthermore, dissection of station 7 nodes is performed after each main bronchus or right intermediate bronchus is taped with a 0 silk suture, which is then brought out of the thorax through the access incision for antero-lateral retraction of the tracheal carina. We dissect between 3 and 4 N2 lymph node stations and a total of approximately 20 N2 lymph nodes. Postoperative complications related to MLND occurred in 35 of 992 patients (3.5%), 15 (1.5%) for recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, 3 (0.3%) for bilateral vagal injury, 14 (1.4%) for chylothorax and 3 (0.3%) for airway injury. However, none were lethal. Thoracoscopic mediastinal dissection is safe and feasible in treating lung cancer. We believe our technique and VSS are very useful for thoracoscopic MLND.     

肺鳞癌、腺癌纵隔淋巴结转移的特点

目的 研究原发肺鳞癌及腺癌纵隔淋巴结转移特点,探讨临床意义.方法 对353例原发肺癌施行同侧纵隔淋巴结廓清术,病理检测淋巴结转移频度.结果 清除淋巴结2380组,平均每例6.74组.N2 淋巴结转移率16.2%.T1、T2、T3间淋巴结转移率差异有统计学意义(P<0.01).N2转移率在鳞癌、腺癌分别为30.1%、44.1%.64.2% 鳞癌N2转移为某一组淋巴结,腺癌3组以上转移者46.2%.上叶肺癌跨区域N2转移占15.1%,下叶(包括中叶)肺癌跨区域转移占53.1%.跳跃式转移占N2转移的53.7%.结论 肺鳞癌及腺癌纵隔淋巴结转移具有多发性、跳跃性及跨区域性特点.     

A clinical study of small advanced lung cancer with metastasis to mediastinal lymph node

From January 1981 through December 1989, 15 patients with small advanced lung cancer were treated surgically at the Tenri Hospital. In these cases, the diameter of peripheral lung cancer did not exceed 3.0 cm (T1) and mediastinal lymph nodes were proved to be N2 postoperatively by lymph node dissection or sampling. The histological types were as follows: 8 adenocarcinoma, 4 large cell carcinoma, 1 squamous cell carcinoma, 1 small cell carcinoma, and 1 adenosquamous carcinoma. All but one patient were received postoperative chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. The survival rate was 44.5% at 3 years, and median survival time was 36 months. The mediastinal lymph node metastasis with small peripheral lung cancer (T1N2) was ominous, and it should be said that complete mediastinal lymph node dissection and adjuvant therapy were indispensable to small advanced adenocarcinoma of lung.     

Relationship of lymph node metastasis to primary tumor size and microscopic appearance of roentgenographically occult lung cancer

We investigated the relationship of lymph node metastasis to primary tumor size and microscopic appearance in 92 resected specimens obtained from patients with roentgenographically occult lung cancer (ROLC) located at a site along the airway between the main bronchus and the sub-subsegmental bronchi. Most of the patients were discovered by mass screening. All were treated surgically after bronchoscopic localization of cancer. The bronchial tree of the resected specimens was serial-sectioned into 2-mm thick blocks from the margin of resection to the sub-subsegmental bronchi. Bronchial wall invasion was noted in some blocks of all the specimens. The length of longitudinal extension (LLE) was defined as the product of the thickness and the number of consecutive blocks involved, counting from the most proximal to the most distal block. LLE was used as primary tumor size. Hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes were examined in 84 patients who underwent lymph node dissection. No nodal involvement was found in 59 cancers with LLE of less than 20 mm. Of 25 cancers with LLE of 20 mm or more, six showed nodal involvement. Eleven in situ carcinomas and four cancers of the "suspicious for invasion" type showed no lymph node metastasis. We contend that no lymph node dissection is required when pulmonary resection is performed for patients with ROLC if it is in situ carcinoma, if it is of the "suspicious for invasion" type, or if the LLE is smaller than 20 mm.     

Evaluation of mediastinoscopy in mediastinal lymph node staging for non-small-cell lung cancer

Open in a separate window OBJECTIVESThe purpose of this study was to assess the quality of video-assisted cervical mediastinoscopy (VACM) in the staging of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at the Antwerp University Hospital with a focus on test effectiveness indicators, morbidity and unforeseen pN2 results.METHODSAll consecutive VACM workups of cases of NSCLC performed between January 2010 and December 2015 were included to assess overall test quality and effectiveness. Quality assurance was performed in accordance with the recommendations of the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and European Society of Thoracic Surgeons (ESTS) where appropriate.RESULTSA total of 168 video-assisted cervical mediastinoscopies were included. A total of 91.7% of the procedures were performed in accordance with the ESTS guideline. An unforeseen pN2 staging was identified in 10 anatomical lung resections (8.6%). Statistical analysis showed no significant association between VACM performed in accordance with the ESTS guideline and the presence of pN2 positive lymph nodes [χ² (1) = 0.61; P = 0.57] and no association between VACM performed in accordance with the ESTS guideline and overall futile thoracotomy [χ² (1) = 0.76; P = 0.50]. Calculations revealed a sensitivity of 81.8 [95% confidence interval (CI) 69.1–90.9], specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100%, negative predictive value of 91.9% (95% CI 86.6–95.2) and diagnostic accuracy of 94.1% (95% CI 89.33–97.11).CONCLUSIONSOverall, 91.7% of the VACM were performed in accordance with the ESTS guideline. This process resulted in a sensitivity of 81.8%, a negative predictive value of 91.9% and an unforeseen pN2 rate of 8.6%.     

肺癌淋巴结转移规律的临床研究

目的 探讨原发性肺癌淋巴结转移频率,分布范围及特点,为广泛廓清提供依据。方法 按Ｎａｒｕｋｅ肺癌淋巴结分布图对３８６例肺癌病人施行了手术切除及广泛肺门、叶间及纵隔淋巴结廓清术。结果 清除淋巴结２６０３组,Ｎ１淋巴结转移率２０．１％,Ｎ２淋巴结转移率１６．２％。Ｔ１,Ｔ２,Ｔ３间淋巴结经差异非常显著。     

Omission of mediastinal lymph node dissection in lung cancer: its techniques and diagnostic procedures.

To reduce or omit a mediastinal lymph node dissection in the patients with clinical stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), several authors examined the prevalence of metastatic sites of lymph nodes. Because lymphatic drainage usually heads for the upper mediastinum in upper lobe cancer and for the lower mediastinum in lower lobe cancer, upper and lower mediastinal lymph node dissection could be reduced in lung cancers of lower lobe and upper lobe. By using sentinel node (SN) navigation surgery, it is possible to omit mediastinal lymph node dissection. Radiological findings are also useful to determine reduction of mediastinal lymph node dissection. In clinical stage Ia adenocarcinomas that show ground glass opacity (GGO) findings on computed tomography (CT) or negative for fluorodeoxyglucose accumulation on positron emission tomography (PET), mediastinal lymph node dissection can be omitted, because these types of adenocarcinomas rarely metastasize to the lymph nodes. By using these procedures, mediastinal lymph node dissection can be reduced or omitted with little risk of local recurrence.     

Imprint cytology for detecting metastasis of lung cancer in mediastinal lymph nodes

Background

Lymph node metastasis of lung cancer has been evaluated with histologic examination. We studied the usefulness of cytologic diagnosis for detecting metastasis of lung cancer in mediastinal nodes.

Methods

Five hundred twelve stations of mediastinal nodes in 157 patients with lung cancer were excised for staging of the disease through mediastinoscopy or thoracoscopy. Among them, 474 stations of mediastinal nodes in 151 patients were examined for metastasis both with imprint cytology and with hematoxylin-eosin histology independently. The final diagnostic decision was made by overall pathologic information, including cytology and histology. The diagnostic accuracies were compared between cytologic and histologic examinations.

Results

Cytologic examination identified 66 positive stations and 2 suspicious stations in 45 patients, whereas histologic examination identified 61 positive stations in 42 patients. The final pathologic diagnosis was 70 positive stations and 1 suspicious station in 45 patients. The sensitivity, accuracy, and negative predictive value of cytologic examination for node metastasis were 95.7%, 99.4%, and 99.3%, respectively, and those of histologic examination were 87.1%, 98.1%, and 97.7%, respectively. On a patient basis the sensitivity, accuracy, and negative predictive value of cytologic examination were 100%, 100%, and 100%, respectively, whereas those of histologic examination were 93.8%, 98.0%, and 97.2%, respectively. An additional 3 patients (2.0%) who had contralateral mediastinal node metastasis diagnosed only with cytology were identified with upstaged disease.

Conclusions

Imprint cytology for detecting metastasis of lung cancer in mediastinal nodes has high sensitivity and accuracy and is no less useful than histologic examination.     

A surgical case of primary lung cancer with peripheral intrapulmonary lymph node metastasis.

We report on a case of a patient with lung adenocarcinoma and peripheral intrapulmonary lymph node (IPLN) metastasis who was misdiagnosed as having intrapulmonary metastasis. A subpleural nodular shadow visualized by radiography was diagnosed as an intrapulmonary metastasis originating from primary lung cancer. Preoperative evaluation indicated that this case was a clinical T4N1 lung adenocarcinoma with metastasis in the same lobe. However, postoperative evaluation showed that it was a peripheral IPLN metastasis, and this was actually a case of pathologic T2N1 adenocarcinoma. It may have been possible to treat this case non-surgically with the possibility of radical cure. This case suggests that a nodule is present in the same lobe with lung cancer, and it must be borne in mind that IPLN metastasis may be misdiagnosed as intrapulmonary metastasis.     

Surgical treatment for lung cancer with metastasis to mediastinal lymph nodes.

A series of cases of lung cancer were analyzed, with particular attention to the relationship between the presence of lymph node metastases and the prognosis for surgical intervention. The cases are classified into four clinical stages and a detailed classification of histologically proved lymph node metastasis and pleural involvement is presented. Results indicate that the presence of mediastinal lymph node metastasis, especially in cases with squamous-cell carcinoma and negative subcarinal lymph node, does not contraindicate surgical treatment.     

甲状腺癌上纵隔淋巴转移的外科诊疗策略进展

甲状腺癌是全球范围内发病率不断上升的恶性肿瘤之一,其中甲状腺乳头状癌（PTC）和甲状腺髓样癌（MTC）有时可发生上纵隔淋巴转移,虽仍属区域转移,但是病期较晚的表现之一,容易漏诊漏治。对于常见的PTC和MTC,彻底清扫中央区、颈侧区和少见的上纵隔淋巴结转移（SMLNM）显著提高了无病生存率。在解剖学上,甲状腺有着广泛的引流淋巴管网,其中腺内淋巴网通过甲状腺峡部连同两侧腺叶,而腺外淋巴则引流至纵隔淋巴结。目前尚无专门的成熟的甲状腺癌SMLNM分区,因此参考借鉴肺癌分区成为一种常见做法。甲状腺癌SMLNM最常见的区域为2R、2L区,而4R、3a区则相对少见。SMLNM的发病率从不等幅的0.7%到48.1%,PTC的纵隔淋巴结转移率约为6%~12%,而MTC更容易发生淋巴结转移,转移率可高达18%左右。临床上,SMLNM往往无明显症状,常通过影像学检查或肿瘤标志物检测发现。超声检查难以发现SMLNM,颈胸部增强CT的典型表现为强化、钙化、囊性变、外侵等;增强MRI、PET、¹³¹I显像也能协助诊断。对于甲状腺癌SMLNM患者,进行安全、规范和彻底的手术仍然是获得良好疗效的关键,需根据患者的具体情况制定个体化的手术方案。手术原则包括尽可能一期完成R₀切除,保证手术安全的前提下彻底清扫,以达到解剖治愈和生化治愈。手术方式可以包括经颈部开放手术、劈胸手术、腔镜辅助手术以及胸腔镜下手术等。其中多数可通过颈部入路完成清扫;低位广泛转移或严重侵犯周围大血管等则需要劈开胸骨,有时可借助腔镜辅助或/和胸腔镜完成手术。在手术后应注意避免并发症的发生,如大血管撕裂、气管和食管损伤等。鉴于上纵隔解剖结构复杂、从颈部难以显露,手术风险较大,甲状腺或头颈外科医师相对陌生和困难,往往需要多科协作。虽然甲状腺癌转移至上纵隔的患者预后相对较差,但采用适合患者的个体化手术入路及方案,联合胸心外科,进行上纵隔转移灶的彻底清扫,仍然可以明显改善患者的预后和生活质量。本文对甲状腺癌SMLNM的外科诊疗进行综述,以期为甲状腺外科医师诊疗提供参考。     

Mediastinal ultrasonography for the assessment of mediastinal lymph node metastases in lung cancer patients

Using an ultrasonic probe inserted into the mediastinum during cervical mediastinoscopy, mediastinal ultrasonography (USM) was performed on 63 patients with lung cancer. The patients with a small peripheral mass of less than 2 cm in diameter, according to the chest X-ray results, and with mediastinal lymph nodes smaller than 1 cm in their short axes as determined by computed tomography (CT), were excluded from this study. An analysis of the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves derived from CT and USM showed that USM was superior (P=0.043) to CT in terms of the diagnosis for mediastinal lymph node metastases, when the short axis dimension of mediastinal lymph nodes was employed for the diagnosis of metastases. The reason for this is that 97% of the mediastinal lymph nodes imaged by USM were located vertically along the body axis of the patient, and hence USM imaged the true short axis of the node in many cases. Our results indicate that USM is useful for performing a safe biopsy of lymph nodes during mediastinoscopy as well as for obtaining a clear imaging of the subcarinal nodes, which are inaccessible by normal cervical mediastinoscopy.