The extent of lymph node dissection for gastric cancer: a critical appraisal

The extent of lymphadenectomy during therapeutic gastrectomy for gastric cancer remains a protracted and controversial issue. While traditionally extended lymphadenectomy is performed in Eastern Asia, limited lymphadenectomy is advocated by most western surgeons. Two large western randomized trials, meta-analyses and a recent systematic review were unable to demonstrate overall benefit from extended lymphadenectomy. In this review, the currently available data on this topic are critically evaluated, while ongoing studies and future perspective are discussed.     

The optional extent of lymph node dissection for pancreatic head cancer

Objective The extent of lymph node dissection for pancreatic head cancer(PHC)is uncertain and controversial;therefore,this study evaluated whether PHC patients can benefit from different extents of lymph node dissection.Methods A total of 106 PHC patients underwent standard regional lymphadenectomy(SRLN;n=56,52.8%)and extended regional lymphadenectomy(ERLN;n=50,47.2%)between September 2015 and September 2019.None of the study participants had distant metastases.The median survival time and complications were compared between the two groups.Results The median survival time in the SRLN and ERLN groups was 27.01 months and 21.17 months,respectively(P=0.30).The postoperative major morbidity and mortality rates were 37.50%and 1.79%in the SRLN group,and 46.00%and 2.00%in the ERLN group,respectively.Moreover,the tumor differentiation,tumor diameter,lymph node involvement,perineural invasion,vascular invasion,and margin status all correlated with survival(P<0.05).Conclusion For PHC patients,ERLN cannot provide a significant survival benefit over SRLN.Moreover,ERLN increased morbidity and mortality,although without statistical significance.This indicates that ERLN should not be considered in PHC patients.     

Value of and indications for pelvic lymph node dissection in the staging of prostate cancer

Pelvic lymphadenectomy is valuable as a staging procedure prior to radical prostatectomy in patients with clinical stages A2, B1 (except low-grade lesions), and B2 prostate cancer who seem to be good candidates for an attempt at curative surgery. Survival rates are promising in patients with negative pelvic lymph nodes and local tumors who undergo radical prostatectomy. In the presence of positive nodes, there is little reason to proceed with radical prostatectomy. Noninvasive alternatives to pelvic node dissection are appealing, but lymphangiography, ultrasound, computed tomography scanning, and magnetic resonance imaging are all less reliable than pelvic lymphadenectomy. Some morbidity is associated with surgical staging, and it is important that this be minimized. Pelvic lymph node dissection can play a role in treatment planning for patients who will be given external-beam radiation therapy. However, the role depends on the physician's treatment philosophy. In a recently reported series of patients receiving radiation therapy for localized prostate carcinoma, prior surgical staging by pelvic lymphadenectomy is uncommonly performed.     

Postchemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for testis cancer

The treatment of patients with metastatic testicular cancer is multimodal. Postchemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection is a technically demanding procedure that can benefit appropriately selected patients. In this article, we review postchemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection, including indications, technical updates, and the management and outcomes of patients who undergo surgery. Many aspects continue to evolve, and we review the evidence regarding current controversies in the field.     

Radical lymph node dissection for gallbladder cancer: indications and limitations

Radical lymph node dissection provides survival benefit for patients with pT2 or more advanced gallbladder carcinoma tumors only if potentially curative resection is feasible; it must always be considered when planning a resection or re-resection for robust patients with pT2 or more advanced gallbladder carcinoma tumors. The degree of radical lymphadenectomy depends on clinically assessed nodal status: portal lymph node dissection is limited to cN0 disease; extended portal nodal dissection is indicated for cN0 and a modest degree of cN1 disease; peripancreatic lymph node dissection with pancreaticoduodenectomy is indicated for selected cases of evident peripancreatic nodal disease and/or direct organ involvement. Extended resection with extensive lymphadenectomy should be limited to expert surgeons because it may cause serious morbidity and mortality.     

系统淋巴结清扫术治疗子宫内膜癌的疗效分析

目的探讨系统淋巴结清扫术在子宫内膜癌治疗中的临床应用。方法回顾性分析2011年12月至2013年12月禹城市人民医院收治的80例子宫内膜癌患者的临床资料,根据手术范围的差异分为对照组和观察组,每组40例。对照组患者给予次广泛全子宫切除术、双附件切除术和盆腔淋巴结结清扫术,观察组患者手术类型在对照组基础上给予系统性盆腔、腹主动脉旁淋巴结清扫术。比较两组患者淋巴结清扫枚数、手术时间、术中出血量、并发症发生率、随访2年的生存率和复发率。结果观察组患者与对照组比较,淋巴结清扫数目明显增多,手术时间延长,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。观察组患者与对照组比较,术中出血量差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。观察组与对照组比较,下肢水肿、淋巴囊肿、深静脉血栓、不全性肠梗阻和输尿管瘘发生率差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。观察组与对照组比较,随访2年复发率较低、生存率较高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论在次广泛全子宫切除术、双附件切除术基础上,加用系统性盆腔、腹主动脉旁淋巴结清扫术,可提高2年生存率,降低复发率。     

食管癌手术治疗原则和淋巴结清扫

食管癌的外科治疗应在仔细评估肿瘤的进展程度和患者的功能状况基础上掌握手术指征和手术方式,通过根治性的手术切除达到准确的手术病理分期和良好的局部控制,并籍此提高生存率和生活质量.系统性淋巴结清扫是食管癌外科治疗中的重要手段,应根据食管癌淋巴转移的解剖和生物学行为特点选择规范、合理的清扫.如何正确解读新版国际食管癌临床病理分期、理解并遵循<中国食管癌规范化诊治指南>进行规范化的外科诊治是提高治疗效果的关键.     

Sentinel lymph node biopsy compared with axillary lymph node dissection in early breast cancer: a meta-analysis

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has been recommended as the standard performance for negative sentinel lymph node (SLN) patients without axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in the surgical management of early breast cancer; however, the efficiency of SLNB for patients with positive SLNs is still unclear. We performed this meta-analysis to compare the effectiveness and safety of SLNB with ALND. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing SLNB with ALND in early breast cancer were identified in Pubmed, Embase, and The Cochrane Library. Overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), regional lymph node recurrence, postoperative morbidity, and quality of life (QOL) between the two groups were assessed by using the methods provided by the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Eight well-designed RCTs (total 8,560 patients; 4,301 for SLNB and 4,259 for ALND) were included. Meta-analysis showed that there was no statistical difference in OS (HR = 1.07, 95% CI: 0.90–1.27), DFS (HR = 1.00, 95% CI: 0.88–1.14), and regional lymph node recurrence (OR = 1.65, 95% CI: 0.77–3.56) between SLNB and ALND group, whether for SLN (+) subgroup or for SLN (−) subgroup. However, SLNB results in a significant reduction of postoperative morbidity and improved QOL. In conclusion, SLNB can be recommended as preferred care for SLN-negative patients and selected patients with SLN-micrometastasis. Despite this, ALND remains the standard management in breast cancer patients with SLN-macrometastasis.     

Laparoscopic gastrectomy with lymph node dissection for gastric cancer

Since 1991, laparoscopic surgery has been adopted for the treatment of gastric cancer, and it has been performed worldwide, especially in Japan and Korea. We reviewed the English-language literature to clarify the current status of and problems associated with laparoscopic gastrectomy with lymph node dissection as treatment for gastric cancer. In Japan, early-stage gastric cancer (T1/T2, N0) is considered the only indication for laparoscopic gastrectomy. As yet, there is little high-level evidence based on long-term outcome supporting laparoscopic gastrectomy for cancer, but reports have provided level 3 evidence that the procedure is technically safe, and that it yields better short-term outcomes than open surgery; that is, recovery is faster, hospital stay is shorter, there is less pain, and cosmesis is better. However, investigation into the oncological outcome of laparoscopic gastrectomy as treatment for cancer is lacking. To establish laparoscopic surgery as a standard treatment for gastric cancer, multicenter randomized controlled trials to compare the short- and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic surgery versus open surgery are necessary.     

Extended lymph node dissection in gastrointestinal cancer

We reviewed the literature concerning the effect of extended lymph node dissection on survival in patients with gastrointestinal cancer. Most retrospective and/or prospective nonrandomized comparative studies have claimed that extended lymph node dissection significantly improves survival rate in patients with esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, and colorectal cancer. However, it is difficult to interpret these results since specialized care provided in trials may itself improve survival. In gastric cancer, several prospective randomized trials have failed to demonstrate a survival advantage of extended dissection, while there are few well-done prospective randomized trials in esophageal or colorectal cancer. Therefore, the therapeutic value of extended lymph node dissection remains to be determined in gastrointestinal cancer. Randomized prospective studies within the bounds of the ethical treatment of patients can and should be done. J. Surg. Oncol. 1997;65:57-65. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection in testicular cancer

With long-term survival in excess of 90% across all stages, testicular cancer has come to represent the model for successful multidisciplinary cancer care. Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) remains an integral component of testis cancer management strategies for both early- and advanced-stage disease. Commensurate with improvements made in clinical staging and in our understanding of the natural history of testis cancer, lymphatic spread, and neuroanatomy, considerable modifications in the technique and template of RPLND have taken place. The morbidity of primary RPLND and postchemotherapy RPLND is low when performed by experienced surgeons. This article reviews the evolution, role, and technique of RPLND in contemporary practice.     

Sequelae following axillary lymph node dissection for breast cancer

Axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) has a central role in the surgical management of breast cancer; however, it is associated with a potentially significant morbidity. Although post-ALND complications are often minor, in some cases they can persist for a long time following surgery, thereby affecting the quality of life of breast cancer survivors. Seroma formation and altered sensation of the upper limb are the two most common complications following ALND. Lymphedema is the most common potentially severe long-term complication following ALND. Major post-ALND complications (such as injury or thrombosis of the axillary vein and injury to the motor nerves of the axilla) are extremely rare. Meticulous surgical technique and careful selection of patients for postoperative radiation therapy are mandatory to prevent significant morbidity following ALND. The introduction of the technique of sentinel lymph node biopsy in clinical practice has resulted in a significant reduction in the incidence of post-ALND complications.     

Sequelae following axillary lymph node dissection for breast cancer

Axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) has a central role in the surgical management of breast cancer; however, it is associated with a potentially significant morbidity. Although post-ALND complications are often minor, in some cases they can persist for a long time following surgery, thereby affecting the quality of life of breast cancer survivors. Seroma formation and altered sensation of the upper limb are the two most common complications following ALND. Lymphedema is the most common potentially severe long-term complication following ALND. Major post-ALND complications (such as injury or thrombosis of the axillary vein and injury to the motor nerves of the axilla) are extremely rare. Meticulous surgical technique and careful selection of patients for postoperative radiation therapy are mandatory to prevent significant morbidity following ALND. The introduction of the technique of sentinel lymph node biopsy in clinical practice has resulted in a significant reduction in the incidence of post-ALND complications.     

Variability in axillary lymph node dissection for breast cancer

BACKGROUND: The axillary nodal status may influence the prognosis and the choice of adjuvant treatment of individual breast cancer patients. The variation in number of reported axillary lymph nodes and its effect on the axillary nodal stage were studied and the implications are discussed. METHODS: Between 1994 and 1997, a total of 4,806 axillary dissections for invasive breast cancers in 4,715 patients were performed in hospitals in the North-Netherlands. The factors associated with the number of reported nodes and the relation of this number with the nodal status and the number of positive nodes were studied. RESULTS: The number of reported nodes varied significantly between pathology laboratories, the median number of nodes ranged from 9 to 15, respectively. The individual hospitals explained even more variability in the number of nodes than pathology laboratories (range in median number 8-15, P < 0.0001). The number of reported nodes increased gradually during the study period. A decreasing trend was observed with older patient age. A higher number of reported nodes was associated with a markedly increased chance of finding tumor positive nodes, especially more than three nodes. The frequency of node positivity increased from 28% if less than six nodes to 54% if >/=20 nodes were examined, the percentage of tumors with >/=4 positive nodes increased from 4 to 31%. Multivariate analysis confirmed these results. CONCLUSIONS: This population-based study showed a large variation in the number of reported lymph nodes between hospitals. A more extensive surgical dissection or histopathological examination of the specimen generally resulted in a higher number of positive nodes. Although the impact of misclassification on adjuvant treatment will have varied, the impact with regard to adjuvant regional radiotherapy may have been considerable.     

Lymphedema following axillary lymph node dissection for breast cancer

Lymphedema is a relatively common, potentially serious and unpleased complication after axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) for breast cancer. It may be associated with functional, esthetic, and psychological problems, thereby affecting the quality-of-life (QOL) of breast cancer survivors. Objective measurements (preferentially by measuring arm volumes or arm circumferences at predetermined sites) are required to identify lymphedema, but also subjective assessment can help to determine the clinical significance of any volume/circumference differences. Lymphedema per se predisposes to the development of other secondary complications, such as infections of the upper limb, psychological sequelae, development of malignant tumors, alterations of the QOL, etc. The risk of lymphedema is associated with the extent of ALND and the addition of axillary radiation therapy. Treatment involves the application of therapeutic measures of the so-called decongestive lymphatic therapy. Prevention is of key importance to avoid lymphedema formation. The application of the sentinel lymph node biopsy in the management of breast cancer has been associated with a reduced incidence of lymphedema formation.