非小细胞肺癌淋巴结转移预测模型研究

在非小细胞肺癌的治疗过程中,淋巴结转移状态是决定治疗方案的重要因素。为了辅助临床医生制定更精确的治疗方案,开发并验证了一种基于CT影像组学非小细胞肺癌淋巴结转移的预测模型。从TCIA数据库的NSCLCRadiogenomics公共数据集中选取了134例符合试验要求的患者数据,然后从每例患者的CT影像数据中提取了1 648个特征,并用特征优化方法进行特征降维和选择,然后用朴素贝叶斯、线性判别分析、支持向量机和高斯过程5种机器学习方法建立预测模型,最后使用上海市胸科医院收集的44例患者数据进行外部验证。其中,最优淋巴结转移预测模型在训练集和测试集上准确率分别为0.802和0.795,AUC值分别为0.852和0.810。试验结果表明,所提出的预测模型分类性能良好,可以辅助医生更准确地评估淋巴结转移状态,从而制定出更精准的个性化治疗方案。     

Breast cancer and lymph node metastasis: relation of lymph node dimensions and metastasis

The Authors have examined 1159 lymph nodes obtained from 64 cases of breast carcinoma to value the presence of a correlation between the insurgence of metastases and lymph node dimensions. Metastases were more frequent in larger lymph nodes. Nevertheless, metastases were also present in small (< 5 mm) or very small (< 2 mm) lymph nodes. This indicates the importance to carefully examine small lymph nodes during gross examination and to obtain multiple sections from them.     

Sentinel lymph node evaluation for tumor metastasis

The sentinel lymph node biopsy procedure for evaluation of metastatic tumor has become a common procedure for breast carcinoma and malignant melanoma. There is little standardization in the histopathologic management of these specimens. The history, technical details, and histopathologic work-up for sentinel lymph node biopsy are reviewed. Particular attention is paid to the intraoperative consultation and a protocol for optimal histopathologic management is presented.     

基于机器学习的鼻咽癌转移淋巴结鉴别模型

目的:研究使用机器学习与影像组学建立用于鼻咽癌CT图像中鉴别转移淋巴结的模型。方法:选择50例鼻咽癌患者初诊CT平扫及静脉灌注增强图像及18F-FGD-PET图像,患者均经病理及PET检查证实为鼻咽癌伴局部淋巴结转移。手动勾画患者CT图像中体积＞1 cm3的淋巴结,由18F-FGD-PET图像中对应区域SUVmax＞2.5及现行影像学标准作为转移与否的分类标准。研究中共获得143枚淋巴结,其中转移淋巴结103枚。使用机器学习方法对上述分类结果进行训练,其中列入训练组淋巴结100枚,验证组43枚,分组方式为随机分组以避免特定的分组方式造成的系统误差。结果:机器学习过程中获得由淋巴结体积、最大横截面短轴及数个影像组学特征构建模型,模型对转移淋巴结的鉴别准确率可达86%。特征选择结果得出:最大横截面直径、平均宽度、灰度强度能量、像素数量、频度、形态密实度等可作为诊断转移淋巴结的重要特征。结论:研究中建立的鉴别模型可在CT图像中实现辅助诊断转移淋巴结,为影像检查中快速判定鼻咽癌患者淋巴结是否转移提供一种新思路,有利于个体化放疗中靶区的精准勾画。     

Rectal adenocarcinoid with lymph node metastasis

We describe a case of a rare variant of a rectal carcinoid tumor that showed mucous gland differentiation accompanied by a lymph node metastasis with a histological appearance similar to that of the primary site. The tumor consisted of a typical argyrophilic carcinoid component and of goblet cell glands. The carcinoid component was positive for neuron-specific enolase, chromogranin A and synaptophysin. The goblet cells stained positively with periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and alcian blue, and expressed carcinoembryonic antigen, but were negative for neuroendocrine markers. This case suggests that carcinoid tumor can differentiate towards mucus glands, which can also be found in the metastatic site.     

Adrenocorticotropin-producing pulmonary tumorlets with lymph node metastasis

A case of pulmonary tumorlets with ectopic adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) production and lymph node metastasis in a bronchiectatic patient is reported. A 65-year-old man underwent right lower lobe lobectomy because of a sudden attack of cough and hemoptysis. Histological study revealed multiple discrete uniform small nests of tumor cells surrounding dilated bronchioles. Tumor nests were also found in the hilar lymph node. Immunohistochemically, the proliferating cells were confirmed to be neuroendocrine in origin with ectopic ACTH production, despite being clinically silent. The findings in the present case suggest that the clinical behavior of pulmonary tumorlets may be like a carcinoid, and need to be treated as tumor-like lesions. Ectopic hormonal production in the present case suggests pulmonary tumorlets should be considered in the differential diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome.     

A nomogram for predicting lymph node metastasis in superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SESCC) is defined as carcinoma with mucosal or submucosal invasion, regardless of regional lymph node metastasis (LNM). The lymph node status is not only a key factor to determine the training strategy, but also the most important prognostic factor in esophageal cancer. In this study, we establish a clinical nomogram for predicting LNM in patients with SESCC. A predictive model was established based on the training cohort composed of 711 patients who underwent esophagectomy for SESCC from December 2009 to June 2018. A prospective cohort of 203 patients from June 2018 to January 2019 was used for validation. Favorable calibration and well-fitted decision curve analysis were conducted and good discrimination was observed (concordance index [C-index], 0.860; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.825–0.894) through internal validation. The external validation cohort presented good discrimination (C-index, 0.916; 95% CI, 0.860–0.971). This model may facilitate the prediction of LNM in patients with SESCCs.     

Histopathological predictor for regional lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer

Regional lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer is a definitive indicator of the patient’s prognosis. The goal of this study was to identify the predictors for lymph node metastasis among all the possible histopathological parameters, especially by conducting an objective discrimination of the lymphatic and blood vessels. A total of 210 resected primary gastric cancers with or without lymph node metastasis were evaluated based on the conventional histopathological parameters together with immunohistochemistry using antisera-recognizing lymphatic endothelial hyaluronan receptor-1 (LYVE-1), von Willebrand factor, and lymphangiogenesis promoter vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) antibodies. A multivariate regression analyses of the results indicated that only lymphatic invasion was a significant independent predictor of lymph node metastasis at any stage of cancer invasion. VEGF-C expression was partially related to lymph node metastasis in early gastric cancer. The identification of lymphatic invasion by LYVE-1 antibody is therefore useful to predict regional lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer.     

乳腺癌前哨淋巴结活检术中不同染色淋巴结与肿瘤转移的关系

目的探讨乳腺癌前哨淋巴结活检术(SLNB)中不同染色情况的淋巴结与肿瘤转移的关系。方法选择我院2014年1月至2018年1月行前哨淋巴结活检的乳腺癌患者92例,以亚甲蓝为示踪剂,根据92例乳腺癌患者SLNB中淋巴结染色情况的不同分为无染色组、完全染色组和染色不均组,病理检测3组患者淋巴结的肿瘤转移情况并作比较。结果92例乳腺癌SLNB共取得淋巴结256枚,平均每例患者2.8枚,无染色组(80枚)肿瘤转移率为13.8%,完全染色组(112枚)肿瘤转移率为43.8%,染色不均组(64枚)肿瘤转移率为62.5%,3组间肿瘤转移率差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论乳腺癌SLNB中染色不均的淋巴结最易出现肿瘤转移,其次为完全染色的淋巴结,染色淋巴结附近看到的未染色淋巴结也有肿瘤转移的可能,宜一并切除送检,有利于降低假阴性率。     

Tumor and lymph node lymphangiogenesis--impact on cancer metastasis

The extent of lymph node (LN) metastasis is a major determinant for the staging and the prognosis of most human malignancies and often guides therapeutic decisions. Although the clinical significance of LN involvement is well documented, little has been known about the molecular mechanisms that promote tumor spread via lymphatic vessels to sentinel and distal LN and beyond. However, recent discoveries have identified novel lymphatic-specific markers, and the newly discovered lymphangiogenesis factors vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) and VEGF-D were found to promote tumor-associated lymphatic vessel growth in mouse tumor models, leading to enhanced tumor spread to sentinel LN. Our recent findings indicate that VEGF-A also acts as a potent tumor lymphangiogenesis factor that promotes lymphatic tumor spread. VEGF-A overexpressing primary tumors induced sentinel LN lymphangiogenesis even before metastasizing and maintained their lymphangiogenic activity after metastasis to draining LN. Our recent studies showed that primary human melanomas that later metastasized were characterized by increased lymphangiogenesis and that the degree of tumor lymphangiogenesis can serve as a novel predictor of LN metastasis and overall patient survival, independently of tumor thickness. Tumor lymphangiogenesis also significantly predicted the presence of sentinel LN metastases at the time of surgical excision of the primary melanoma. Together, these findings suggest that tumor lymphangiogenesis actively contributes to cancer dissemination, that blockade of lymphatic vessel growth might inhibit tumor metastasis to LN, and that the extent of tumor-associated lymphangiogenesis could serve as a novel, prognostic parameter for the metastatic risk of human cancers.     

A very rare case of synchronous primary lung cancer lymph node metastasis

A 76 year old patient presented with two synchronous primary lung tumours. One was identified as an adenocarcinoma and the second as an atypical carcinoid tumour. When reviewing the lymph node slides it was seen that one lymph node contained metastatic deposits from both primary tumours. Synchronous lung tumours are fairly rare occurrences, but even rarer is the finding of synchronous metastases to the same lymph node. The atypical carcinoid deposit was very subtle in appearance and could easily have been overlooked. This case demonstrates a useful learning point to not miss these rare and subtle findings as the resulting tumour staging was affected and may have implications for further patient management.     

A case of spitzoid melanoma with lymph node metastasis in a child

The distinction of a spitz nevus from a melanoma can be difficult and in some cases, impossible. A misdiagnosed spitz nevus can metastasize and lead to fatal outcomes, especially in children. A 5-yr-old girl presented with a 1-yr history of a solitary pinkish nodule on her left hand. On physical examination, she had a palpable left axillary lymph node. We performed biopsy and checked 3 sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) on her axillary area. The biopsy specimen showed multiple variably sized and shaped nests with large spindle or polygonal cells and SLN biopsy showed 3 of 3 lymph nodes that were metastasized. Under the diagnosis of spitzoid melanoma, she was treated with excision biopsy and complete left axillary lymph nodes were dissected. She received interferon-α2b subcutaneously at a dose of 8 MIU per day, 3 times weekly for 12 months, and shows no recurrence.     

Cervical lymph node metastasis of adenocarcinoma of prostatic origin

Cervical nodes metastases generally arise from carcinomas of the head and neck, but also from other organs. This report describes a case with metastatic prostate cancer in the cervical lymph node.     

多参数MRI的影像组学融合模型在术前预测宫颈癌淋巴结转移的应用价值

目的 探讨基于多参数MRI及临床特征的融合模型在术前预测宫颈癌患者淋巴结转移的价值。方法 回顾性分析山西省肿瘤医院2016年6月-2019年3月经病理证实为宫颈鳞癌并于术前行MRI检查的168例患者的资料。按照7∶3的比例,采用完全随机法将所有患者分为训练组115例和验证组53例。由两名影像科医师在MRI图像上手动勾画三维容积感兴趣区(VOI),并进行一致性分析。根据临床手术病理结果将所有患者分为淋巴结转移阴性(LN-)和阳性(LN+),临床及影像资料也对应分组。分别基于每例患者的T₂WI、表观扩散系数(ADC)和增强T₁WI(cT₁WI)序列图像上均提取3 111个影像组学特征,然后对训练组采用以最大相关最小冗余(MRMR)和最小绝对收缩与选择(LASSO)回归为主的四步法进行特征选择和影像组学标签的构建,并进行分层分析。通过多变量逻辑回归筛选独立临床危险因素并联合影像组学标签构建影像组学融合模型,并制作列线图。采用ROC曲线、校正曲线、决策分析曲线(DCA)评估列线图的预测性能及临床效益。结果 训练组和验证组患者基线资料差异均无统计学意义(P值均>0.05)。基于T₂WI、ADC和cT₁WI合并特征降维后共得到6个影像组学特征(P值均＜0.05),其中包括3个小波类特征参数和3个LoG类特征参数,均与淋巴结转移显著相关。单序列影像组学标签在训练组中ROC曲线下面积(AUC)值为0.763和0.829,显示具有良好的预测效能,合并上述序列构建的影像组学标签对应的AUC值0.859,其诊断效能优于其中任意单一序列,并在验证组得到验证。联合影像组学标签和MRI评价淋巴结状态构建的列线图在训练组和验证组中均显示出良好的鉴别能力和校正性能,对应的AUC分别为 0.865和0.861。在独立验证组中的决策曲线示,当风险阈值＞10%时,采用影像组学方法预测LN+的净收益优于将所有患者都看作LN+或LN-,也优于MRI评价淋巴结状态。结论 通过联合基于多参数MRI的影像组学标签和MRI评价淋巴结状态建立的融合模型可作为术前评估宫颈癌淋巴结转移的一种辅助方法。     

Tumor-induced sentinel lymph node lymphangiogenesis and increased lymph flow precede melanoma metastasis

Lymphangiogenesis is associated with human and murine cancer metastasis, suggesting that lymphatic vessels are important for tumor dissemination. Lymphatic vessel alterations were examined using B16-F10 melanoma cells implanted in syngeneic C57Bl/6 mice, which form tumors metastasizing to draining lymph nodes and subsequently to the lungs. Footpad tumors showed no lymphatic or blood vessel growth; however, the tumor-draining popliteal lymph node featured greatly increased lymphatic sinuses. Lymph node lymphangiogenesis began before melanoma cells reached draining lymph nodes, indicating that primary tumors induce these alterations at a distance. Lymph flow imaging revealed that nanoparticle transit was greatly increased through tumor-draining relative to nondraining lymph nodes. Lymph node lymphatic sinuses and lymph flow were increased in mice implanted with unmarked or with foreign antigen-expressing melanomas, indicating that these effects are not due to foreign antigen expression. However, tumor-derived immune signaling could promote lymph node alterations, as macrophages infiltrated footpad tumors, whereas lymphocytes accumulated in tumor-draining lymph nodes. B lymphocytes are required for lymphangiogenesis and increased lymph flow through tumor-draining lymph nodes, as these alterations were not observed in mice deficient for B cells. Lymph node lymphangiogenesis and increased lymph flow through tumor-draining lymph nodes may actively promote metastasis via the lymphatics.     

Investigation of a new murine model of regional lymph node metastasis: characteristics of the model and applications

The RC tumor, originally a renal adenocarcinoma very sensitive to different classes of chemotherapeutic agents, maintained in CDF 1 mice, was examined for its ability to metastasize. When inoculated into the foot (with 10⁷ tumor cells), bulky metastases developed in the popliteal and para-aortic lymph nodes, in a constant and reproducible pattern, producing a massive microscopic invasion of the liver, the lungs and the spleen. The antigenicity tests demonstrated a low immunogenicity of the tumor. Chemotherapy assays showed that adriamycin and vincristine were effective against metastatic dissemination when administered early after tumor cell inoculation and principally when combined with excision of the tumor-bearing leg. The RC model appears to be suitable for the study of lymph node metastasis and could be used in chemotherapy trials of new drugs potentially effective against metastases of the lymphatic system.