Intravesical recurrence after radical nephroureterectomy for upper tract urothelial carcinomas: predictors and impact on subsequent oncological outcomes from a national multicenter study

Objectives

To identify predictive factors and assess the impact on oncological outcomes of intravesical recurrence after radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) in upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC).

Methods

Using a national multicentric retrospective dataset, we identified all patients with UTUC who underwent a RNU between 1995 and 2010 (n = 482). Intravesical recurrence was tested as a prognostic factor for survival through univariable and multivariable Cox regression analysis.

Results

Overall, intravesical recurrence occurred in 169 patients (35 %) with a median age of 69.2 years (IQR: 60–76) and after a median follow-up of 39.5 months (IQR: 25–60). Actuarial intravesical recurrence-free survival estimates at 2 and 5 years after RNU were 72 and 45 %, respectively. On univariable analyses, previous history of bladder tumor, tumor multifocality, laparoscopic approach, pathological T-stage, presence of concomitant CIS and lymphovascular invasion were all associated with intravesical recurrence. On multivariable analysis, previous history of bladder cancer, tumor multifocality and laparoscopic approach remained independent predictors of intravesical recurrence. Existence of intravesical recurrence was not correlated with worst oncological outcomes in terms of disease recurrence (p = 0.075) and cancer-specific mortality (p = 0.06).

Conclusions

In the current study, intravesical recurrence occurred in 35 % of patients with UTUC after RNU. Previous history of bladder cancer, tumor multifocality, concomitant CIS and laparoscopic approach were independent predictors of intravesical recurrence. These findings are in line with recent published data and should be considered carefully to provide a definitive surveillance protocol regarding management of urothelial carcinomas regardless of the location of urothelial carcinomas in the whole urinary tract.     

Multifocality in testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT): what is the significance of this finding?

Purpose

The aim of the study is to determine the association between multifocality and the pathological features of testicular germ cell tumors and its clinical implication.

Methods

Orchiectomy specimens from 254 consecutive patients with testis cancer between 2003 and 2013 were included. Multifocality was defined as a distinct tumor focus of cluster of malignant cells > 0.5 mm and separable from the main tumor mass. Univariate logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between multifocality and other pathological features. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were carried out to identify potential predictive factors of multifocality for clinical stages II–III and the pathological stage ≥ pT2.

Results

Median patient age was 33 years (range 19–70). Multifocality was identified in 58 (22.83 %) orchiectomy specimens. Subjects with multifocality had larger primary tumor lesions (3.7 vs. 3.0 cm; p < 0.05). No association was found between histology and multifocality (p = 0.95). On univariate logistic regression analysis, multifocality was not significantly associated with all pathological features. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, multifocality was not demonstrated to be an adverse pathological feature of clinical stages II–III (p = 0.23) or pathological stage ≥ pT2 (p = 0.30) when included in a model with tumor size ≥ 4 cm and rete testis invasion in seminoma tumor and neither of clinical stages II–III (p = 0.36) or pathological stage ≥ pT2 (p = 0.20) when included in a model with lymphovascular invasion and percentage of embrional cancer ≥ 50 % in non-seminoma ones.

Conclusion

Multifocality should not be considered an adverse pathological feature in patients with testis cancer, independently to histological subtypes.     

The Impact of Perineural Invasion and/or Lymphovascular Invasion on the Survival of Early-Stage Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients

Background

For early-stage oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients, the impact of perineural invasion (PNI) and lymphovascular invasion (LVI) on disease control and survival has not been clarified.

Methods

The medical records of all early-stage OSCC patients who underwent curative surgery between 2004 and 2009 were reviewed.

Results

A total of 442 early stage patients were included in this study. There were 360 patients in group A (without PNI or LVI) and 82 patients in group B (with PNI and/or LVI). Between groups A and B patients, there were no significant differences in the 5-year disease-free survival (73.8 vs 68.7 %, p = 0.48) and overall survival (90.9 vs 86.1 %, p = 0.25). Between groups A and B patients without postoperative radiotherapy (PORT), there were no significant differences in the 5-year disease-free survival (73.8 vs 70.2 %, p = 0.51) and overall survival (90.9 vs 85.2 %, p = 0.18). Between group B patients with and without PORT, there was no significant difference in either the disease-free survival (61.1 vs 70.2 %, p = 0.98) and overall survival (88.9 vs 85.2 %, p = 0.64). Multivariate analyses revealed that PNI, LVI, and PORT could not provide significant effect on treatment outcome.

Conclusions

PNI and LVI were not significant risk factors for the disease control and overall survival for early stage OSCC patients. Furthermore, PORT could not provide an additional benefit for the disease control and overall survival for stages I and II OSCC patients with PNI and/or LVI.     

Gender-specific survival following radical cystectomy for pT4 bladder cancer

Purpose

To evaluate the association of gender with survival following radical cystectomy (RC) for patients with pT4 bladder cancer.

Materials and methods

We reviewed our institutional registry of 2,088 patients treated with RC between 1980 and 2005 to identify 128 with pT4 tumors, including 91 males and 37 females. Survival was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method and compared with log-rank test. Cox hazard regression models were used to analyze the association of clinicopathologic demographics, including gender, with outcome.

Results

A total of 7 women and 30 men with pT4 tumor received perioperative chemotherapy. Median postoperative follow-up was 10.5 years, during which time 27 patients experienced local recurrence (LR) and 120 died, including 90 who died from bladder cancer. Women with pT4 tumor trended to have higher 5-year LR-free survival (72 vs. 59 %; p = 0.83), cancer-specific survival (31 vs. 17 %; p = 0.50), and overall survival (19 vs. 11 %; p = 0.33), although these differences did not reach statistical significance. On multivariate analysis, moreover, gender was not significantly associated with LR (HR 0.96; p = 0.93), cancer-specific mortality (HR 1.05; p = 0.87), or all-cause mortality (ACM) (HR 1.14; p = 0.58). Instead, poor ECOG performance status and pN+ disease were associated with an increased risk of ACM, while removal of a greater number of lymph nodes was associated with decreased ACM.

Conclusion

We did not find gender-specific disparities in survival following RC for pT4 bladder cancer. Prognosis was instead driven by patient performance status and lymph node status.     

Impact of Molecular Subtype on Locoregional Recurrence in Mastectomy Patients with T1–T2 Breast Cancer and 1–3 Positive Lymph Nodes

Background

Postmastectomy radiation (PMRT) in T1–T2 tumors with 1–3 positive axillary lymph nodes (ALNs) is controversial. Impact of molecular subtype (MST) on locoregional recurrence (LRR) and PMRT benefit is uncertain. We examined the association between MST and LRR, recurrence-free survival (RFS), and overall survival (OS), in T1–T2 tumors with 1–3 positive ALNs.

Methods

From an institutional database, we identified mastectomy patients with 1–3 positive ALNs between 1995 and 2006. Patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy, had T3–T4 tumors, or ≥4 positive ALNs were excluded. MST was defined as: hormone receptor (HR)+/HER2?(luminal A/B), HR+/HER2+(luminal HER2), HR?/HER2+(HER2), and HR?/HER2?(basal). Kaplan–Meier method and Cox regression analysis were used to examine association between MST and LRR, RFS, and OS.

Results

This study included 884 patients (700 no PMRT, 141 PMRT): 72.8 % luminal A/B, 7.8 % luminal HER2, 6.8 % HER2, and 12.6 % basal. Median follow-up was 6.3 years; 39 LRRs occurred. Luminal A/B subtype had the smallest tumors (p = 0.03), lowest intraductal component (p = 0.01), histologic grade (p < 0.0001), lymphovascular invasion (LVI) (p = 0.008), and multifocality/multicentricity (p = 0.02). On univariate analyses, there was no association between MST and LRR. MST was associated with RFS and OS; the basal and HER2 subtype had the lowest RFS (p = 0.0002) and OS (p < 0.0001). On multivariate analysis, only age ≤50 years (p = 0.003) and presence of LVI (p = 0.0003) were predictive of LRR; MST was not (p = 0.38).

Conclusion

In patients with T1–T2 breast cancer and 1–3 positive lymph nodes who did not receive PMRT, MST was not an independent predictor of LRR and may not be useful in selecting PMRT candidates in that group.     

Paratesticular Liposarcoma: Unusual Patterns of Recurrence and Importance of Margins

Background

Paratesticular liposarcoma (LPS) is a rare entity for which optimal treatment has not been defined. We sought to determine recurrence patterns and prognostic factors.

Methods

A total of 25 patients with localized paratesticular LPS between 1987 and 2009 were reviewed. Actuarial local-recurrence-free survival (LRFS), disease-free-survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) were determined using the Kaplan–Meier method.

Results

LPS histology was well differentiated for 10 patients (40 %), de-differentiated for 14 (56 %), and pleomorphic for 1 (4 %). Final margins were positive in 8 patients (32 %). Radiation therapy (RT) was given to 10 patients; fields included inguinal canal ± scrotum and low pelvis. LRFS rates at 3 and 5 years were 76 and 67 %. The 3-year LRFS rates were lower in patients with positive margins compared with those with negative margins (29 vs 100 %, p = .0005) and in patients with recurrent versus primary disease (38 vs 83 %, p = .04). Among patients who received surgery and RT, margins remained a significant predictor of local recurrence (p = .009). Interestingly, recurrences in 4 patients tracked along gonadal vessels, and only 1 patient had a distant recurrence. OS at 5 years was 100 %.

Conclusions

For patients with localized paratesticular LPS, positive margins and presentation with recurrent disease are adverse prognostic factors for LRFS. LR for patients with positive margins is still high despite RT; thus aggressive surgery to attain negative margins should be attempted in all cases. The finding of regional recurrences along gonadal vessels should be validated, and imaging studies should be tailored to reflect potential patterns of disease at presentation and subsequent recurrence.     

Do pure squamous cell carcinomas and urothelial carcinomas have similar prognosis after radical cystectomy?

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the surgical treatment results of urothelial carcinoma (UC) and pure squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder (SCC).

Methods

The records of 460 patients who have undergone radical cystectomy in our department between the years 1991 and 2011 were analyzed retrospectively, and 364 patients with UC and 60 patients with pure SCC were evaluated.

Results

Average ages of the patients with UC and SCC were 61.12 ± 8.9 and 59.38 ± 8.6 years, respectively (p = 0.902). UC group had 29 female patients, whereas SCC group had 9 female patients (p = 0.077). The mean follow-up periods were 26.09 ± 24.75 months for UC group and 22.23 ± 31.01 months for SCC group (p = 0.805). The incidence of organ-confined, extravesical, lymph node-positive diseases in UC and SCC cases was 48.9 and 32.2, 29.3 and 32.2 %, 21.8 and 35.6 %, respectively (p = 0.028). Five-year disease-specific survival (DSS) rates were 57.5 % in UC and 39.1 % in SCC group (p = 0.011). Five-year DSS rates were 81.2 % in UC and 75.0 % in SCC group in organ-confined disease (p = 0.534) and 28.2 % in UC and 40.9 % in SCC group in extravesical disease (p = 0.845). In lymph node-positive patients, DSS time was 20.9 ± 2.85 months in UC and 12.8 ± 2.07 months in SCC patients (p = 0.182). In multivariate analysis, pT stage (HR: 2.221; 95 % CI: 1.695–2.911) and lymph node involvement (HR: 2.863; 95 % CI: 1.819–4.509) were independently associated with DSS (p < 0.001), but histological subtype (HR: 1.423; 95 % CI: 0.798–2.538) was not a statistically significant factor (p = 0.232).

Conclusions

Although pure SCC cases are diagnosed at advanced stages of the disease, UC and pure SCC cases have similar prognosis by stages. Lymph node involvement and stages are the most important prognostic factors after radical cystectomy.     

Comparison of microscopic (pT3a) and gross extravesical extension (pT3b) in pathological staging of bladder cancer: analysis of patient outcomes

Objective

To determine the prognostic value of pT3 bladder urothelial carcinoma substaging in patients without lymphatic involvement.

Patients and methods

Pathologic and clinical data were reviewed on patients who underwent radical cystectomy for urothelial carcinoma between 1991 and 2010. Of the 460 reviewed patients, 74 patients were diagnosed with pathologic T3No urothelial carcinoma of the bladder. The impact of pathologic substaging (pT3a vs. pT3b) was examined to determine the effect on overall and disease-specific survival.

Results

Five years disease-specific and overall survival rates were 46.9 % and 39.6 % for patients with pT3aNo tumor, whereas these ratios were 34.4 and 30.3 %, respectively, for patients with pT3bNo tumor (p > 0.05). Mean disease-specific survival time was 43.94 ± 6.50 months for pT3aNo, while it was 39.01 ± 7.19 months for pT3bNo (p = 0.539). In multivariate cox regression analysis, age (p = 0.459), gender (p = 0.710), urinary diversion type (p = 0.088), and pT3 substaging (p = 0.554) were not noticed as an independent predictive factor for survival.

Conclusion

Macroscopic extravesical extension (pT3b) is not associated with a worse outcome than pT3a disease in lymph node-negative cases of bladder urothelial carcinoma.     

Ten-year Comparison of All-Cause Mortality after Endovascular or Open Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: A Propensity Score Analysis

Background

This study aimed to compare the long-term survival after open (OS) or endovascular (EVAR) repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs), exploring baseline factors that could affect long-term outcome.

Methods

We identified 774 patients (501 EVAR, 273 OS, during 1996–2004) with data on perioperative risk factors including 37 variables assessed with a standardized patient response instrument. Propensity score was used to adjust for baseline differences between the two cohorts. Matched cohorts survival analysis and Cox multivariate regression were performed.

Results

Median follow-up was 6.95 (interquartile range 4.46–9.27) years. EVAR patients were older [75.0 ± 7.7 (SD) vs. 71.3 ± 8.5 years, p < 0.001] and had a higher rate of previous myocardial infarction (39.3 vs. 25.3 %, p < 0.001), pulmonary disease (25.9 vs. 18.3 %, p = 0.020), and history of malignancy (5.0 vs. 1.8 %, p = 0.039). The 30-day mortality was comparable (1.4 % EVAR, 1.5 % OS). Although the unadjusted survival rate was lower (median survival: 7.4 years EVAR, 8.8 OS, p = 0.011) and early (within 4 years) hazard was higher after EVAR (p = 0.003), no difference in survival was observed after propensity score-matching (p = 0.688) or propensity score-adjusted Cox regression (hazard ratio 1.01, 95 % confidence interval 0.82–1.25, p = 0.911, EVAR vs. OS). There was a trend toward higher hazard later in both groups. A multivariate Cox regression identified age, pulmonary disease, stroke, dialysis, oral anticoagulation, cardiac enlargement, and smoking history as variables associated with poor survival. Lipid-lowering medication was found to be protective.

Conclusions

Over long-term follow-up, survivals after endovascular and open repair of AAA are similar. Baseline patient characteristics are correlated with survival, but whether attention to the modifiable risk factor can alter outcome remains to be defined.     

The impact of smoking on pathologic response to neoadjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer

Purpose

Smoking is the primary etiologic risk factor for bladder cancer and has been implicated in mechanisms of chemoresistance. We investigated smoking as a potential predictor for pathologic outcomes after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NC) and radical cystectomy (RC) for muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Methods

We identified 139 patients treated with neoadjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy followed by RC for T2-4aN0M0 bladder cancer. Logistic regression was used to evaluate associations between smoking characteristics and pathologic outcomes (pT0, complete response; pT0/pTis/pT1, any response). In a secondary analysis, multivariate Cox regression was used to assess associations between smoking and recurrence-free and cancer-specific survival.

Results

Our cohort consisted of 99 (71 %) males, with a median age of 65 (interquartile range 56, 71). Prevalence of never, former, and current smokers was 25, 45, and 29 %, respectively. In total, 63 patients experienced disease recurrence, 39 died of disease, and 11 died of other causes. There were no statistically significant associations between smoking characteristics and complete (p = 0.5) or any (p = 0.2) pathologic response to NC. Similarly, we did not find any association between smoking characteristics and recurrence (p = 0.6) or cancer-specific survival (p = 0.9).

Conclusions

In this series, smoking characteristics were not found to be predictive of pathologic response after NC and RC, although this analysis was limited by the small study sample size. However, the harmful effects of smoking warrants continued emphasis on smoking cessation counseling in bladder cancer patients.     

Hereditary Medullary Thyroid Cancer: Age-Appropriate Thyroidectomy Improves Disease-Free Survival

Background

Twenty-five percent of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) cases are hereditary. The ideal age for prophylactic thyroidectomy is based on the specific RET mutation involved. The purpose of this study was to determine whether such age-appropriate prophylactic thyroidectomy results in improved disease-free survival.

Methods

Twenty-eight patients underwent thyroidectomy for hereditary MTC at our institution. Age-appropriate thyroidectomy was defined according to the North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (NANETS) guidelines. Patients who had age-appropriate surgery (group 1, n = 9) were compared to those who had thyroidectomy past the recommended age (group 2, n = 19).

Results

The mean age was 13 ± 2 years, and 61 % were female. Patients in group 1 were younger than in group 2 (4 ± 1 vs. 17 ± 2 years, p < 0.01). There were no significant differences in gender or RET mutation types between these two groups. Group 1 patients were cured with no disease recurrence compared with group 2 patients who had a 42 % recurrence rate (p = 0.05). Subanalysis of group 2 identified that patients who underwent surgery without evidence of disease did so at a shorter period following the guidelines compared with those who underwent therapeutic surgery (2 ± 2 vs. 16 ± 2 years, p = 0.01) and had longer disease-free survival (100 vs. 27 %, p = 0.005).

Conclusions

Patients with hereditary MTC should undergo age-appropriate thyroidectomy based on RET mutational status to avoid recurrence. Patients who are past the recommended age should have surgery as early as possible to improve disease-free survival.     

Adjuvant chemotherapy is associated with decreased mortality after radical cystectomy for locally advanced bladder cancer

Purpose

We sought to evaluate the association of adjuvant chemotherapy with the risk of subsequent mortality among patients with locally advanced urothelial carcinoma (UC) of the bladder undergoing radical cystectomy (RC).

Methods

We identified 675 patients who underwent RC for pT2–4 and/or N+ UC between 1980 and 2005. Adjuvant chemotherapy was defined as treatment within 90 days of RC. Survival was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method and compared according to receipt of adjuvant chemotherapy with the log-rank test. Multivariate models were used to analyze the impact of adjuvant chemotherapy on disease progression and survival.

Results

A total of 80 (12 %) patients received adjuvant chemotherapy. Median age was 69 years [interquartile range (IQR) 63, 76]. Median follow-up was 11 years (IQR 8, 16). Patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy were more likely to have pT3–4 tumors (71 vs. 61 %; p < 0.001) and pN+ (85 vs. 19 %; p < 0.001). The 5-year cancer-specific survival was 46 % in those receiving adjuvant chemotherapy and 51 % in those that did not (p = 0.63). The 5-year overall survival was 39 % in those receiving adjuvant chemotherapy and 38 % in those that did not (p = 0.24). When controlling for age, sex, stage, and performance status, adjuvant chemotherapy was associated with a 29 % decrease in the risk of bladder cancer death (HR 0.71, p = 0.06) and a 39 % decrease in the risk of all-cause mortality (HR 0.61, p = 0.002).

Conclusions

After controlling patient and tumor features, adjuvant chemotherapy was associated with a trend toward reduction in cancer-specific mortality and a statistically significant reduction in all-cause mortality.     

A Multi-Institutional Validation of the Prognostic Value of the Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio for Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma Treated with Radical Nephroureterectomy

Background

To externally validate the prognostic impact of preoperative neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (pre-NLR) in patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) following radical nephroureterectomy (RNU).

Methods

A total of 665 patients from 12 institutions were included. The median follow-up was 28 months. Associations between pre-NLR level and outcome were assessed using multivariate analysis. A pre-NLR level of >3.0 was defined as elevated.

Results

Pre-NLR levels were elevated in 184 patients (27.7 %), and pre-NLR elevation was significantly associated with worse pathological features such as tumor grade 3, advanced pT stage, positive lymphovascular invasion (LVI), and lymph node involvement in RNU specimens. The 5-year recurrence-free and cancer-specific survival rates were 57.0 % (p < 0.001) and 60.2 % (p < 0.001), respectively, in patients with elevated pre-NLR, and 69.2 and 77.3 %, respectively, in their counterparts. Multivariate analysis showed that elevated pre-NLR was an independent risk factor for predicting subsequent disease recurrence (p = 0.037; hazard ratio (HR) 1.38) and cancer-specific mortality (p = 0.036;, HR 1.47), although the addition of pre-NLR slightly improved the accuracies of the base model for predicting both disease recurrence and cancer-specific mortality to 79.8 % (p = 0.041) and 83.0 % (p = 0.039), respectively (gain in predictive accuracy: 0.2 and 0.1 %, respectively).

Conclusion

This multi-institutional study revealed that elevated pre-NLR was significantly associated with worse pathological features such as tumor grade 3, advanced pT stage, positive LVI, and lymph node involvement in RNU specimens, and elevated pre-NLR was an independent risk factor of disease recurrence and cancer-specific mortality in UTUC patients treated with RNU.     

Impact of micropapillary histological variant on survival after radical nephroureterectomy for upper tract urothelial carcinoma

Purpose

To assess the impact of micropapillary histological variant on oncological outcome after radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) for upper urinary tract urothelial carcinomas (UTUCs).

Methods

A French multicenter retrospective study was performed on patients who underwent RNU between 1995 and 2010. Pathological reports were reviewed to identify patients with pure urothelial carcinomas (PUC) and those with micropapillary histological variant (MPC). Uni- and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to identify factors predictive of survival.

Results

Overall, 519 patients were included and divided into two groups: 480 PUC and 39 MPC. Median follow-up were 28 and 19 months, respectively (p = 0.63). There was no difference between the two groups for gender, age and tumor location (pelvicalyceal or ureteral). MPC was associated with high-stage and high-grade UTUC (p < 0.001 and 0.04). No difference was observed between the two groups for 5-year cancer-specific survival (76.1 vs. 88.2 %; p = 0.54). The 5-year metastasis-free survival was significantly lower in the MPC group (48.9 vs. 73.8 %; p = 0.037). In multivariate analysis, pT stage, lymphovascular invasion, margin status and adjuvant chemotherapy administration were independent predictors of specific survival (p = 0.002; 0.001; 0.02; 0.01), contrary to histological variant (p = 0.94).

Conclusions

Micropapillary histological variant was associated with advanced UTUC and reduced metastasis-free survival after RNU. It should be considered as an aggressive tumor and thus be stated in any pathological report after radical surgery.     

Surgical Cytoreduction and Survival in Appendiceal Cancer Peritoneal Carcinomatosis: An Evaluation of 46 Consecutive Patients

Background

Surgical cytoreduction and intraperitoneal chemotherapy is increasingly accepted as an effective treatment modality for mucinous appendiceal neoplasm. For the majority of patients with low-grade histology, outcomes have been encouraging. The survival of patients with neoplasms of malignant character is protracted and this study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of this surgical strategy on outcomes.

Methods

Forty-six consecutive patients with mucinous and nonmucinous appendiceal cancer with peritoneal dissemination were studied. Clinicopathological and treatment related factors were obtained from a prospective database. The study’s end points of disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method.

Results

The median DFS and OS after cytoreduction were 20.5 and 56.4 months respectively. Five-year overall survival rate was 45%. Five independent factors associated with DFS and OS were identified through a multivariate analysis: age (DFS p = 0.001, OS p = 0.002), completeness of cytoreduction (DFS p = 0.001, OS p = 0.003), previous chemotherapy treatment (DFS p = 0.021), CA 199 levels (DFS p = 0.013), and tumor grade (OS p = 0.005).

Conclusions

Cytoreductive surgery and intraperitoneal chemotherapy may achieve long-term survival in appendiceal malignancies with peritoneal dissemination for which the predictors of outcomes identified through this study may tailor the disease management to commit patients early toward this successful surgical strategy.     

Impact of Routine Cavity Shave Margins on Breast Cancer Re-excision Rates

Purpose

Breast-conserving therapy (BCT) is an accepted method of treating early breast cancer. We hypothesized that routine excision of additional cavity shave margins (CSM) at time of initial partial mastectomy reduces the need for additional surgery.

Methods

A single-institution retrospective review was performed of women, 18 years or older, with a new diagnosis of breast cancer who underwent partial mastectomy between 1 January 2004 and 1 October 2009. Five hundred thirty-three charts were reviewed. Of those, 69 patients underwent CSM at time of initial operation. These 69 patients were matched with patients who had undergone partial mastectomy without CSM by tumor size, presence of extensive intraductal component, and primary histology.

Results

The two groups were well matched for age, nuclear grade, associated lymphovascular invasion (LVI), receptor status, and multifocality. We found that 31.9% (44/138) required return to the operating room (OR) for re-excision of margins. Rate of return to the OR was 21.7% (15/69) in the CSM group and 42.0% (29/69) in the matched group (p = 0.011). Multivariate analysis found factors significantly associated with need for additional operation included lack of CSM (odds ratio 9.2, 95% CI 2.8–30.5, p = 0.0003), larger extent of intraductal component (odds ratio 7.0, 95% CI 1.8–27.0, p = 0.005), and lack of directed re-excision (odds ratio 6.4, 95% CI 1.7–25.1, p = 0.007).

Conclusions

CSM at time of initial partial mastectomy decreases rate of re-excision by as much as ninefold. CSM should be considered at time of initial operation to reduce the need for subsequent reoperation.     

Outcomes of dialytic modalities in a large incident registry cohort from Eastern Europe: the Romanian Renal Registry

Background

Studies comparing survival in hemodialysis (HD) or peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients reported controversial results, mainly during the first 2 years of treatment. Moreover, there is a significant geographic variation in the use of these modalities. We aimed to compare the survival of HD and PD patients using data from the Romanian Renal Registry.

Methods

In an intention-to-treat analysis using Kaplan–Meier and Cox proportional hazard (CPH) models, survival was compared between 8,252 incident HD patients and 1,000 incident PD patients treated between 2008 and 2011. The patients were followed from the dialysis initiation and stratified by modality on day 90. The time on dialysis was separated into four periods (3–12, 12–24, 24–36 and >36 months), and outcome comparisons were made.

Results

Mean survival time was 46.3 (44.9–47.6) months in PD group and 45.8 (45.3–46.3) months in HD group (p = 0.9, log-rank test). In the multivariate CPH models, age, diabetes-associated kidney disease (DM), primary renal disease and center size significantly influenced survival. In the first year of therapy, the mortality was higher in HD than in PD patients (HR = 1.34 (1.12–1.60), p = 0.001), while in the second and third year, HD patients survived better (HR = 0.69 (0.53–0.89), p = 0.005); HR = 0.56 (0.41–0.78), p = 0.001) and after 36 months, the survival difference was not statistically significant (HR = 0.63 (0.34–1.13), p = 0.1), respectively.

Conclusions

Despite the survival advantage for PD patients during the first year and that of HD in the next 2 years of dialysis, the overall survival in HD and PD patients was similar and was influenced by age, DM and center size.     

The effect of intra- and postoperative allogenic blood transfusion on patients’ survival undergoing radical cystectomy for urothelial carcinoma of the bladder

Purpose

Radical cystectomy (RC) can be associated with significant blood loss. Allogenic blood transfusion (ABT) may alter disease outcome because of a theoretical immunomodulatory effect. We evaluated the effects of ABT on overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of patients undergoing RC for urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB).

Materials and methods

This is a retrospective single-center study of 350 consecutive patients of a university health center with a median follow-up of 70.1 month. All patients underwent RC and pelvic lymph node dissection. The effect of ABT on OS and PFS was analyzed using univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models.

Results

The overall ABT rate was 63 % (n = 219), with intraoperative blood transfusion and postoperative blood transfusion being performed in 183 patients (52 %) and 99 patients (28 %), respectively. Preoperative anemia was detected in 156 patients (45 %) with median estimated blood loss of 800 ml (IQR: 500–1,200). ABT was associated with significant decrease of OS and PFS in multivariable analyses (p < 0.001), whereas patients’ prognosis worsened the more packed red blood cells (PRBC) were transfused (p < 0.001). The study is limited in part due to its retrospective design.

Conclusions

We found that ABT and the number of PRBC transfused are associated with poor prognosis for UCB patients undergoing RC, whereas preoperative anemia had no influence on survival. This emphasizes the importance of surgeon’s awareness for a strict indication for ABT. A prospective study will be necessary to evaluate the independent risks associated with ABT during surgical treatments.     

Metastatic lymph node ratio as a prognostic factor after laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for extraperitoneal rectal cancer

Background

The lymph node ratio (LNR; number of positive nodes divided by total nodes harvested) has been demonstrated to be a prognostic factor in colon cancer, but its role in extraperitoneal rectal cancer is still debated; furthermore, no data are available on laparoscopic rectal resection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic impact of LNR on long-term outcomes after laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (LTME) for extraperitoneal cancer in consecutive patients with a 5-year minimum follow-up.

Methods

This study is a prospective analysis of consecutive patients who underwent LTME for adenocarcinoma of the extraperitoneal rectum.

Results

LTME was performed in 158 patients. The median number of LN harvested was 12 (range = 3–25). The proportion of specimens with fewer than 12 examined LN was significantly higher in patients who had neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (p < 0.001). During a median follow-up period of 122 months, the local recurrence rate was 8 %. At univariate analysis, disease-free survival and overall survival significantly decreased with increasing LNR (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that the distal margin ≤1 cm was the only independent predictor of local recurrence (p = 0.028). LNR (cutoff value = 0.25) and lymphovascular invasion were significant prognostic factors for both disease-free (p = 0.015 and p = 0.046, respectively) and overall survival (p = 0.031 and p = 0.040, respectively). Even in the subgroup of patients in whom fewer than 12 LN were examined, LNR confirmed its prognostic role, with a statistical trend toward worse disease-free survival and overall survival.

Conclusion

Metastatic LNR is an independent prognostic factor for disease-free survival and overall survival after LTME for extraperitoneal rectal cancer.     

A Comparison of Postoperative Pain After Conventional Open Thyroidectomy and Transaxillary Single-Incision Robotic Thyroidectomy: A Prospective Study

Background

The aim of this study was to compare conventional open thyroidectomy with robotic thyroidectomy in terms of postoperative pain.

Methods

We compared the intensity of postoperative pain experienced by patients who received conventional open thyroidectomy (n = 45) versus those who underwent robotic thyroidectomy (n = 45). During surgery, we carefully controlled the anesthetic conditions. All the patients underwent a total thyroidectomy with ipsilateral central compartment node dissection. Postoperative pain in the 2 groups was compared using a visual analog scale and the amount of rescue analgesic at 30 min, 4 h, 1, 2, 3, and 10 days after surgery.

Results

The postoperative pain at 30 min and 4 h after surgery were 3.0 ± 0.9 and 2.6 ± 0.9 (p = .066) and 4.9 ± 1.3 and 4.4 ± 1.3 (p = .055) in the conventional open group and the robotic group, respectively. The mean pain scores at 1, 2, 3, and 10 days after surgery were 3.8 ± 1.3 and 3.0 ± 1.3 (p = .001), 2.6 ± 1.2 and 2.0 ± 0.9 (p = .005), 1.7 ± 0.9 and 1.3 ± 0.6 (p = .034), and 0.9 ± 0.7 and 1.2 ± 1.1 (p = .093), respectively. No significant differences were observed between the 2 groups in terms of postoperative rescue analgesic use (1.1 ± 1.1 and 0.8 ± 0.9, p = .264).

Conclusions

Even though robotic thyroidectomy using the transaxillary technique requires a more extensive subcutaneous dissection than conventional open thyroidectomy, robotic thyroidectomy does not result in more postoperative pain or use of analgesic when compared with open thyroidectomy.