Evaluation of lymph node counts in primary retroperitoneal lymph node dissection

BACKGROUND:

Lymph node counts are a measure of quality assurance and are associated with prognosis for numerous malignancies. To date, investigations of lymph node counts in testis cancer are lacking.

METHODS:

By using the Memorial Sloan‐Kettering Testis Cancer database, the authors identified 255 patients who underwent primary retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) for nonseminomatous germ cell tumors (NSGCTs) between 1999 and 2008. Features that were associated with lymph node counts, positive lymph nodes, the number of positive lymph nodes, and the risk of positive contralateral lymph nodes were evaluated with regression models.

RESULTS:

The median (interquartile range [IQR]) total lymph node count was 38 lymph nodes (IQR, 27‐53 total lymph nodes), and it was 48 (IQR, 34‐61 total lymph nodes) during the most recent 5 years. Features that were associated with higher lymph node count on multivariate analysis included high‐volume surgeon (P = .034), clinical stage (P = .036), and more recent year of surgery (P < .001); whereas pathologist was not associated significantly with lymph node count (P = .3). Clinical stage (P < .001) and total lymph node count (P = .045) were associated significantly with finding positive lymph nodes on multivariate analysis. The probability of finding positive lymph nodes was 23%, 23%, 31%, and 48% if the total lymph node count was <21, 21 to 40, 41 to 60, and >60, respectively. With a median follow‐up of 3 years, all patients remained alive, and 16 patients developed recurrent disease, although no patients developed recurrent disease in the paracaval, interaortocaval, para‐aortic, or iliac regions.

CONCLUSIONS:

The current results suggested that >40 lymph nodes removed at RPLND improve the diagnostic efficacy of the operation. The authors believe that these results will be useful for future trials comparing RPLNDs, especially when assessing the adequacy of lymph node dissection. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.     

The impact of lymph node density on survival of cervical cancer patients

Background:

To evaluate the prognostic value of lymph node density (LND) in patients with lymph node-positive cervical cancer.

Methods:

A total of 88 consecutive patients were included in our study. Patients were treated with cisplatin-based concomitant chemoradiotherapy after surgical staging was performed at the Medical University of Vienna. Lymph node density, that is, the ratio of positive lymph nodes to the total number of lymph nodes removed, was assessed pathologically. Patients were stratified into two groups according to LND: patients with LND ⩽10% and patients with LND >10%. Lymph node density was correlated with clinicopathological parameters by χ²-tests. Univariate log-rank tests and multivariate Cox regression models were used to evaluate the association between LND and survival.

Results:

A significant correlation between LND and FIGO stage (P=0.03), but not patients'' age (P=0.2), histological grade (P=0.8), and histological type (P=0.5), was observed. In a univariate survival analysis, LND (P=0.01; P=0.01), FIGO stage (P=0.01; P=0.008), and histological grade (P=0.03; P=0.04) were associated with disease-free and overall survival, respectively. Patients with LND >10% had impaired disease-free and overall survival rates compared with patients with LND ⩽10%. In a multivariate regression model, LND (P=0.01; P<0.05) and FIGO stage (P=0.002; P=0.002) were independent predictors of disease-free and overall survival, respectively.

Conclusions:

LND >10% is associated with an impaired disease-free and overall survival. Lymph node density may be used as an independent prognostic parameter in patients with lymph node-positive cervical cancer.     

Extracapsular lymph node spread

BACKGROUND:

Lymphatic spread is 1 of the most relevant prognostic factors for gastric carcinoma. The current International Union Against Cancer (UICC) pN staging system is based on the number of metastatic lymph nodes and does not take into consideration the characteristics of the metastatic lymph nodes itself. The aim of the current study was to examine the prognostic value of extracapsular lymph node involvement in gastric cancer and to find correlations with clinicopathological parameters.

METHODS:

Tissue samples were obtained from 159 gastric cancer patients who underwent gastrectomy with D2‐lymphadenectomy in 142 (89.3%) cases and subtotal gastrectomy with D2‐lymphadenectomy in 17 (10.7%) cases. The number of resected lymph nodes, number of metastatic lymph nodes, and number of metastatic lymph nodes with extracapsular lymph node involvement were determined. Extracapsular spread was defined as infiltration of cancer cells beyond the capsule of the metastatic lymph node.

RESULTS:

Ninety‐six (60.4%) patients had lymph node metastasis. In 57 (35.8%) cases, extracapsular lymph node involvement was also detected. Extracapsular lymph node involvement was significantly associated with higher pN‐category (P < .001), higher pM category (P = .048), and higher UICC stages (P = .001). According to the Kaplan‐Meier log‐rank statistical method, extracapsular lymph node involvement was significantly associated with poor survival (P = .001). In the multivariate analysis besides pT (P < .001) and R‐category (P = .009), extracapsular lymph node involvement also remained as an independent prognostic factor (P = .003), whereas the UICC pN‐category (P = .822) lost its prognostic value.

CONCLUSIONS:

Extracapsular lymph node involvement is associated with higher tumor stages and is an independent negative prognostic factor in gastric cancer. In future staging systems for gastric cancer, extracapsular lymph node involvement should be considered. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.     

Lymph node density in oral cavity cancer: results of the International Consortium for Outcomes Research

Background:

Lymph node density (LND) has previously been reported to reliably predict recurrence risk and survival in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). This multicenter international study was designed to validate the concept of LND in OSCC.

Methods:

The study included 4254 patients diagnosed as having OSCC. The median follow-up was 41 months. Five-year overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), disease-free survival (DFS), locoregional control and distant metastasis rates were calculated using the Kaplan–Meier method. Lymph node density (number of positive lymph nodes/total number of excised lymph nodes) was subjected to multivariate analysis.

Results:

The OS was 49% for patients with LND⩽0.07 compared with 35% for patients with LND>0.07 (P<0.001). Similarly, the DSS was 60% for patients with LND⩽0.07 compared with 41% for those with LND>0.07 (P<0.001). Lymph node density reliably stratified patients according to their risk of failure within the individual N subgroups (P=0.03). A modified TNM staging system based on LND ratio was consistently superior to the traditional system in estimating survival measures.

Conclusion:

This multi-institutional study validates the reliability and applicability of LND as a predictor of outcomes in OSCC. Lymph node density can potentially assist in identifying patients with poor outcomes and therefore for whom more aggressive adjuvant treatment is needed.     

The impact of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy on the use and extent of pelvic lymph node dissection in the “post-dissemination” period

Introduction

Previous series during the dissemination era of minimally invasive techniques for treatment of prostate cancer (PCa) showed a declining use of pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND). The aim of our study was to re-assess the impact of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) on the utilization rate of PLND and its extent in the post-dissemination period.

Methods

Relying on the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Medicare-linked database, 5804 patients with non-metastatic PCa undergoing open radical prostatectomy (ORP) or RARP between years 2008 and 2009 were identified. Uni- and multivariable logistic regression analyses tested the relationship between surgical approach (RARP vs. ORP) and: 1 – the rate of PLND (pNx vs. pN0-1); and 2 – the extent of PLND (limited vs. extended).

Results

Overall, 3357 (57.8%) patients underwent a PLND. The proportion of patients treated with PLND was significantly higher among ORP vs. RARP patients: 71.2 vs. 48.6%, respectively (P < 0.001). In addition, the median number of lymph nodes removed was significantly higher for patients treated with ORP vs. RARP: 5 vs. 4, respectively (P < 0.001). In multivariable analyses, ORP was associated with 2.7- and 1.3-fold higher odds of undergoing PLND and of receiving an extended PLND compared to RARP, respectively (both P ≤ 0.001). Stratified analyses according to disease risk classifications revealed similar trends.

Conclusions

In the post-dissemination era, RARP remains associated with a decreased use of PLND and suboptimum extent. Efforts should be made to improve guideline adherence in performing a PLND whenever indicated according to tumor aggressiveness, despite surgical approach.     

Early (sentinel lymph node biopsy‐guided) versus delayed lymphadenectomy in melanoma patients with lymph node metastases

BACKGROUND:

It is debated whether patients with melanoma who undergo lymphadenectomy after a positive sentinel lymph node (SN) biopsy (SNB) have a better prognosis compared with patients who are treated for clinically evident disease.

METHODS:

The records of 190 patients with cutaneous melanoma who underwent radical lymph node dissection after a positive SNB (completion lymph node dissection [CLND]; n = 100) or who had clinically evident lymph node metastasis (therapeutic lymph node dissection [TLND]; n = 90) were analyzed. Moreover, the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched for studies that investigated the survival impact of SNB‐guided CLND compared with TLND for clinically evident disease. Standard meta‐analysis methods were used to calculate the overall treatment effect across eligible studies.

RESULTS:

In the authors' series, tumor characteristics did not differ significantly between patients who underwent CLND and those who underwent TLND. After a median follow‐up of 52.6 months, the 5‐year overall survival rate did not differ significantly between CLND patients and TLND patients (68.9% vs 50.4%, respectively; log‐rank test; P = .17). In contrast, a meta‐analysis of 6 studies (n = 2633) that addressed this issue (including the authors' own series) indicated that there was a significantly higher risk of death for patients who underwent TLND compared with that for patients who underwent CLND (hazard ratio, 1.60; 95% confidence interval, 1.28‐2.00; P < .0001).

CONCLUSIONS:

Although no significant survival difference was observed in either series, the pooling of summary data from all the studies that dealt with this issue suggested that SNB‐guided CLND is associated with a significantly better outcome compared with TLND for clinically evident lymph node disease. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.     

Prognostic implication of metastasis limited to segmental (level 13) and/or subsegmental (level 14) lymph nodes in patients with surgically resected nonsmall cell lung carcinoma and pathologic N1 lymph node status

BACKGROUND:

In patients with nonsmall cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) who have with pathologic N1 (pN1) lymph node status, the prognostic significance of segmental lymph node (level 13) metastasis and/or subsegmental lymph node (level 14) metastasis is unknown.

METHODS:

Lymph node metastasis patterns were analyzed in 230 patients with NSCLC who had pN1 status. Clinical outcomes were examined for 230 patients with pN1 status and 700 patients with pN0 status. The pN1 group was stratified into 4 subgroups according to the highest level of lymph node involvement.

RESULTS:

The 5‐year disease‐free survival (5DFS) rates for pN1 and pN0 patients were 50.1% and 90.5%, respectively. The highest level of lymph node involvement was a significant prognostic indicator; the 5DFS rates for patients with pN1 status who had level 13/14, lobar (level 12), interlobar (level 11), and hilar (level 10) lymph node metastasis were 69.4%, 46.4%, 46.7%, and 37%, respectively. Patient outcomes were significantly worse for those with pN1 status who had only level 13/14 lymph node metastasis than for patients with pN0 status (P = .0034), and outcomes were significantly worse for patients with pN1 status who had level 11/12 lymph node metastasis than for patients who had only level 13/14 lymph node metastasis (P = .021). The median number of level 13/14 lymph nodes examined was 3 (range, 0‐22 level 13/14 lymph nodes), and metastases to these lymph nodes were detected in 61% of patients who had pN1 status. A single lymph node pN1 disease, single‐level pN1 status, and squamous cell carcinoma histopathology also were indicators of a better patient outcome.

CONCLUSIONS:

The current results indicated that the highest level of lymph node involvement may be used to stratify the outcome of patients who have NSCLC with pN1 status. Patients with pN1 status who had only level 13/14 lymph node metastasis had an intermediate 5DFS rate between that of patients with pN0 status and other patients with pN1 status. Routine examination of level 13/14 lymph nodes is important for accurate pathologic staging and for the predicting clinical outcome of patients with NSCLC. Cancer 2012. © 2012 American Cancer Society.     

Use of preoperative lymphoscintigraphy and intraoperative gamma-probe detection for identification of the sentinel lymph node in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma

Aims

Lymph node metastases for papillary thyroid carcinoma are associated with an increased incidence of locoregional recurrence. The use of preoperative lymphoscintigraphy and intraoperative gamma probe detection to localize the sentinel lymph node in papillary thyroid carcinoma was investigated.

Methods

From February 2004 to December 2005 the sentinel lymph node technique was studied in 64 consecutive patients with cytological evidence of papillary thyroid carcinoma. The day before surgery, patients were submitted to US-guided peri-tumoural injection of the radiotracer and a lymphoscintigraphy was performed. In the operating room a total thyroidectomy was done, and thanks to a hand-held gamma probe the sentinel lymph node and all lymph nodes, belonging to the sentinel node compartment, were removed.

Results

The gamma probe identified the sentinel lymph node in 62 patients (96.8%). We found 48 (77.5%) sentinel lymph node without metastases; 12 (19.3%) with metastases and 2 (3.2%) with micrometastases. In 7 cases (11.3%), with a negative sentinel lymph node, metastases in other nodes of the same region were recorded. In 22 cases (34.3%) the ultrasound give an erroneous indication (P = 0.004). Five patients (8.0%), 4 with multifocal cancer, had a positive postoperative lymphoscintigraphy.

Conclusion

This study shows that the sentinel lymph node technique for papillary thyroid carcinoma is feasible, repeatable, and more accurate than preoperative ultrasound. In cases of multifocal thyroid lesions more patients should be enrolled to establish the utility of the radio-guided technique.     

Radioisotope guided sentinel lymph node dissection in patients with localized prostate cancer: Results of the first 100 cases

Aims

The purpose of this prospective study was to assess the results and the relevance of radioisotope guided pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) in loco-regional staging in patients with clinically localized prostate cancer.

Methods

A total of 100 patients with prostate cancer underwent radioisotope guided PLND. Eighty-seven patients were candidates for retropubic radical prostatectomy and 13 underwent radiotherapy. The 72 first patients received 2× 0.3 ml of 30 MBq-nanocolloid-^99mTc and the next 28 patients received 2× 0.3 ml of 100 MBq. Sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) were detected intraoperatively with a gamma probe.

Results

A median number of three SLNs was removed per patient. SLNs were located outside obturator fossa in more than two thirds of patients. Lymph node involvement was observed in 12% of patients. Fifty percent of the LNM were outside obturator fossa;41.6% of lymph node metastases (LNM) were lying at the first centimeters of the hypogastric artery. Eleven of the 13 LNM were detected in the SLN. The two non-SLN (NSLN) involved nodes were found in two patients who failed the sentinel lymph node procedure. Each of 12 patients had pre-operative PSA above 10 ng/ml and Gleason score ≥7.

Conclusions

Limited PLND to obturator fossa is clearly insufficient for accurate lymph node staging in patients with prostate cancer. SLN procedure could be an alternative for pelvic lymph node staging with an excellent sensitivity in patients with unfavorable prognostic factors (PSA >10 ng/ml; biopsy Gleason score >6).     

Lymph node density is a significant predictor of outcome in patients with oral cancer

BACKGROUND:

The impact of lymph node metastases on prognosis in patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has been well recognized. However, accurate stratification of risk for recurrence among patients with lymph node metastases is difficult based on the existing staging systems. In the current study, the utility of lymph node density (LND) was evaluated as an alternative method for predicting survival.

METHODS:

Three hundred eighty‐six patients who underwent neck dissection were included. The median follow‐up was 67 months. Five‐year overall survival (OS), disease‐specific survival (DSS), and locoregional failure (LRF) rates were calculated using the Kaplan‐Meier method. LND (number of positive lymph nodes/total number of excised lymph nodes) and tumor‐node‐metastasis (TNM) staging variables were subjected to multivariate analysis.

RESULTS:

Using the median (LND = 0.06) as the cutoff point, LND was found to be significantly associated with outcome. For patients with LND ≤0.06, the OS was 58 percent versus 28 percent for patients with LND >0.06 (P < .001). Similarly, the DSS for patients with LND ≤0.06 was 65 percent and was 34 percent for those with LND >0.06 (P < .001). On univariate analysis, pathologic T and N classification, extracapsular spread, and LND were found to be significant predictors of outcome (P < .001). However, on multivariate analysis, LND remained the only independent predictor of OS (P = .02; hazards ratio, 2.0), DSS (P = .02; hazards ratio, 2.3), and LRF (P = .005; hazards ratio, 4.1). LND was also found to be the only significant predictor of outcome in patients receiving adjuvant radiotherapy (P < .05). Within individual subgroups of pN1 or pN2 patients, LND reliably stratified patients according to their risk of failure (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS:

After surgery for OSCC, pathologic evaluation of the neck using LND was found to reliably stratify the risk of disease recurrence and survival. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.     

European temporal trends in the use of lymph node dissection in patients with renal cancer

Background

The role of lymph node dissection (LND) in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is still under debate. We aimed to assess the utilization rates of LND over time in Europe.

Prognostic role of lymph node metastasis in early gastric cancer

Objective： To clarify the relationship between clinicopathological features and lymph node metastasis and to propose the potential indications of lymph node metastasis for prognosis in early gaswic cancer （EGC） patients. Methods： We retrospectively observed 226 EGC patients with lymph node resection, and analyzed the associations between lymph node metastasis and clinicopathological parameters using the chi-square test in univariate analysis and logistic regression analysis in multivariate analysis. Overall survival analysis was determined using the Kaplan-Meier and log-rank test. We conducted multivariate prognosis analysis using the Cox proportional hazards model. Results： Of all the EGC patients, 7.5% （17/226） were histologically shown to have lymph node metastasis. The differentiation, lymphovascular invasion and depth of invasion were independent risk factors for lymph node metastasis in EGC. The 5- and 10-year survival rates were significantly lower in patients with lymph node metastasis than in those without and the patients also had shorter progress-free survival time. Lymph node metastasis and tumor size were independent prognostic factors for EGC. The status of the lymph nodes was a significant factor in predicting recurrence or metastasis after surgery. Conclusions： The undifferentiated carcinoma and lymphovascular and/or submucosal invasion were associated with a higher incidence of lymph node metastasis in EGC patients, whom need to perform subsequent D2 lymphadenectomy or laparoscopic lymph node dissection and more rigorous follow-up or additional chemotherapy/radiation after D2 gastrectomy for poor prognosis and high recurrence/metastasis rate.     

More tumor‐affected lymph nodes because of the sentinel lymph node procedure but no stage migration,because the 2002 TNM classifies small tumor deposits as pathologic N0 breast cancer

BACKGROUND:

Intensified examination of the sentinel lymph node (SN) may result in increased detection of tumor‐affected lymph nodes. The authors of this report hypothesized that the introduction of the SN procedure has led to stage migration because of the intensified workup of SNs by pathologists.

METHODS:

After the introduction of the SN procedure, 360 patients with operable breast cancer were included prospectively from 2 large hospitals (Hospital A and Hospital B). The prospectively included patients (the “SN era” group) were compared with 88 historic controls from the year 1994 who were diagnosed with primary breast cancer before introduction of the SN procedure.

RESULTS:

After correcting for classic clinical and pathologic prognostic factors in a multiple logistic regression analysis, the detection frequency of lymph node involvement was significantly higher in the SN era group compared with historic controls (P = .04). However, when using the 2002 TNM classification, in which isolated tumor cells (≤0.2 mm) were categorized as lymph node‐negative disease, no stage migration was observed (P = .98). Also, when analyzing both hospitals (Hospital A vs Hospital B) separately with respect to lymph node involvement, there was no difference, between the SN era and the historic controls (P = .79 and P = .69, respectively). This remained nonsignificant after the analysis was corrected for patient and primary tumor characteristics (P = .85 and P = .66, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS:

Introduction of the SN procedure has led to the detection of more tumor‐affected lymph nodes because of the intensified workup of SNs by pathologists. However, stage migration did not occur when tumor deposits of ≤0.2 mm were categorized as lymph node‐negative disease, according to the 2002 TNM classification. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.     

Ultrathin primary is a marker for worse prognosis in lymph node–positive cutaneous melanoma

BACKGROUND:

Lymph lymph node metastasis from melanoma ≤0.50 mm (ultrathin) is an infrequent event. However, because many newly diagnosed melanomas are ultrathin, a significant proportion of patients who present with lymph node disease have an ultrathin melanoma. The authors hypothesized that ultrathin melanomas that present with lymph node metastasis represent biologically aggressive lesions with a worse prognosis.

METHODS:

The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry data were queried to identify patients with cutaneous melanoma who presented with lymph node metastasis diagnosed between 1998 and 2008. Hazard ratios (HRs) from Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to compare disease‐specific survival (DSS) between various tumor depths.

RESULTS:

In total, 6134 patients with lymph node‐positive melanoma were identified and stratified according to tumor depth, including 588 (10%) with a tumor depth ≤0.50 mm, 519 (8%) with a tumor depth from 0.51 to 1.00 mm, 1669 (27%) with a tumor depth from 1.01 to 2.00 mm, 1871 (31%) with a tumor depth from 2.01 to 4.00 mm, and 1487 (24%) with a tumor depth >4.00 mm; and the respective 5‐year DSS rates were 63%, 76%, 75%, 60%, and 43%. Multivariable analysis confirmed a similar trend in HRs for DSS: The HR was 1.00 for a tumor depth ≤0.50 mm (reference category) and 0.64 (P < .001), 0.65 (P < .001), 0.95 (P = .57), and 1.42 (P < .001) for tumor depths of 0.51 to 1.00 mm, 1.01 to 2.00 mm, 2.01 to 4.00 mm, and >4.00 mm, respectively. This association of tumor depth with DSS persisted for N1 and N2 disease but not for N3 disease.

CONCLUSIONS:

Ultrathin melanoma (≤0.50 mm) was identified as a marker of poor prognosis in the setting of lymph node metastasis. These results may improve recommendations for adjuvant therapy, surveillance protocols, and risk stratification for clinical trials. Cancer 2013. © 2013 American Cancer Society.     

Preoperative predictors of high and low axillary nodal burden in Z0011 eligible breast cancer patients with a positive lymph node needle biopsy result

Background

Z0011 trial showed that early breast cancer patients with low axillary nodal burden, may be spared an axillary lymph node dissection with no survival compromise. Axillary lymph node dissection can be reserved for patients with a high axillary nodal burden. We aim to determine the preoperative factors that could distinguish between low and high axillary nodal burden in Z0011 eligible patients with a needle biopsy proven metastatic node.

The association between extent of lymphadenectomy and survival among patients with lymph node metastases undergoing radical cystectomy

BACKGROUND.

Long‐term survival in patients with lymph node‐positive bladder cancer who undergo cystectomy suggests a therapeutic role for lymphadenectomy. The objective of this study was to describe the association between extent of lymphadenectomy and survival in lymph node‐positive patients who underwent radical cystectomy.

METHODS.

The cohort consisted of patients from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry with transitional cell carcinoma who underwent cystectomy with lymphadenectomy and had at least 1 positive lymph node and no distant metastases. The Kaplan‐Meier method and multivariate Cox proportional‐hazards regression analyses were used to estimate differences in survival among different lymphadenectomy variables.

RESULTS.

In total, 1260 patients had at least 1 positive lymph node. A median of 9 lymph nodes were removed (range, 1–48 lymph nodes) with a median of 2 positive lymph nodes (range, 1–18 positive lymph nodes), and the median lymph node density was 22%. In multivariate analysis controlling for patient demographics, tumor classification, and year of diagnosis, the number of positive and total lymph nodes removed remained independent predictors of survival. There was an inverse association between the number of lymph nodes removed and the risk of death for all quartiles. Removal of > 10 lymph nodes was associated with increased overall survival (hazard ratio, 0.52; 95% confidence interval, 0.43–0.64). In addition, with a lymph node density from 0.1% to 12.5% as the referent group, each higher quartile experienced worse survival.

CONCLUSIONS.

An increased number of lymph nodes removed at the time of cystectomy was associated with improved survival in patients with lymph node‐positive bladder cancer. Improved survival was observed at a lower lymph node density threshold than previously reported. The current findings support performing a more extensive lymphadenectomy at the time of cystectomy. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.     

N1S3: A revised staging system for head and neck cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma with lymph node metastases

BACKGROUND.

A staging system was designed for metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) that would incorporate the parotid as a regional level and facilitate a better prognostic discrimination between subgroups.

METHODS.

A retrospective review of clinical and pathological information of patients treated for metastatic cutaneous SCC to the parotid and/or neck was conducted. Potential prognostic factors were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analyses. A staging system was elaborated and externally validated.

RESULTS.

Two hundred fifteen patients were included. All patients had surgery as their primary treatment; 148 had parotidectomy with neck dissection, 50 parotidectomy alone, and 18 neck dissection alone. One hundred seventy‐five patients received postoperative radiotherapy. On univariate analysis, the number of involved lymph nodes (P < .001), maximal size (P = .01), and extracapsular spread (P = .003) were found to be significant predictors of survival. On Cox regression, the number of involved lymph nodes as single or multiple (P = .006) was significant. The N1S3 staging system incorporates involved lymph nodes from parotid and neck (single or multiple) and the size (< or >3 cm). This system demonstrates significant predictive capacity for locoregional control (P < .001), disease‐specific survival (P<.0001), and overall survival (P<.0001). N1S3 was tested on a different cohort of 250 patients, and the results confirmed those obtained from our primary analyses.

CONCLUSIONS.

The N1S3 system stages patients according to the number of involved lymph nodes and size, and incorporates parotid as 1 of the regional levels. These 2 predictors are easily applied on both clinical and pathological data. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.     

胸段食管鳞癌颈部淋巴结转移特点及其临床意义

背景与目的：食管癌颈部淋巴结转移率较高,但少有专门报道。本研究分析胸段食管鳞癌颈部淋巴结转移特点,探讨其临床意义。方法：选择1993年1月—2003年12月在福建省肿瘤医院行胸段食管鳞癌三野淋巴结清扫根治术患者1 131例,对术后病理证实颈部淋巴结转移患者376例的具体情况进行分析。结果：全组颈部淋巴结转移率为33.2%,其中胸上、中及下段的颈部淋巴结转移率分别为43.7%、33.0%和16.0%。单因素分析显示,颈部淋巴结转移率与肿瘤部位、病理分化程度、病变X线长度、pT分期以及淋巴结转移个数有关(P<0.05),但多因素回归分析显示,颈部淋巴结转移率只与肿瘤部位、pT分期及淋巴结转移个数有关(P<0.05)。颈段食管旁淋巴结转移最多见,其次是锁骨上淋巴结转移,颈深淋巴结及咽后淋巴结转移少见;胸上、中及下段的颈部淋巴结转移数占该段淋巴结总转移数的比率分别为57.7%、32.0%和10.0%,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);各段食管癌右颈部淋巴结转移多于左颈部。结论：影响胸段食管鳞癌颈部淋巴结转移独立因素是肿瘤部位、pT分期及淋巴结转移数;颈段食管旁淋巴结转移最多见,其次是锁骨上淋巴结转移,颈深淋巴结及咽后淋巴结转移少见。     

Sentinel lymph node biopsy after previous axillary surgery: A review

Background

The utility of axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in the management of breast cancer is currently under close scrutiny. At primary diagnosis the use of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has restricted ALND for proven nodal disease, however the management of the axilla at local (in-breast) relapse is less clearly defined with many undergoing routine ALND. This review examines the role of SLNB in the re-operative setting with the objective of developing an axillary management algorithm for use at in-breast local relapse, and restricting ALND to node-positive recurrent cancers.

Methods

We reviewed published reports of SLNB at local relapse in women who had previously undergone axillary surgery either as lymph node biopsy, SLNB, axillary sampling (AS) or axillary lymph node dissection (ALND).

Results

There have been no randomised trials. Six reports with 327 cases were identified; of which 61% (199/327) had previous SLNB or ALND with <9 nodes removed. There was an overall successful sentinel lymph node (SLN) localisation at re-operation of 69% (227/327), range of 51-100%. In patients who have previously had limited axillary surgery (<9 nodes removed), the rate of successful SLN localisation was 83% (165/199), range of 68-100% and 142/165 (86%, range 80-100%) were node negative. In these highly selected patients no axillary recurrences were noted in those who had a negative SLN at re-operation after 26-46 months follow up.

Conclusion

SLNB at in-breast relapse is feasible and safe with successful localisation related to the extent of previous axillary surgery.     

Prognostic significance of axillary lymph node micrometastases and microvessel count in breast cancer

Objective To investigate the influence of axillary lymph node micrometastases and the microvessel count on the prognosis of patients with breast cancer. Methods Forty-eight patients with breast cancer, who had no tumor cells in their regional lymph nodes based on conventional histopathologic examination, were re -examined with immunohistochemical LSAB techniques. H&E, anti-EMA, CK 19 and FVIII factor staining was used to identify tumor cells in both lymph nodes and tumor tissues and to count the mtcrovessels. A total of 882 lymph nodes were examined. Results Immunostaining-positive tumor cells were found in 9.0 %( 79/882) of the dissected lymph nodes. The positive rates were not significantly different between a surviving group and a deceased group (P>0.05). The microvessel count was significantly higher in group that had died (P<0.001). Conclusion The lymph node micrometastases did not show any correlation with patients’ survival, but the microvessel density had a negative correlation with the survival period in breast cancer patients who had negative axillary lymph nodes.