Sentinel lymph node biopsy in juvenile secretory carcinoma

A 9-year-old girl presented with a 3-year history of a right breast mass. Excisional biopsy showed a secretory carcinoma. A treatment plan of simple mastectomy and axillary sentinel lymph node biopsy was chosen. She remains free of disease at 3-year follow-up. Sentinel lymph node biopsy offers an approach to stage the axillary lymphatic basin with a lower complication rate than formal dissection. The authors advocate its use in the treatment of pediatric breast cancer.     

Sentinel node biopsy in squamous cell cancer of the oral cavity and oral pharynx: a diagnostic meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: The sentinel node biopsy concept has been gaining support in the head and neck cancer literature during only the last few years, and several pilot studies have been published. This procedure aims to avoid unnecessary treatment to the clinically negative neck by identifying the patients with occult neck disease. METHODS: We performed a systematic review and a diagnostic meta-analysis of all published literature regarding sentinel node biopsies in head and neck cancer until December 2003 using established guidelines. Using the pooled sensitivity rates obtained from the meta-analysis and treatment outcomes from published literature, we created a decision analysis model to identify the treatment arm with better payoffs. RESULTS: A total of 301 patients with oral cavity primary tumors and 46 patients with oropharyngeal primary tumors from 19 articles were included for the meta-analysis. The pooled sensitivity result using the random effects model was 0.926 (95% confidence interval, 0.852-0.964). The cumulative payoff for the sentinel node biopsy arm was lower than that for the elective node dissection arm by about 1%. The payoffs were assigned for the recurrence and mortality rates only and did not take into account the morbidity caused by the procedures. CONCLUSIONS: The sentinel node biopsy procedure has shown high sensitivity rates in pilot studies for oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer across the globe and is reliable and reproducible. This study provides a firm evidence base for forthcoming trials on the role of sentinel node biopsy in head and neck cancer.     

Sentinel lymph node biopsy for squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal

Background: The current Trans‐Tasman Radiation Oncology Group (TROG) protocol for T1 and T2 anal cancers is combination chemotherapy and radiotherapy excluding the inguinal region from the field. Several centres worldwide irradiate both inguinal regions as there is a small incidence of involvement with early stage tumours. The presence of inguinal lymph node metastases is not accurately detected using clinical and most radiological assessment modalities. We have developed a method of sampling the sentinel node in the groin using established node mapping techniques. Methods: A combination of radio‐labelled Antimony Sulphide and Patent Blue dye injected around the anal cancer enable identification of the sentinel node in the groin, using a gamma probe and direct visualization of the blue node. Results: This technique has been used in four patients. A groin sentinel node was identified and removed in three of these, with pathological assessment excluding metastatic disease in the inguinal region. The fourth patient had a sentinel node mapped to a meso‐rectal node. This was not sampled. Conclusions: The application of this effective technique will allow accurate staging of anal cancers to better plan future treatment regimes.     

Role of sentinel lymph node biopsy for oral squamous cell carcinoma: Current evidence and future challenges

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has been used across oncological specialties for prognostication, staging, and identification of occult nodal metastasis. Recent studies demonstrated the potential clinical utility of SLNB in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC). Elective neck dissection is the current standard of care in early management of OCSCC with depth of invasion greater than 2–4 mm; however, majority of patients ultimately do not have nodal disease on final pathology. SLNB is an alternative procedure widely adopted in early cancer management in many oncological subspecialities. Several considerations such as depth of invasion, nodal mapping, histopathology methods, operator variability, postoperative complications, and advancement in preoperative and intraoperative imaging technology can guide the appropriate application to SLNB in OCSCC. The aim of this review is to discuss the current evidence for SLNB in the treatment of early stage OCSCC, imaging technologies that support SLNB procedures, and studies that are currently underway.     

胃癌前哨淋巴结研究进展

前哨淋巴结是从原发肿瘤淋巴引流途中首先可能发生转移的部位。Cabana在阴茎癌中提出前哨淋巴结的概念后,前哨淋巴结活检技术不断在多种肿瘤中广泛应用。目前,该技术已成功用于黑色素瘤、乳腺癌等手术。但在胃癌中,由于胃淋巴引流复杂、存在跳跃转移以及假阴性率较高,前哨淋巴结活检技术应用于临床还为时过早,其可行性和适用性尚无定论。因此,前哨淋巴结活检技术应用于胃癌,还有许多问题需要回答。     

Preoperative risk factors of lymph node metastasis in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Lymph node metastasis of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (“SCC”) affects the prognosis. A variety of risk factors of lymph node metastasis have been reported. Predicting lymph node metastasis prior to surgery, which is a major treatment method for cutaneous SCC, contributes to the effects of treatment. Factors that can be obtained prior to surgery were weighed between a lymph node metastasis group and a non-metastasis lymph node group. One hundred and sixty-four cutaneous SCC patients were operated on. The following factors, which can be obtained prior to surgery, were compared between the lymph node metastasis group and the non-metastasis lymph node group: age, sex, tumour size, symptom period, lesions, and local recurrence. The detection rate from lymph node metastasis of the sentinel lymph node biopsy using the blue dye technique was studied. Among all subjects, lymph node metastasis was observed in 17 cases (10.4%). Lower lip SCC was observed only in the higher metastasis rate. Significant local recurrence occurred more frequently in the lymph node metastasis group. For other factors, no significant difference was observed between the lymph node metastasis group and the non-metastasis lymph node group. A sentinel lymph node biopsy was given in 21 cases, two false-negative cases were observed, and local recurrence and lymph node metastasis were observed postoperatively. Operation should be given to the lower lip SCC and local recurrence cases considering lymph node metastasis. It is hard to say that the sentinel lymph node biopsy of cutaneous SCC using the blue dye technique has sufficient detection rates.     

Sentinel lymph node biopsy for breast cancer: improvement in results over time

Many modifications in the technique of sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy for breast cancer have taken place since it was first introduced. This analysis was undertaken to determine, in a large multi-institutional study, whether SLN biopsy results have improved over time. Patients with clinical stage T1-2, N0 breast cancer were enrolled in this prospective study between August 1997 and February 2002. SLN biopsy was performed using blue dye and/or radioactive colloid along with completion level I/II axillary dissection in all patients. The majority of subjects included in this study represent the surgeons' initial experience with SLN biopsy for breast cancer. Statistical comparison of the SLN identification (ID) rate and false-negative (FN) rate were performed by chi-squared analysis. A total of 3370 subjects from 300 surgeons were enrolled in the study. Collectively the SLN ID rate, as well as the mean number of SLNs removed per patient has improved, while the FN rate has remained fairly constant over time. The improved ID rate may be related to improved technical details, while the FN rate has not changed significantly. This highlights the ongoing need for surgeons to perform backup axillary dissection during their initial learning phase.     

Sentinel lymph node radiolocalization in clinically negative neck oral cancer

BACKGROUND: The sentinel node concept has become one of the most interesting topics in the treatment of head and neck cancer. The aim of this article is to report the results of our feasibility study and clinical application of sentinel lymph node (SLN) radiolocalization and biopsy in patients with clinically negative neck oral cancer. METHODS: Individuals with previously untreated N0 oral cancer participated in the study. The radioactive tracer used was 99m Tc phytate. Lymphoscintigrams were taken in the feasibility study, and fusion images of SPECT and CT were obtained in the clinical SLN biopsy (SLNB) group. In the feasibility study, metastases to SLNs and other nodes were analyzed in permanent specimens. In the clinical application group, we investigated the comparative effectiveness of multi-slice frozen section analysis and imprint cytology for the intraoperative diagnosis of SLNB. RESULTS: Fifteen individuals participated in the feasibility study. Six SLNs in five patients were cancer-positive, and two thirds of the SLNs were micrometastases. The SLN concept was established, and SLNs with the highest to the third highest radioactivity reflected the patients' neck status accurately. Twelve patients participated in the clinical application group of SLNB. Intraoperative diagnosis of the three hottest SLNs correctly predicted the neck status of 10 patients. Three patients underwent modified radical neck dissection on the basis of the intraoperative diagnosis of cancer metastasis to SLNs, whereas neck dissections were spared in patients with no evidence of such metastases. There were two false-negative cases. One involved a failure of the intraoperative diagnosis of SLNB, and the other had cancer-negative SLNs and cancer-positive non-SLNs. Considering intraoperative diagnosis, multi-slice frozen section analysis was found to be superior to imprint cytology in its sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy on a lymph node basis. No differences were found in any of these indices of intraoperative SLNB on a patient basis. The fusion images of SPECT and CT proved very useful during intraoperative SLNB. CONCLUSIONS: The sentinel node concept was established in the head and neck region. Analyzing the three hottest SLNs suffices to predict a patient's neck status. Multi-slice frozen section analysis was shown to be superior to imprint cytology for detecting micrometastasis to SLN. Intraoperative SLNB based on fusion images of SPECT and CT proved to be an easy, accurate, and reliable method.     

Palpable breast carcinomas: a hypothesis for clinically relevant lymphatic drainage in sentinel lymph node biopsy

Previous studies have shown that independent of tumor size, palpable breast tumors have a higher incidence of lymph node metastasis compared with nonpalpable tumors. This study further examines this phenomenon using a large sentinel lymph node (SLN) database. Data from a prospective, institutional review board (IRB)-approved, multi-institutional study from the University of Louisville Breast Cancer Sentinel Lymph Node Study Group was used. From August 1997 through December 2001, 3192 patients with clinical T1 and T2 N0 breast cancer underwent SLN biopsy, most with a combined technique of radioactive colloid and blue dye, followed by level I/II axillary dissection. Patients with palpable tumors tended to be younger (mean age 58 years) compared with nonpalpable tumors (mean age 61 years). The incidence of positive axillary metastasis was significant between palpable and nonpalpable tumors (43% and 23%, respectively), independent of tumor size by logistic regression (p = 0.0001). The SLN identification rate was significantly different between palpable and nonpalpable tumors (95% versus 91%, respectively; p < 0.0001). A unifying theory to explain the phenomenon that palpable tumors, stage for stage, are associated with a higher rate of nodal metastasis is that palpable tumors are, on average, closer to the skin and the rich network of dermal lymphatics. We believe that the dermal lymphatics of the breast represent a clinically relevant metastatic pathway to the axilla.     

胸段食管鳞癌淋巴结转移规律探究

目的探讨胸段食管鳞癌淋巴结转移规律及其影响因素,以指导淋巴结清扫方式。方法回顾分析漳州市医院2010年4月至2012年7月手术治疗的328例胸段食管鳞癌的临床病理资料,探讨淋巴结转移规律及其影响因素。结果全组328例共清扫淋巴结9937枚,平均30．3枚／例。共437枚、153例有淋巴结转移,转移率46．65％;其中喉返神经旁淋巴结转移18．30％,10．46％喉返神经旁淋巴结为唯一转移部位。胸段食管癌淋巴结转移与肿瘤部位、长度、分化程度及浸润深度明显相关。胸上段食管癌淋巴结转移方向主要向上纵隔及下颈部;胸中段食管癌颈、胸、腹均可发生淋巴结转移;胸下段食管癌主要向腹腔、中下纵隔转移。结论食管上段鳞癌,颈部淋巴结转移率高,应行三野淋巴结清扫;下段食管癌清扫重点在腹腔、中下纵隔;中段鳞癌应提倡进行个体化清扫和适度清扫;分化程度差,浸润程度深的病例应适当扩大清扫范围。胸段食管癌喉返神经旁淋巴结转移率高,均应行喉返神经旁淋巴结清扫。     

乳腺癌前哨淋巴结活检对腋窝淋巴结转移的预警价值研究

目的探讨乳腺癌前哨淋巴结(sentinel lymph node,SLN)预警腋窝淋巴结转移的价值. 方法对56例乳腺癌行亚甲蓝前哨淋巴结定位、活检和腋窝淋巴结清扫术,标本常规行HE染色、免疫组化病理检查. 结果 SLN成功检出52例(52/56,92.8%),常规病理检查证实SLN转移22例;SLN无转移,但非SLN发现转移者1例,假阴性率为4.3%(1/23).常规病理检查无转移的29例患者,免疫组化检测发现1例CK-19( )、EMA( ),另1例CK-19( ),CEA( ),而所属非前哨淋巴结无肿瘤转移. 结论乳腺癌亚甲蓝前哨淋巴结定位、活检可以预示腋窝淋巴结转移.