Long-Term Outcome of Patients with Locally Resected High- and Low-Risk Rectal Carcinoid Tumors

Background

Tumor size and lymphovascular invasion are known high-risk factors for lymph node and distant metastasis in patients with rectal carcinoid tumors. However, the optimal treatment for these tumors remains controversial.

Aim

The aim of this paper is to compare the outcome of local or radical resection between patients with high-risk (tumor size >10 mm or lymphovascular invasion) disease and those with low-risk (tumor size ≤10 mm, no lymphovascular invasion) disease.

Methods

Patients with rectal carcinoid tumors treated between January 1990 and March 2010 were identified retrospectively and classified into low- and high-risk groups.

Results

In total, 83 patients with rectal carcinoid tumors were included, 53 (64 %) of whom were identified as low-risk and 30 (36 %) as high-risk. Local resection was performed in 50 (60 %) low-risk and 24 (29 %) high-risk patients, and postoperative recurrence was observed in one (1 %) of the high-risk patients who underwent local resection and one (11 %) who underwent radical resection. No recurrence was observed in the low-risk group. Kaplan–Meier analysis of the patients who underwent local resection revealed that the 10-year disease-free survival rate was 100 % in the low-risk group and 83.3 % in the high-risk group.

Conclusions

There was no significant difference in outcome between local and radical resection.     

Endoscopic submucosal dissection for rectal carcinoid tumors

Background

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has an advantage over endoscopic mucosa resection (EMR) by enabling removal of gastrointestinal neoplasms en bloc. The ESD procedure is the treatment of choice for rectal carcinoids that have classic histologic architecture with minimal cellular pleomorphism and sparse mitoses, but it has not been applied for such tumors.

Methods

The ESD procedure was performed for patients with colorectal tumors that fulfilled the inclusion criteria specifying tumor with a diameter of 10 mm or less, no muscular layer invasion, and no metastases to the lymph nodes or distal organs. The ESD procedure was performed for patients with rectal carcinoids but no node or distal metastasis.

Results

This study enrolled 20 rectal carcinoid tumors from 20 consecutive patients. The mean tumor size was 7.6 mm (range, 3–16 mm). En bloc removal was achieved for all the tumors, and the complete resection (en bloc with tumor-free lateral/basal margins) rate was 90% (18/20). The two cases in which the margins were not evaluable due to burn effects still are free of recurrence and metastasis at this writing. Perforation was seen in one case, which was managed nonsurgically.

Conclusions

Precise histolopathogic assessment of the specimens resected en bloc by ESD may reduce tumor recurrence and metastasis after ESD. As the treatment of choice for small rectal carcinoids, ESD is associated with nominal risks of metastatic disease.     

Rectal carcinoids: a systematic review

Background

Rectal carcinoids are increasing in incidence worldwide. Frequently thought of as a relatively benign condition, there are limited data regarding optimal treatment strategies for both localized and more advanced disease. The aim of this study was to summarize published experiences with rectal carcinoids and to present the most current data.

Methods

Following PRISMA guidelines, an electronic literature search performed of PubMed, Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Library using the terms “rectum” or “rectal” AND “carcinoid” over a 20-year study period from January 1993 to May 2013. Non-English-language studies, animal studies, and studies of fewer than 100 patients were excluded. Study end points included demographic information, tumor features, intervention and outcomes. All included articles were quality assessed.

Results

Using the search parameters and exclusions as outlined above, a total of 14 articles were identified for detailed analysis. The quality of articles was low/moderate for all included scoring 9 to 17 of 27. The articles included 4,575 patients diagnosed with a rectal carcinoid. Approximately 80 % of tumors were <10 mm, 15 % 11–20 mm, and 5 % >20 mm. Eight percent of patients presented with regional lymph node metastases, and 4 % presented with distant metastases. Tumor size >10 mm, and muscular and lymphovascular invasion are independently associated with an increased risk of metastases. The 5-year survival was 93 % in patients presenting with localized disease and 86 % overall.

Conclusions

Small tumors up to 10 mm without any adverse features can be treated with endoscopic or local excision. The treatment of carcinoids between 10 and 20 mm is still contentious, but those up to 16 mm without adverse feature are suitable for local/endoscopic excision followed by careful histopathological assessment. Those >20 mm or with adverse features require radical surgery with mesorectal clearance in suitable patients.     

Obturator Canal Lymph Node Metastasis from Rectal Carcinoid Tumors: Total Mesorectal Excision May Be Insufficient

Background

Optimal surgical treatment for small early rectal carcinoids is controversial. Large tumors (greater than 2 cm) and those with imaging evidence of lymph node metastasis are generally treated by low anterior resection (LAR) with total mesorectal excision (TME). We first observed and reported that midgut carcinoid with extensive mesenteric lymphadenopathy often develops alternated lymphatic drainage pathways. We hypothesize that rectal carcinoids have the same potential to develop alternated lymphatic pathways outside the mesorectal envelope, which allows tumor deposits to be missed by traditional TME.

Methods

Twenty-two consecutive rectal carcinoid surgical patient charts were reviewed to determine if alternated lymphatic drainage occurred and resulted in extra-mesorectal metastasis. We attempted to identify any risk factor(s) that may lead to developing such alternated lymphatic drainage pathways.

Results

Thirteen patients underwent initial LAR with TME (13/22, 59 %) and nine underwent a staged debulking for locoregional residual disease or regional/distant metastasis after previous resection (9/22, 41 %). Fourteen (14/22, 64 %) underwent radio-guided surgery in attempt to achieve a higher level of pelvic/distant metastatic disease detection and debulking. Six patients (6/22, 27 %) had obturator canal lymph node metastases confirmed histologically.

Conclusions

Based on our study, at least 27 % of rectal carcinoid patients may have extra-mesorectal metastasis that would be missed by the traditional TME. Radio-guided surgery can identify and remove such metastasis. The effect of having such extra-mesorectal metastasis and its surgical removal on long-term survival has yet to be determined.

     

Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Located in the Isthmus or Upper Third is Associated with Delphian Lymph Node Metastasis

Background

Delphian lymph node (DLN) metastasis is a recognized indicator of further lymph node involvement in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinicopathological significance of and risk factors for DLN metastasis.

Methods

The medical records of 1,436 patients who underwent primary thyroidectomy for classical PTC with a tumor size of 2 cm or less were reviewed. Of these, 370 patients from whom the DLN was harvested were enrolled. Metastasis in DLN was present in 46 patients and absent in 324 patients. Clinicopathological features were compared according to DLN metastasis.

Results

In univariate analysis, DLN metastasis was associated with suspected lymph node metastasis on preoperative ultrasonography, tumor location in the isthmus or upper third of the thyroid, larger tumor size, extrathyroid extension, lymphovascular invasion, and further lymph node metastasis. Multivariable analysis revealed that DLN metastasis was associated with tumor location in the isthmus or upper third of the thyroid (odds ratio [OR] = 2.420; 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.193–4.910) and further lymph node metastasis (OR = 4.746; 95 % CI 2.065–10.908).

Conclusions

DLN metastasis in PTC is associated with tumor location in the isthmus or upper third of the thyroid and unfavorable clinicopathological characteristics. Careful consideration and patient management are warranted when preoperative ultrasonography indicates that the tumor is located in the isthmus or upper third of the thyroid.     

Factors Associated with Lymph Node Metastasis in Radically Resected Rectal Carcinoids: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background

Although various guidelines regarding neuroendocrine tumors were released, treatment for rectal neuroendocrine tumors with size between 1 and 2 cm has not been explicitly elucidated. The determinant factor of the choice between endoscopic resection and radical surgery is whether lymph node involvement exists.

Aim

This study aims to explore factors associated with lymph node involvement in rectal neuroendocrine tumors by conducting a meta-analysis.

Methods

A broad literature research of Pubmed, Embase&Medline, and The Cochrane Library was performed, and systematic review and meta-analysis about factors associated with lymph node involvement were conducted.

Results

Seven studies were included in this meta-analysis. Tumor size?>?1 cm (odds ratio (OR) 6.72, 95 % confidence interval (CI) [3.23, 14.02]), depth of invasion (OR 5.06, 95 % CI [2.30, 11.10]), venous invasion (OR 5.92, 95 % CI [2.21, 15.87]), and central depression (OR 3.00, 95 % CI [1.07, 8.43]) were significantly associated with lymph node involvement.

Conclusion

The available clinical evidence suggests that tumor size?>?1 cm, invasion of muscularis properia, venous invasion, and central depression could be risk factors of lymph node involvement, while other factors reported by few studies need further research.     

Surgical strategy for T2 and T3 gallbladder cancer: is extrahepatic bile duct resection always necessary?

Purpose

Resection of the extrahepatic bile duct is not performed uniformly in gallbladder cancer. The study investigated the clinical significance of resection of extrahepatic bile duct (EHBD) in T2 and T3 gallbladder cancer.

Methods

Between 2000 and 2010, 71 T2 or T3 gallbladder cancer patients who underwent R0 resection at Korea University Medical Center were included. Clinicopathological data were reviewed retrospectively. Survival analysis and comparison between EHBD resection and non-resection groups were performed.

Results

The 32 men and 39 women had 49 T2 tumors and 22 T3 tumors. The overall survival rate was 67.8 % at 3 years and 47.2 % at 5 years. In multivariate analysis for overall survival, lymphovascular invasion and lymph node metastasis were significant independent predictors. Comparing the patients according to EHBD resection, the EHBD resection group demonstrated significantly longer hospital stay, longer operative time, more transfusion requirement, more extensive liver resection, and less treatment of neoadjuvant therapy. Significantly higher proportions of perineural invasion and lymph node metastasis were noted in the EHBD resection group. There were no statistically significant differences in survival between the EHBD resection and non-resection groups.

Conclusions

Resection of extrahepatic bile duct was not always necessary in T2 and T3 cancers. However, the patients who undergo resection of extrahepatic bile duct tended to have more aggressive tumor characteristics and undergo more aggressive surgical approach. To enhance overall survival for the patients with T2 and T3 gallbladder cancers, surgeons should try to perform R0 resection including EHBD resection.     

Multifocality in Early Gastric Cancer Does not Increase the Risk of Lymph Node Metastasis in a Single-Center Study

Background

The multifocality rate of EGC ranges from 4 to 20%, but there are few data regarding both lymph node metastasis and feasibility of the endoscopic treatment. We investigated the risk of lymph node metastasis with the purpose to evaluate the potential for endoscopic treatment in patients with multifocal EGC.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent radical gastrectomy to treat EGC between January 2001 and December 2007 at Severance Hospital, Seoul, Korea. Synchronous multifocal EGC was defined as EGC having two or more malignant foci, whereas solitary EGC was defined as EGC having single focus.

Results

Of 1,693 patients, 55 (3.2%) were diagnosed with synchronous multifocal EGC. The rates of lymph node metastasis were 12.7% in synchronous multifocal EGC and 10% in solitary EGC. In the multivariate analysis, synchronous multifocal EGC was not associated with lymph node metastasis (odds ratio, 1.1; 95% confidence interval, 0.4–2.7) compared with solitary EGC. In a subgroup analysis of 55 patients with synchronous multifocal EGC, older age (≥65 years) and lymphovascular invasion were associated with lymph node metastasis. In synchronous multifocal EGC, none of the cases had lymph node metastasis in major and minor lesions representing mucosal cancer without lymphovascular invasion.

Conclusions

Synchronous multifocality of EGC does not increase the risk of lymph node metastasis compared with solitary EGC. Therefore, endoscopic treatment can be planned when major and minor lesions are predicted to represent mucosal cancer without lymphovascular invasion.     

Basing Treatment Strategy for Non-functional Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors on Tumor Size

Background

Surgical resection is advocated for all stages of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs); whether small PNETs can be managed by observation alone is controversial.

Methods

The prognoses of patients with non-functional PNET managed by surgical resection or observation alone were retrospectively analyzed. In patients who had undergone resection, correlation of pathologically assessed tumor extension and grade with tumor size were evaluated.

Results

Nineteen patients with PNET of median tumor diameters of 12 mm (range 6–38 mm) were followed up by observation for 19–162 months. Increase of tumor size >20 % occurred in three patients, resulting in 5-year progression-free survival of 83 %, but no distant metastases occurred. Surgical resection was performed in 71 patients. Tumor size correlated with the incidence of lymph node or hepatic metastases, portal vein invasion, and Ki-67 index. None of the 18 patients with a tumor size ≤15 mm developed lymph node or distant metastases, and all these patients survived without recurrence for 5–283 months. The smallest tumor size with lymph node metastases was 19 mm. The 5-year recurrence-free survivals of patients with a tumor size ≤15 mm (100 %) was significantly better than patients with tumor sizes 16–20 mm (86 %), 21–30 mm (71 %), 31–50 mm (83 %), and >50 mm (48 %).

Conclusion

Because PNETs ≤15 mm in size have little risk of metastases or recurrence, careful observation with serial image studies is acceptable. Once the tumor size exceeds 15 mm, the risk of metastases and recurrence increases significantly.     

Resection with En Bloc Removal of Regional Lymph Node after Endoscopic Resection for T1 Colorectal Cancer

Background

Various guidelines suggest indications for performing additional colectomy with en bloc removal of regional lymph nodes after endoscopic resection for T1 colon cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pathologic outcomes of patients with surgical treatment after endoscopic resection for T1 colorectal cancer.

Methods

We used data from 275 patients who had undergone curative resection for T1 colorectal cancer at a single institution between 1991 and 2009. We evaluated the rationale for additional surgical treatment after endoscopic resection performed on 68 of the 275 patients and the association between various clinicopathologic features and lymph node metastasis.

Results

The 5-year overall survival rate was 96.3?%. Reasons for additional surgical treatment included an endoscopic specimen with a pathologically positive margin (n?=?20), lymphovascular invasion (n?=?25), and submucosal invasion depth of ??1,000???m (n?=?23). When endoscopists failed to find macroscopic cancer residue during endoscopic resection, no pathologically residual cancer was found in the resected specimens. Histologic grade was an independent risk factor for lymph node metastasis (p?=?0.028). In the absence of lymphovascular invasion, patients with well-differentiated T1 colorectal cancer did not have nodal involvement.

Conclusions

Although the outcomes of patients with additional surgical treatment after endoscopic resection for T1 colorectal cancer were satisfactory, excessive and unnecessary treatments may have been performed. Additional surgical treatment after endoscopic resection for T1 colorectal cancer might be unnecessary for patients with well-differentiated adenocarcinoma and no lymphovascular invasion.     

Tumor Depth as a Predictor of Lymph Node Metastasis of Supraglottic and Hypopharyngeal Cancers

Background

The relationship between the histological parameters of primary lesions and lymph node metastasis in supraglottic and hypopharyngeal cancers has not been elucidated. This analysis is important to evaluate the requirement for additional elective neck dissection when clinically node-negative cancers are treated by transoral surgery.

Methods

This study included 40 previously untreated patients with supraglottic and hypopharyngeal cancers who underwent transoral en bloc tumor resection in two academic tertiary referral centers. Nodal status was confirmed by neck dissection for cases with findings or suspicion of lymph node metastases or by observation of clinically node-negative cases for more than 1 year. Patients’ medical records and pathological features were analyzed retrospectively. The correlation of histological parameters with lymph node metastases, including occult metastases, was evaluated by univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses.

Results

Univariate analysis showed that lymph node metastasis was correlated with tumor depth (P = 0.00087) and venous invasion (P = 0.027). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that it was significantly correlated only with tumor depth (P = 0.007).

Conclusions

Tumor depth is the most useful parameter for predicting lymph node metastases. In clinically node-negative cases, when tumor depth exceeds 1 mm, elective neck dissection must be considered and, when it is less than 0.5 mm, regular clinical follow-up is recommended. Patients with tumor depth between 0.5 and 1 mm should be carefully observed, since they also have a chance of developing nodal metastasis. Venous invasion also indicates high rates of nodal metastasis, therefore elective neck dissection must be considered for these cases.     

Prognostic Impact of Inferior Mesenteric Artery Lymph Node Metastasis in Colorectal Cancer

Aim

The aims of this study are to identify the natural course of inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) lymph node metastasis, and to evaluate the prognostic impact of IMA lymph node metastasis in the sigmoid colon and rectal cancer.

Patients and Methods

From our prospectively collected database, a total of 625 patients who underwent resection with curative intent for stage III adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid colon and rectal cancer between June 1995 and June 2007 were selected. Patients were divided into the IMA-positive group (n = 33) and the IMA-negative group (n = 592) according to IMA lymph node metastasis status. Clinicopathological features, recurrence patterns, and 5-year disease-free survival rates were compared between the two groups.

Results

Following curative resection, 5-year disease-free survival rate was 31.9% in the IMA-positive group and 69.4% in the IMA-negative group (p < 0.001). Cox regression analysis revealed that rectal cancer, pathologic stage, and presence of IMA lymph node metastasis were independently associated with disease-free survival. Systemic recurrence rate was significantly higher in the IMA-positive group than in the IMA-negative group (48.5 vs. 20.8%, respectively, p = 0.001). Para-aortic nodal recurrence showed significant association with presence of IMA lymph node metastasis on multivariate analysis (hazard ratio 11.8; 95% confidence interval 2.7–52.2, p = 0.001).

Conclusion

Presence of IMA lymph node metastasis should be considered as a predictive factor for high systemic recurrence, and should be treated and followed up with caution for para-aortic nodal recurrence.     

Prognosis After Sublobar Resection of Small-sized Non-small Cell Lung Cancer with Visceral Pleural or Lymphovascular Invasion

Background

Although standard surgical treatment of stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is lobectomy, sublobar resection may be elected for small-sized (≤2 cm) peripheral tumors. Our aim was examine the need for completion lobectomy in the event of confirmed pleural or lymphovascular invasion after sublobar resection of NSCLC.

Methods

A total of 271 consecutive patients undergoing curative resection of stage I NSCLC ≤2 cm were reviewed retrospectively, analyzing clinicopathologic findings and survival times of those with invasion-positive (visceral pleural or lymphovascular invasion) or invasion-negative (neither visceral pleural nor lymphovascular invasion) tumors by surgical approach (sublobar resection vs lobectomy).

Results

Aside from age and pulmonary function, clinicopathologic characteristics of the patient subsets did not differ significantly, nor did 5-year recurrence-free survival rates of surgical subsets (sublobar resection vs lobectomy) in respective tumor groups (invasion-positive 78.9 vs 79.8%, p = 0.928; invasion-negative 80.2 vs 85.4%, p = 0.505). In multivariate analysis, dissected lymph node count was the sole parameter significantly impacting recurrence of stage I invasion-positive NSCLC (hazard ratio = 0.914, 95% confidence interval 0.845–0.988; p = 0.023). Sublobar resection was not a risk factor for recurrence.

Conclusions

Survival rates for patients with small-sized (≤2 cm) NSCLC and visceral pleural or lymphovascular invasion did not differ significantly, whether sublobar resection or lobectomy was done. Hence, completion lobectomy is unnecessary in this setting.

     

Is Total Mesorectal Excision Always Necessary for T1–T2 Lower Rectal Cancer?

Background

The goal of this multicenter study was to clarify the determinants of local excision for patients with T1–T2 lower rectal cancer.

Methods

Data from 567 consecutive patients who underwent radical resection for T1–T2 lower rectal cancer at 12 institutions between 1991 and 1998 were reviewed. Rates of lymph node metastasis were investigated using a tree analysis, which was hierarchized using independent risk factors for nodal involvement.

Results

The independent risk factors for lymph node metastasis were female gender, depth of tumor invasion, histology other than well-differentiated adenocarcinoma, and lymphatic invasion. According to the first three parameters that can be obtained preoperatively, only 0.99% of the patients without risk factors had lymph node metastasis. On the other hand, even if the lower rectal cancer was at stage T1, women with histological types other than well-differentiated adenocarcinoma had an approximately 30% probability of having lymph node metastasis. Lymphatic invasion was most useful to predict nodal involvement among patients with T2 lower rectal cancer. The rates of lymph node metastasis in T2 patients with and without lymphatic invasion were 32.9% and 9.1%, respectively.

Conclusions

Gender is one of the most important predictors for lymph node metastasis in patients with early distal rectal cancer. Three parameters, including depth of tumor invasion, histology, and gender, are useful determinants for local excision. Additional studies are required to establish the minimum optimal treatment for T2 lower rectal cancer.     

Endoscopic submucosal dissection and preoperative assessment with endoscopic ultrasonography for the treatment of rectal carcinoid tumors

Background

Rectal carcinoid tumors 10 mm in diameter or smaller located within the submucosal layer can be cured by local excision including endoscopic treatment. But complete resection of these tumors with endoscopic polypectomy is difficult. This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) for the treatment of rectal carcinoid tumors.

Methods

In this study, 22 rectal carcinoid tumors in 21 patients were evaluated with EUS and treated using ESD from January 2004 to December 2008.

Results

The mean size of the resected tumors was 6.1 mm (range, 2.0–10 mm) on histopathologic evaluations. When the sizes of the tumors shown by EUS and histopathologic evaluation were compared, the mean values were not significantly different. All the tumors were located within the submucosal layer, and the accuracy of the preoperative depth determination with EUS was 100% (22/22). The mean duration of the ESD procedure was 37 min (range, 20–71 min). The overall rate of en bloc resection with ESD was 100% (22/22). Although postoperative bleeding occurred in two cases (9%), both cases were successfully managed by endoscopic hemostasis. No perforation or recurrence was observed during the mean follow-up period of 30 months (range, 7–66 months).

Conclusions

Endoscopic submucosal dissection and preoperative assessment with EUS are effective for treating rectal carcinoid tumors and enabling en bloc resection.     

Prognostic Significance of Perineural Invasion in Patients with Gastric Cancer Who Underwent Curative Resection

Background

The prognostic significance of perineural invasion (PNI) in gastric cancer has been previously investigated in a few studies, but had not reached a consensus. The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic value of PNI in patients with gastric cancer who underwent curative resection.

Materials and Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 238 patients who had undergone curative gastrectomy. Paraffin sections of surgical specimens from all patients were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. PNI was defined when carcinoma cells infiltrated into the perineurium or neural fascicles. PNI and the other prognostic factors were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analysis.

Results

PNI was detected as positive in 180 of the 238 patients (75.6%). pT stage, tumor size, lymph node metastasis, clinical stage, tumor differentiation, Borrmann classification, histological type, lymphatic vessel invasion, and blood vessel invasion were closely associated with the presence of PNI. The PNI-positive tumors had significantly larger size and more lymph node metastasis than the PNI-negative tumors (P = .001 and P < .001, respectively). The median survival of the PNI-positive patients was significantly worse than that of the PNI-negative patients (28.1 vs. 64.9 months, P = .001). Multivariate analysis indicated that the positivity of PNI was an independent prognostic factor (P = .02, hazard ratio [HR]: 2.75; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]:1.12–3.13) as were classical clinicopathological features.

Conclusion

Our results showed that the frequency of PNI was high in patients with gastric cancer who underwent curative gastrectomy and the proportion of PNI positivity increased with progression and clinical stage of disease. PNI may be useful in detecting patients who had poor prognosis after curative resection in gastric cancer.     

Pathological Confirmation of Para-Aortic Lymph Node Status as a Potential Criterion for the Selection of Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma Patients for Radical Resection with Regional Lymph Node Dissection

Background

Para-aortic lymph node (PAN) metastasis traditionally has been defined as distant metastasis. Many studies suggest that lymph node metastasis in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is one of the strongest prognostic factors for patient survival; however, the status of the PAN was not examined separately from regional lymph node metastasis in these reports. Here, we investigated whether regional lymph node metastasis without PAN metastasis in ICC can be classified as resectable disease and whether curative resection can have a prognostic impact.

Methods

Between 1998 and 2010, a total of 47 ICC patients underwent hepatic resection and systematic lymphadenectomy with curative intent. We routinely dissected the PANs and had frozen-section pathological examinations performed intraoperatively. If PAN metastases were identified, curative resection was abandoned. We retrospectively investigated the prognostic factors for patient survival after curative resection for ICC without PAN metastases, with particular attention paid to the prognostic impact of lymphadenectomy.

Results

Univariate analysis identified concomitant portal vein resection, concomitant hepatic artery resection, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative transfusion, and residual tumor as significant negative prognostic factors. However, lymph node status was not identified as a significant prognostic factor. The 14 patients with node-positive cancer had a survival rate of 20 % at 5 years. Based on multivariate analysis, intraoperative transfusion was an independent prognostic factor associated with a poor prognosis (risk ratio = 4.161; P = 0.0056).

Conclusions

Regional lymph node metastasis in ICC should be classified as resectable disease, because the survival rate after surgical intervention was acceptable when PAN metastasis was pathologically negative.     

Role of the standardized uptake value of 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography–computed tomography in detecting the primary tumor and lymph node metastasis in colorectal cancers

Purpose

To assess the role of positron emission tomography–computed tomography (PET–CT) and multidetector-row CT (MD-CT) in detecting the primary lesion and lymph node metastasis in patients with colorectal cancers.

Methods

A collective total of 80 lesions resected from 77 patients were examined pathologically. We analyzed the significance of the standardized uptake value (SUV) and its relationship with the clinicopathologic findings of primary lesions and lymph node metastasis. The detectability of primary lesions and lymph node metastases on PET–CT images was compared with that on MD-CT images.

Results

The detectability of primary lesions was better on PET–CT images than on MD-CT images (p = 0.0023). We observed no significant differences in the SUV with respect to staging, tumor grade, lymphatic or vessel invasion, and macroscopic type; however, primary tumor size analysis revealed that tumors larger than 3 cm had a higher SUV than those smaller than 3 cm. The sensitivity of PET–CT for detecting lymph node metastasis was lower than that of MD-CT, but the specificity of PET–CT was higher than that of MD-CT.

Conclusions

The SUV of primary cancers tends to increase in proportion to tumor size. Although the value of PET–CT in detecting lymph node metastasis is limited, PET -positive lymph nodes can be considered metastatic.     

Characteristics of Primary Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma with False-Negative Findings on Initial 18F-FDG PET/CT

Background

We often observe that uptake of tracer is not detected in the primary cancer focus in patients with histologically proven papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) on preoperative ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT). Therefore, we analyzed the clinical and pathologic variables affecting false-negative findings in primary tumors on preoperative ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 115 consecutive patients who underwent ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT for initial evaluation and were diagnosed with PTC by postoperative permanent biopsy. The clinical and pathologic characteristics that influence the ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT findings in these patients were analyzed with respect to the following variables: age, gender, tumor size, multifocality of the primary tumor, perithyroidal invasion, lymphovascular or capsular invasion, and central lymph node metastasis-based final pathology.

Results

Twenty-six (22.6%) patients had false-negative ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT findings. In patients with negative ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT findings, tumor size, and perithyroidal and lymphovascular invasion were significantly less than in patients with positive ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT findings. Tumors >1 cm in size were correlated with ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT positivity. On multivariate analysis, perithyroidal invasion (P = 0.026, odds ratio = 7.714) and lymphovascular invasion (P = 0.036, odds ratio = 3.500) were independent factors for ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT positivity. However, there were no significant differences between ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT positivity and age, gender, capsular invasion, and central lymph node metastasis based on final pathology.

Conclusions

Tumor size and perithyroidal and lymphovascular invasion of papillary carcinoma can influence ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT findings. Absence of perithyroidal and lymphovascular invasion were independent variables for false-negative findings on initial ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT in patients with PTC.     

The prognostic factors for survival after curative resection of distal cholangiocarcinoma: perineural invasion and lymphovascular invasion

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the prognostic factors for distal cholangiocarcinoma after curative resection, and to assess the significance of perineural invasion (PNI) and lymphovascular invasion (LVI) as prognostic factors.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of 91 patients who underwent radical surgery for distal cholangiocarcinoma between March 2004 and October 2011 was performed. We analyzed the survival rate and prognostic factors affecting the survival.

Results

The overall 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates were 84.1, 49.7 and 38.9 %, respectively. In the univariate analysis, the prognostic factors influencing the survival were the histological differentiation, lymph node (LN) involvement and TNM stage. In the multivariate analysis, LN metastasis was the only independent prognostic factor. Although patients with PNI tended to show poorer survival, it was not a statistically significant factor (3- and 5-year OS; 62.0 and 54.6 % vs. 42.8 and 30.9 %, P = 0.166). In the patients with a total lymph node count (TLNC) of 11 or less, PNI was a significant prognostic factor; however, it was not a significant factor in the patients with a TLNC over 11. Overall, the LVI had no influence on the patient survival.

Conclusions

LN metastasis was the only significant prognostic factor after the curative resection of distal cholangiocarcinoma. In cases where adequate dissection was performed, it appeared that the PNI and LVI had no influence on the survival.