Effect of radioisotope sentinel node mapping in patients with cT1 N0 M0 lung cancer

BACKGROUND: Application of the sentinel node concept to lung cancer is still controversial. Patients with peripheral small lung cancers would gain the most benefit from this concept, if it were valid. We sought to determine whether it is possible to choose between limited lymph node sampling and systematic lymphadenectomy from the distribution of sentinel lymph nodes in patients with node-negative disease on the basis of imaging. METHODS: Sixty-five consecutive patients with cT1 N0 M0 non-small cell lung cancer were enrolled. A radioisotope tracer (4 mCi of technetium-99m tin colloid, 2.0 mL) was injected in the vicinity of the tumor before surgical intervention with computed tomographic guidance. The radioactivity of each resected lymph node was measured separately with a hand-held gamma probe after complete tumor resection. Sentinel nodes were identified, and the accuracy of sentinel node mapping was examined. Whether the location of the sentinel node depended on the site of the primary tumor was also examined. RESULTS: Of the 65 patients, 3 were excluded because of the final pathologic results. Successful radionuclide migration occurred in 39 (62.9%) of the 62 patients. There was 1 (2.6%) false-negative result among 39 patients with a sentinel node, and therefore the sensitivity was 90%, and the specificity was 100%. The most common sentinel lymph nodes were at level 12 (46.7%), followed by level 11 (18.3%), the mediastinum (16.7%), and level 10 (11.7%). CONCLUSION: The sentinel node concept is valid in patients with cT1 N0 M0 lung cancer. The lobar lymph nodes were identified as sentinel nodes more frequently than other lymph nodes. We need to make further efforts to increase the sentinel node identification rate. However, we believe that if sentinel nodes are identified, sentinel node mapping can allow the accurate intraoperative diagnosis of pathologic N0 status in patients with cT1 N0 M0 lung cancer.     

Detection of occult metastasis in squamous cell carcinoma of the penis using a dynamic sentinel node procedure

PURPOSE: We evaluated the so-called dynamic sentinel node procedure in patients with penile cancer. This new staging technique consists of excisional biopsy of the first lymph node onto which a tumor drains the so-called sentinel node, based on individual mapping of lymphatic drainage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 1994 to 1998, 55 consecutive patients with stage T2 or greater bilateral or unilateral node negative squamous cell carcinoma of the penis were prospectively entered in this study. Tumor stage was T2N0 in 42, T2N1 in 4 and T3N0 in 9 cases. To locate the sentinel node each patient underwent lymphoscintigraphy with 99mtechnetium nanocolloid injected intradermally around the tumor. The following day the sentinel node was identified intraoperatively using patent blue dye injected intradermally around the tumor and a gamma detection probe. Regional lymph node dissection was restricted to patients with a tumor positive sentinel node only. RESULTS: Scintigraphy revealed 125 sentinel nodes in 107 inguinal regions, including no sentinel node in 2 patients, 1 or more unilateral nodes in 10 and bilateral drainage in 43. At surgery 108 sentinel nodes were removed. In 8 patients with 2 or more sentinel nodes on lymphoscintigraphy only 1 was noted intraoperatively and in 9 an additional sentinel node was removed, which was not identified by scintigraphy. All nodes were identified with the gamma detection probe. In 1 patient a wound abscess developed. Regional lymph node dissection was performed in 11 patients with sentinel node metastasis. Median followup was 22 months (range 4.1 to 61). In 1 patient lymph node metastasis was noted at followup despite prior excision of a tumor-free sentinel node. CONCLUSIONS: The dynamic sentinel node procedure is a promising staging technique to detect early metastatic dissemination of penile cancer based on individual mapping of lymphatic drainage, and enables identification of patients with clinically node negative disease requiring regional lymph node dissection.     

Lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymphadenectomy for primary and metastatic pulmonary malignant neoplasms

BACKGROUND: Mediastinal lymph node sampling understages a significant number of lung cancers, even when nodes are evaluated by immunohistochemical techniques. Intraoperative lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymphadenectomy allows focused pathologic evaluation of a few lymph nodes that accurately stage the entire basin. HYPOTHESIS: Lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymphadenectomy is a practical and accurate method of staging lymph nodes that drain primary and metastatic neoplasms of the lung. DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective review at a tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Sixty-seven patients undergoing resection of lung tumors. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Sentinel lymph node (SN) identification rate, number of SNs, nodal pathologic features, and survival. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients had primary lung cancer and 39 had pulmonary metastases from melanoma (33 cases), squamous cell carcinoma (2 cases), colon cancer (2 cases), or other cancers (2 cases). Lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymphadenectomy was successful in all patients. The median number of lymph nodes identified by dye alone was 2 (range, 1-7); the median number identified by dye plus radiocolloid was 4 (range, 1-9). Most SNs (69%) were N1; 31% were N2. Lower lobe lesions drained to upper mediastinal nodes in 3 (13%) of 24 cases. Lymph node metastases were found in 11 patients with lung cancer (39%) and 8 patients with pulmonary metastases (21%). Ten (91%) of the 11 patients with lung cancer had SN involvement. In the 33 patients with metastatic melanoma, SN involvement significantly reduced the rate of 2-year survival (0% vs 48%). CONCLUSIONS: Lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymphadenectomy of intrapulmonary malignancies is technically challenging but feasible. Blue dye is most useful for in vivo identification of SNs; ex vivo radioactivity can confirm that excised nodes are SNs. Lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymphadenectomy can provide important prognostic information for patients with melanoma and lung metastases, and it may improve the staging of primary lung cancer.     

Sentinel lymph node biopsy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in a patient with operable breast cancer

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to assess the feasibility of performing a sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for a patient with operable breast cancer after undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). METHOD: Between January 2002 and December 2003, women with primary breast cancer who had a breast tumor measuring larger than 3 cm in unilateral diameter were eligible for NAC. All patients who had completed NAC underwent lymphatic mapping with labeled (99m)Tc phytate on the day before surgery. Sentinel lymph node biopsy followed by a full axillary lymph node (AXLN) dissection (ALND) was performed in all patients. Sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) were sent for a frozen-section examination. RESULTS: The rate of SLN identification was 71%. Both the sensitivity and negative predictive value of SLNB were 100%. The false negative rate was 0%. When candidates for SLNB were restricted to patients with a breast tumor measuring less than 3 cm and clinically negative nodes after NAC, the rate of SLN identification increased to 93% from 71% while still maintaining the 0% false negative rate. CONCLUSION: Sentinel lymph node biopsy after NAC is therefore considered to be a feasible and accurate method to predict the AXLN status in patients who have a breast tumor measuring less than 3 cm in unilateral diameter and a clinically negative AXLN status at the time of surgery after NAC.     

Use of technetium-99m tin colloid for sentinel lymph node identification in non-small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND: To test the reliability of sentinel lymph node identification in non-small cell lung cancer, sentinel nodes were localized with a radioactive colloid in patients undergoing surgery. METHODS: Forty-six patients with non-small cell lung cancer undergoing curative resection with mediastinal lymph node dissection were examined. The day before surgery, technetium-99m ((99m)Tc) tin colloid was injected into the peritumoral region. At operation, the radioactivity of the lymph nodes was counted with a handheld gamma counter before (in vivo) and after (ex vivo) dissection. Lymph nodes with an ex vivo radioactive count more than 10 times the background value were identified as sentinel nodes. The correlation between the in vivo and ex vivo results was examined. RESULTS: Lymphoscintigraphy revealed that it took longer than 6 hours for sufficient (99m)Tc tin colloid to reach the sentinel nodes. Sentinel nodes could be identified in 40 patients (87%). Patients whose sentinel nodes could not be identified had a significantly lower ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second to forced vital capacity than did those with identifiable sentinel nodes (P =.03). No false-negative sentinel nodes were detected in 14 patients with N1 or N2 disease (0%). In the hilar lymph node stations, the lobar lymph nodes were most frequently identified as sentinel nodes (as often as 85% of the time). Fourteen patients (35%) had sentinel nodes in the mediastinum, the distribution of which depended on the lobe. In vivo and ex vivo counting showed 88% concurrence for the identification of sentinel nodes in mediastinal lymph node stations. CONCLUSION: The identification of sentinel nodes with (99m)Tc tin colloid is a reliable method of establishing the first site of nodal metastasis in non- small cell lung cancer. Sentinel nodes could be hardly identified in patients with a low ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second to forced vital capacity because of such conditions as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In vivo identification of sentinel nodes in the mediastinum could be useful approach to guide mediastinal lymph node sampling or dissection.     

乳腺癌前哨淋巴结活检

目的 评价前哨淋巴结活检预测腋窝淋巴结有无肿瘤转移的准确性及其临床意义。方法 用^99m锝－硫胶体作为示踪剂,用γ探测仪导向,对70例临床分期为T1－2N0M0的乳腺癌患者进行前哨淋巴结活检,所有的患者均同时行腋窝淋巴结清扫,HE染色阴性的前哨淋巴结再切片,用CK8、CK19、KP－1行免疫组织化学染色。结果 70例患者中成功发现前哨淋巴结的有67例,发现率为95.7%（67／70）。前哨淋巴结的数量为1－5枚,平均每例1.6枚。非前哨淋巴结5－20枚,平均例12.3枚。67例前哨淋巴结活检成功的患者中,29例患者（43.3%）有腋窝淋巴结转移,其中前哨淋巴结有转移者24例（35.8%）,前哨淋巴结未发现转移而非前哨淋巴结有转移者5例（7.5%）。7例患者（10.4%）只有有淋巴结为阳性淋巴结,前哨淋巴结活检的准确性为100％。43例患者的65枚HE染色阴性一的前哨淋巴结,CK8及CK19免疫组织化学染色均为阴性。结论 前哨淋巴结检能较准确地预测腋窝淋巴结转移情况,对原发灶为T1的乳腺癌,前哨淋巴结活检的准确性为100％。同一层面切片行免疫组织化学染色并不能提高淋巴结微转移癌的发现率。     

Sentinel node involvement in T0-T1 breast cancers]

STUDY AIM: Determination of axillary lymph node status is crucial in diagnosis of early breast cancer. However thanks to an early diagnosis, an increasing number of axillary lymph node dissections are free of disease. This raises questions about the need for this procedure. The study aim was to report an experience with lymphadenectomy and sentinel node mapping in patients with T0-T1 carcinoma of the breast. METHODS: Between November 1997 and December 1999, 84 consecutive women (T0-T1 N0 according to the 1987 UICC classification) with recently diagnosed breast cancer, were included in this study for identification of the sentinel lymph node (SLN). The SLN was removed and submitted for histological examination. All patients underwent axillary dissection; nodes from levels I and II (Berg's classification) were excised and submitted to histological examination. RESULTS: The average tumor diameter was 12.7 mm (range, 3 to 25 mm). The lymphatic mapping technique was obtained after injection of the isotope into the breast around the tumor in 53/84 patients: the sentinel lymph node was the only positive node in 10 patients and it was positive in 5 patients with other axillary nodes. In 15/84 patients, an intradermal injection of blue dye was used; two sentinel nodes were positive and one falsely negative. In 16/84 patients, an interdermal injection of blue dye was used to make up for. In this study, the sentinel node was positive in three patients and falsely negative in one patient. The discrepancy was due to an important involvement of an axillary area excluded from the lymphatic channels. 22/84 patients (26%) had a metastatic spread to the axillary nodes. 30/84 patients had also an isotopic captation in another lymph node group (internal mammary). CONCLUSION: This study confirms that lymphatic mapping is technically possible in the patients with T0-T1 breast cancer and that the histological characteristics of the sentinel node probably reflect the histological characteristics of the rest of the axillary lymph nodes, but do not provide any information about the other lymph node sites.     

Sentinel lymphadenectomy accurately predicts nodal status in T2 breast cancer

Background: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has emerged as a reliable, accurate method of staging the axilla for early breast cancer. Although widely accepted for T1 lesions, its use in larger tumors remains controversial. This study was undertaken to define the role of SLNB for T2 breast cancer.

Study Design: From a prospective breast sentinel lymph node database of 1,627 patients accrued between September 1996 and November 1999, we identified 223 patients with clinical T1-2N0 breast cancer who underwent 224 lymphatic mapping procedures and SLNB followed by a standard axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). Preoperative lymphatic mapping was performed by injection of unfiltered technetium 99 sulfur colloid and isosulfan blue dye. Data about patient and tumor characteristics and the status of the sentinel lymph nodes and the axillary nodes were analyzed. Statistics were performed using Fisher’s exact test.

Results: Two hundred four of 224 sentinel lymph node mapping procedures (91%) were successful. Median tumor size was 2.0 cm (range 0.2 to 4.8 cm). One hundred forty-five of the 204 patients had T1 lesions and 59 patients had T2 lesions. There were 92 pathologically positive axillae, 5 (5%) of which were not evident either by SLNB or by intraoperative clinical examination. The false-negative rate and accuracy were not significantly different between the two groups, but axillary node metastases were observed more frequently with T2 than with T1 tumors (p = 0.005); other factors, including patient age, prior surgical biopsy, upper-outer quadrant tumor location, and tumor lymphovascular invasion were not associated with a higher incidence of false-negative SLNB in either T1 or T2 tumors.

Conclusions: SLNB is as accurate for T2 tumors as it is for T1 tumors. Because no tumor or patient characteristics predict a high false-negative rate, all patients with T1-2N0 breast cancer should be considered candidates for the procedure. Complete clinical examination of the axilla should be undertaken to avoid missing palpable axillary nodal metastases.     

肺癌跳跃式纵隔淋巴结转移的临床病理探讨

目的　探索肺癌跳跃式纵隔淋巴结转移的病理特点 ,为合理施行淋巴结清除术提供可靠的理论依据。方法　 1992年 10月至 1998年 6月 ,为 398例肺癌病人施行了根治性肺切除、规范淋巴结清除术 ,对其中 4 7例 ( 2 9 4 % )跳跃式纵隔转移淋巴结病例进行病理学研究。结果　各型或各叶肺癌中 ,跳跃式转移淋巴结分布最密集的部位依次是第 7、4、3、5组淋巴结 ,分别占 2 9 8%、2 4 5 %、14 9%与10 6 % ;就鳞癌与腺癌而言 ,肿瘤长径在 1cm以内者均无跳跃式淋巴结转移 ,跳跃式淋巴结转移率随长径增加而增加 ;低分化腺癌淋巴结转移率明显高于高分化者 (P <0 0 1) ;发生跳跃式淋巴结转移的肿瘤平均长径鳞癌与腺癌分别为 15 3mm与 9 1mm。结论　对肺癌淋巴结的廓清 ,切勿仅凭手触摸或靠肉眼观察淋巴结大小而盲目判定其是否转移或清除。除T1 中肿瘤长径 <1cm的鳞癌外 ,淋巴结的规范清除应重视其跳跃性 ,原则上必须包括同侧胸腔的肺门及上、下纵隔各组淋巴结 ,尤其要重视跳跃式淋巴结转移分布较密集区域 ,即右侧的第 3、4、7组与左侧的第 4、5、7组淋巴结     

Axillary lymphectomy in breast cancer

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to demonstrate the prognostic value of sentinel node biopsy compared to the sampling of clinically suspected nodes and lymphectomy of the 3 axillary levels. METHODS. From October 1996 to January 1999, 60 patients with breast cancer with a diameter of 4 cm or under using different procedures of axillary lymphadenectomy. Sentinel node biopsy was performed using Giuliano's technique, followed by lymph nodes larger than 5 cm (lymph node sampling) and lastly all axillary lymph nodes (axillary lymphectomy at 3 levels). RESULTS: Sentinel nodes were identified in all patients and a mean of 3 sentinel nodes (range 1-5) were removed during the procedure. Histological analysis showed metastatic sentinel nodes in 21 cases. Lymph node sampling was possible in 43 patients who presented enlarged nodes. The mean number of lymph nodes removed was 6 (range 3-10). Lymph node metastasis was found in 10 patients and of these 7 had a metastatic sentinel node, whereas 3 had presented negative results. Histological tests in all 60 cases of complete axillary lymphectomy showed positive results in 4 cases confirming metastasis present in sentinel nodes. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that the association of lymph node sampling can improve the efficacy of sentinel node dissection, highlighting the rare cases of false negatives. In our study, total axillary lymphectomy did not add any information to the N parameter and was resolutive in a small percentage of cases.     

Radioisotope lymph node mapping in nonsmall cell lung cancer: can it be applicable for sentinel node biopsy?

BACKGROUND: Previous studies on intrathoracic lymph node mapping have focused on the validity of a sentinel node concept, but not on the usefulness for sentinel node biopsy. METHODS: The subjects were 15 patients clinically diagnosed with N0 nonsmall cell lung cancer. Technetium-99m tin colloid was injected into the peritumoral area 1 day preoperatively and a time course of tracer migration was monitored by scintigraphy. A hand-held gamma probe counter was used to count the intrathoracic lymph node stations. Resected nodes were also counted to assess the accuracy of the intrathoracic counting. RESULTS: Serial scintigraphies showed that the tracer migrated through airways and the appearance resembled hot nodes. On intrathoracic counting, 50% of the nodal stations appeared positive; however, only 23% of these apparently positive nodal stations were ultimately shown to be truly radioactive. The true positive and true negative rates of detecting intrathoracic hot nodes were 100% and 56%, respectively. Because the counts of the nodal stations could include the counts from the hot primary tumor ("shine-through") or airway radioactivity, legitimate hot nodes were identified after dissecting all the apparently positive nodal stations. Two of the 9 patients in whom hot nodes were identified had nodal metastatic disease and actually had tumor cells within the hot nodes. The only complication related to the preoperative injection of technetium-99m was a minor pneumothorax. CONCLUSIONS: Although radioisotope intrathoracic lymph node mapping is safe, it appears to be unsuitable for sentinel node biopsy because shine-through and the airway-migrated radioactive tracer complicated the intrathoracic counting. Only serial scintigraphy could distinguish hot nodes from airway migration.     

Lymphatic mapping and sentinel node biopsy in gastric cancer

BACKGROUND: To determine the feasibility and significance of lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in patients with gastric cancer. METHODS: From August 1999 to January 2002, 27 gastric cancer patients underwent lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node biopsy using isosulfan blue dye. RESULTS: The success rate of SLNB was 96.3% (26 of 27). Accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were 100%. There were no false negatives. In 26 successful cases, 8 patients had positive sentinel lymph nodes and 18 had negative sentinel nodes. Of 8 patients with positive sentinel nodes, 6 had positive sentinel nodes only at N1 lymph node station, 1 only at N2 station, and 1 had positive sentinel nodes at both N1 and N2 stations. Of 18 patients with negative sentinel lymph nodes, 9 patients had sentinel nodes only at N1, 3 only at N2, 5 at both N1 and N2, and 1 at both N1 and N3. There were no cases in which sentinel lymph nodes were the only sites of metastases. CONCLUSIONS: Sentinel lymph node biopsy using isosulfan blue dye in gastric cancer is a feasible procedure with high sensitivity and accuracy. Sentinel lymph nodes demonstrate the varied lymphatic drainage. If the sentinel nodes at N2 are positive, it will guide surgeons to do a more extended lymph node dissection in early stage gastric cancer.     

Sentinel lymph node mapping following neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of sentinel lymph node mapping in patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast carcinoma prior to lumpectomy or mastectomy and sentinel lymph node mapping followed by complete axillary dissection. A retrospective analysis of 14 patients from February 1998 to July 2000 with stage I to stage IIIB breast cancer diagnosed by core biopsy underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy (doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide) prior to definitive surgery, including lumpectomy or mastectomy and sentinel lymph node mapping, followed by full axillary dissection. Thirteen of 14 patients had successful sentinel lymph node identification (93%), and all 14 underwent full axillary dissection. An average of 2.2 sentinel nodes and a median of 16 axillary lymph nodes (including sentinel nodes) were found per patient. Of the 13 patients in whom a sentinel lymph node was identified, 10 were positive for metastases (77%). Only 4 of the 10 had further axillary metastases (40%). Three patients had negative sentinel lymph nodes shown by hematoxylin and eosin and cytokeratin stainings and had no axillary metastases (0% false negative). The single patient in whom a sentinel lymph node could not be identified had stage IIIA disease with extensive lymphatic tumor emboli. Sentinel lymph node mapping is feasible in neoadjuvant chemotherapy breast cancer patients and can spare a significant number of patients the morbidity of full axillary dissection. Further study to evaluate sentinel lymph node mapping in this patient population is warranted.     

Axillary lymph node status of T1 primary breast cancer in a diverse population

The utility of level I and II axillary lymph node dissection in women with primary tumors less than 1 cm in diameter has recently received extensive evaluation. Numerous patients undergo axillary lymph node dissection ultimately to discover no pathological involvement. This study investigates the lymph node status in T1 primary breast adenocarcinoma in our diverse patient population. A retrospective evaluation of patients treated at the Medical Center of Louisiana at New Orleans and the Tulane University Medical Center with breast adenocarcinoma less than or equal to 2 cm was performed. Demographic data and pathological reports were reviewed to obtain breast lesion size and lymph node status. One hundred sixteen patients were found to have T1 lesions. Ethnic distribution was African American 66 per cent; Caucasians 30 per cent; Hispanic 2 per cent; and Asian 3 per cent. Whereas no patients with T1a lesions had positive lymph nodes, 11 per cent of patients with T1b lesions and 36 per cent of patients with T1c lesions had positive lymph nodes. However, in our patient population no patients with tumors less than 1.0 cm. in diameter had positive lymph nodes. Although this may be due to our relatively small sample size axillary lymph node dissection may be unnecessary in this select patient population. For patients with lesions 1.0 cm and greater an axillary lymph node dissection seems to add necessary information for correct treatment in a small percentage of patients. The use of lymphatic mapping with sentinel axillary lymph node biopsy may reduce the number of unnecessary axillary dissections in early breast cancer.     

Intramammary sentinel lymph node in patients with breast cancer: Report of four cases

To analyze breast cancer patients with intramammary sentinel lymph node, we reviewed T1-T2N0 breast cancer patients who underwent sentinel lymph node mapping using radioisotope methods. Intramammary sentinel lymph (ISN) nodes were detected in 4 of 166 patients. Three of four ISNs were present in completely different quadrants of the breast from those of primary lesions. Although two patients had no involved nodes, including ISNs, the remaining two with T2 tumor had metastasis of ISNs alone with resulting upstaging. We should keep in mind the presence of intramammary SN in regions apart from the primary tumor, particularly when performing breast conservative surgery.     

Size of metastasis in the sentinel node predicts additional nodal involvement in penile carcinoma

PURPOSE: The majority of patients with penile cancer with a tumor positive sentinel node do not benefit from complementary lymph node dissection because of absent additional involved nodes. We analyzed factors that may determine the involvement of additional nodes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 158 patients with clinically node negative penile carcinoma underwent sentinel node biopsy. Complementary inguinal lymph node dissection was performed when the sentinel node was tumor positive. The size of the sentinel node metastasis was measured and classified as micrometastasis--2 mm or less, or macrometastasis--more than 2 mm. Sentinel and dissection specimen nodes were step-sectioned. Factors were analyzed for their association with additional nodal involvement, including stage, diameter, grade, absence or presence of vascular invasion of the primary tumor, and sentinel node metastasis size. RESULTS: Tumor positive sentinel nodes were found in 46 groins and complementary lymph node dissection was performed. Nine of these 46 groins (20%) contained additional involved lymph nodes. On univariate and multivariate analyses the size of the sentinel node metastasis proved to be the only significant prognostic variable for additional lymph node involvement (each p = 0.02). None of the 15 groins with only micrometastasis in the sentinel node contained additional involved nodes. CONCLUSIONS: In penile carcinoma additional nodal involvement was related to the size of the metastasis in the sentinel node. Sentinel node micrometastasis was not associated with other involved lymph nodes. This finding suggests that these patients can be spared complementary lymph node dissection.     

Analyses of segmental lymph node metastases and intrapulmonary metastases of small lung cancer

BACKGROUND: Curativity and indications for limited resection of small peripheral lung cancer remain controversial. METHODS: Pathologic investigations of segmental lymph node metastases and intrapulmonary metastases in the resected lobe were performed for 94 small peripheral lung cancers (3.0 cm or less in diameter). RESULTS: Nine patients had segmental lymph node metastases, 1 had intrapulmonary metastases, and 1 had both. Of these 11 patients, 5 had metastases limited to the primary tumor-bearing segments, 2 had metastases in nonprimary tumor-bearing segments, and 4 had metastases in both. Of the 10 patients with segmental lymph node metastases, 7 had metastases in both lobar-hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes, and 3 of 8 with adenocarcinoma had a tumor 2.0 cm or less. CONCLUSIONS: Segmentectomy seems more favorable than wedge resection, but the risk of remnant tumor remains as compared with lobectomy. Evaluation of lobar-hilar or mediastinal lymph nodes is helpful to determine the presence or absence of segmental lymph node metastases. Limited resection can be undertaken with smaller tumors to allow preservation of more lung function while accepting a somewhat enhanced risk of recurrence.     

A caution regarding lymphatic mapping in patients with colon cancer

BACKGROUND: The value of lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node biopsy in the treatment of colon cancer is controversial. The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy of lymphatic mapping in patients with colon cancer. METHODS: Forty-eight patients with colon cancer underwent lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node biopsy using isosulfan blue dye followed by standard surgical resection. The sentinel lymph nodes underwent thin sectioning as will as immunohistochemical staining for cytokeratin, in addition to standard hematoxylin and eosin staining. RESULTS: In 47 (98%) patients, a sentinel lymph node was identified. Sixteen patients had lymph nodes containing metastatic disease, and in 6 patients the sentinel lymph node was positive for disease. In no patient was the sentinel lymph node the only site of metastatic disease. In 10 patients the sentinel lymph node was negative for disease, whereas the nonsentinel lymph nodes contained metastatic disease (false negative rate = 38%). CONCLUSIONS: The role of lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node biopsy in colon cancer is not as clear as its role in other tumors. Further large prospective studies are needed to evaluate the accuracy and potential benefit of this procedure in patients with colon cancer.     

直径≤3cm的周围型非小细胞肺癌纵隔淋巴结转移规律的初步研究

目的探讨直径≤3cm的周围型非小细胞肺癌(non-small cell lung cancer,NSCLC)纵隔淋巴结转移的情况,分析早期周围型NSCLC纵隔淋巴结转移的规律。方法 2000年1月1日～2008年12月31日治疗直径≤3cm的周围型NSCLC161例,男89例,女72例,年龄(63.4±10.7)岁,行肺叶切除或肺局限性切除加系统性纵隔淋巴结清扫术,分析其临床特征、病理特点及纵隔淋巴结转移规律。结果全组手术顺利,无死亡及严重并发症发生。肺叶切除153例,肺楔形切除7例,肺段切除1例。全组共清扫淋巴结2456枚,平均每例4.5±1.6组、13.1±7.3枚。术后病理:腺癌99例,鳞癌30例,肺泡细胞癌19例,其他类型肺癌13例。术后TNM分期:ⅠA期50例,ⅠB期62例,ⅡA期6例,ⅡB期10例,ⅢA期33例。N1组淋巴结转移率为23.6%(38/161),N2组转移率为20.5%(33/161),其中隆突下淋巴结转移率为8.1%(13/161),跳跃式纵隔转移率为6.8%(11/161),全组未发现下纵隔淋巴结转移。肺泡细胞癌及直径≤2cm的鳞癌、直径≤1cm的腺癌均无pN2转移。上肺癌发生pN2转移时上纵隔100%(19/19)受累,其中21.1%(4/19)同时伴有隆突下淋巴结转移;下肺癌则除主要转移至隆突下外(64.3%,9/14),还常直接单独转移至上纵隔(35.7%,5/14)。转移的纵隔淋巴结左肺癌主要分布在第5、6、7组,右肺癌主要分布在第3、4、7组。结论对于直径≤3cm的周围型NSCLC,肿瘤直径越大,其纵隔淋巴结转移率越高,肺泡细胞癌、直径≤2cm的鳞癌和≤1cm的腺癌其纵隔淋巴结转移率相对较低;上肺癌主要转移在上纵隔,下肺癌则隆突下及上纵隔均可转移;第5、6、7组淋巴结是左肺癌主要转移的位置,第3、4、7组是右肺癌主要转移的位置,术中应重点清扫。     

Sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer. Experience of the Rome Breast Cancer Study Group

We report our multicentric experience with sentinel lymph node biopsy for breast cancer patients. Patients with breast cancer operated on from January 1999 to March 2005 in 6 different institutions in the Rome area were retrospectively reviewed. All patients gave written informed consent. 1440 consecutive patients were analysed, with a median age of 59 years (range: 33-81) and a median tumour diameter of 1.3 cm (range: 0.1-5). Patients underwent lymphatic mapping with Tc99 nanocolloid (N = 701; 49%), with Evans Blue (N = 70; 5%), or with a combined injection (N = 669, 46%). The majority of patients were mapped with an intradermal or subdermal injection (N = 1193; 84%), while an intraparenchymal or peritumoral injection was used in 41 (3%) and 206 patients (13%), respectively. Sentinel lymph nodes were identified in 1374/1440 cases (95.4%), and 2075 sentinel lymph nodes were analysed (average 1.5/patient). A total of 9305 additional non-sentinel lymph-nodes were removed (median 6/patient). Correlations between sentinel lymph nodes and final lymph node status were found in 1355/1374 cases (98.6%). There were 19 false-negative cases (5%). Lymph node metastases were diagnosed in 325 patients (24%). In this group, micrometastases (< 2 mm in diameter) were diagnosed in 103 cases (7.6%). Additionally, isolated tumour cells were reported in 61 patients (4,5%). In positive cases, additional metastases in non-sentinel lymph-nodes were identified in 117/325 cases after axillary dissection (36%). Axillary dissection was avoided in 745/1440 patients (52%). At a median follow-up of 36 months, only 1 axillary recurrence has been reported. Sentinel lymph node biopsy improves staging in women with breast cancer because it is accurate and reproducible, and allows detection of micrometastases and isolated tumour cells that would otherwise be missed. Our multicentric study confirms that this is the preferred axillary staging procedure in women with breast cancer.