Accuracy of nasopharyngeal carcinoma staging by magnetic resonance imaging

To audit the accuracy of magnetic resonance (MR) staging of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in daily reporting, the MR images of 101 adult patients with newly diagnosed NPC reported between December 1996 and February 2002 were reviewed retrospectively. Based on the American Joint Committee on Cancer/International Union Against Cancer (AJCC/UICC) TNM staging criteria (1997), the tumour staging obtained from the MR reports and the MR films was compared by two experienced head and neck radiologists. The number of patients being upstaged, downstaged or unchanged was noted. In all stages, the NPC staging obtained from the MR reports revealed 18 (17.8%) understaged, eight (7.9%) overstaged and 75 (74.2%) the same stage when compared to the staging obtained from the MR films based on the AJCC/UICC criteria. The percentage of patients being understaged or overstaged, in decreasing order of frequency, were stages II, III, IV and I. Magnetic resonance of NPC should be reported by radiologists who are not only familiar with the pathology of this condition and its pattern of spread but who should also base their reports on the AICC/UICC staging criteria. The necessity to improve our MR staging accuracy is largely because it determines the type of therapy to be given and this has to be appropriate and adequate for a successful treatment.     

Limited prognostic value of the 2004 International Union Against Cancer staging classification for adrenocortical carcinoma

BACKGROUND:

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignancy, and it was only in 2004 that the International Union Against Cancer (UICC) defined TNM criteria and published the first staging classification. However, to date, the prognostic value of the proposed classification has not been evaluated.

METHODS:

The German ACC Registry comprising 492 patients was searched for patients who were diagnosed between 1986 and 2007 with detailed information on primary diagnosis and a minimum follow‐up of 6 months. Patients were assigned to UICC tumor stage, and disease‐specific survival (DSS) was assessed. In addition, the contribution of potential risk factors for DSS was evaluated.

RESULTS:

In total, 416 patients with a mean follow‐up of 36 months met the inclusion criteria (stage I, n = 23 patients; stage II, n = 176 patients; stage III, n = 67 patients; stage IV, n = 150 patients). Kaplan‐Meier analysis revealed a stage‐dependent DSS. However, DSS in patients with stage II ACC did not differ significantly from DSS in patients with stage III ACC (hazard ratio, 1.38; 95% confidence interval, 0.89‐2.16). Furthermore, patients who had stage IV ACC without distant metastases had an improved DSS compared with patients who had metastatic disease (P = .004). An analysis of different potential risk factors for defining stage III ACC revealed important roles in DSS for tumor infiltration in surrounding tissue, venous tumor thrombus (VTT), and positive lymph nodes; whereas tumor invasion in adjacent organs carried a prognosis similar to that of infiltration in surrounding tissue only.

CONCLUSIONS:

The 2004 UICC staging classification for ACC has significant limitations. On the basis of the current analysis, a revised classification with superior prognostic accuracy is proposed (the European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumors classification). In this system, stage III ACC is defined by the presence of positive lymph nodes, infiltration of surrounding tissue, or VTT; and stage IV ACC is restricted to patients with distant metastasis. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.     

Retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma detected by magnetic resonance imaging : prognostic value and staging categories

BACKGROUND: Retropharyngeal lymph node (RLN) metastasis was not included in the current American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system (6th edition) for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).The object of the current study was to investigate the prognostic value and staging categories of RLN metastasis in NPC detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: All 924 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed NPC were examined with MRI before treatment with definitive intent radiotherapy. RESULTS: The incidence of RLN metastasis was 73.5%. On multivariate analysis, RLN metastasis was found to be an independent prognostic factor for distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) in all patients (P = .040). In patients with N0 disease, significant differences were observed between patients with and those without RLN metastasis after adjusting for T classification (P = .046). With regard to laterality, no significant differences were observed in DMFS between patients with unilateral and bilateral RLN metastasis in N0 disease (P = .734). No significant difference in the hazards ratios for either DMFS or disease-free survival (DFS) was found between patients with N0 disease with RLN metastasis and patients with N1 disease (P = .092 and P = .149, respectively). When RLN was classified as N1 disease, there was a better segregation of different N classifications in terms of DFS and DMFS curves, whereas the difference in hazards ratios for N0 and N1 disease was more obvious in DMFS (from 0.461 vs 0.785 to 0.317 vs 0.690). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the current MRI-based study demonstrate that RLN metastasis affects the DMFS rates of NPC. The authors propose that RLN metastasis be classified as N1 disease, regardless of its laterality.     

Prognostic score models for survival of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy and chemotherapy

Purpose

To establish accurate prognostic score models to predict survival for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and chemotherapy.

Materials and methods

Six hundred and seventy-five patients with newly diagnosed, nonmetastatic and histologically proven NPC who were treated with IMRT and chemotherapy were analyzed retrospectively. Samples were split randomly into a training set (n = 338) and a test set (n = 337) to analyze. All data from the training set were used to perform an extensive survival analysis and to develop multivariate nomograms based on Cox regression. Data from the test set was used as an external validation set. Risk group stratification was proposed for the nomograms.

Results

The nomograms are able to predict survival with a C-index for external validation of local recurrence-free survival (LRFS; 0.66, 95% CI: 0.58-0.74), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS; 0.73, 95% CI: 0.66-0.79), and disease-specific survival (DSS; 0.73, 95% CI: 0.67-0.79). The calibration curve for probability of survival showed good agreement between prediction by nomogram and actual observation. The C-index of the nomogram for LRFS, DMFS and DSS were statistically higher than the C-index values of the AJCC seventh edition (P < 0.001). In the test set, the nomogram discrimination was also superior to the AJCC Staging systems (P < 0.001). The stratification in risk groups allows significant distinction between Kaplan-Meier curves for outcome.

Conclusions

Prognostic score models were successfully established and validated to predict LRFS, DMFS, and DSS over a 5-year period after IMRT and chemotherapy, which will be useful for individual treatment.     

中国鼻咽癌2008分期对口咽侵犯划分标准的临床验证

目的 临床验证中国鼻咽癌2008分期对口咽侵犯划分标准的合理性.方法 连续收集经病理证实的初治及无远处转移的鼻咽癌患者共333例,所有病例均行鼻咽部和颈部磁共振成像（MRI）扫描,评价鼻咽癌口咽侵犯情况.结果 333例鼻咽癌患者MRI显示,口咽侵犯26例（7.8％）.口咽侵犯的患者合并鼻腔、咽旁间隙、颅底骨质、翼内肌、鼻旁窦、颅内、翼外肌及其以外的咀嚼肌间隙侵犯的发生率明显增加（P＜0.050）.口咽侵犯患者较未发生口咽侵犯患者的5年总生存（OS）率及5年无远处转移生存（DFFS）率降低（38.1％比72.6％,P＜ 0.001;49.1％比84.5％,P＜0.001）.多因素分析显示：口咽侵犯是影响鼻咽癌OS率及DFFS率的独立预后因子（均P＜0.001）.口咽侵犯患者较T2期患者5年OS率及DFFS率降低（38.1％比80.9％,P＜ 0.001;49.1％比89.3％,P＜0.001）.结论 口咽侵犯是影响鼻咽癌患者OS及DFFS的重要因素.鼻咽癌口咽侵犯患者较T2期患者5年OS及DFFS明显下降.口咽侵犯在鼻咽癌2008分期中的划分标准有待于进一步修正.     

Validation of a new prognostic index score for disseminated nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Patients with metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma have variable survival outcomes. We previously designed a scoring system to better prognosticate these patients. Here, we report results on validation of this new prognostic index score in a separate cohort of patients. Clinical features and laboratory parameters were examined in 172 patients with univariate and multivariate analyses and a numerical score was derived for each independent prognostic variable. Significant independent prognostic variables and their scores assigned included poor performance status (score 5), haemoglobin < 12 g dl(-1) (score 4) and disease-free interval (DFI) (DFI < or = 6 months (score 10) or metastases at initial diagnosis (score 1)). Maximum score was 19 and patients stratified into three prognostic groups: good, 0-3; intermediate, 4-8; poor, > or = 9. When applied to a separate cohort of 120 patients, 59 patients were good, 43 intermediate and 18 poor prognosis, with median survivals of 19.6 (95% CI 16.1, 23.1), 14.3 (95% CI 12.3, 16.2) and 7.9 (95% CI 6.6, 9.2) months, respectively. (logrank test: P = 0.003). We have validated a new prognostic score with factors readily available in the clinics. This simple score will prove useful as a method to prognosticate and stratify patients as well as to promote consistent reporting among clinical trials.     

鼻咽癌2008分期应用的研究

背景与目的：鼻咽癌2008分期自推出应用于临床至今已有半年,其分期标准以及对某些解剖结构的定义有别于鼻咽癌’92分期和UICC2002分期。本文旨在从MRI影像学的角度,探讨鼻咽癌2008分期标准的合理性,提出2008分期中没有涉及或明确定义的分期因素,分析2008分期是否使病例期别分布产生变化。方法：收集177例初治鼻咽癌患者的MRI资料,按各个分期标准中提及的所有解剖部位,分别标记受侵犯与否,按2008分期标准,鼻腔和鼻咽的分界为双侧上颌窦后壁的连线。结果：口咽、鼻腔、软腭、椎前肌、茎突后间隙、颅内、眼眶和第1、2颈椎100％,翼内肌、翼外肌及以外的咀嚼肌间隙95％以上合并同期别或更高期别T因素。本组76．3％有颈部淋巴结转移,其中Ⅱb区占91．9％;64．4％病例有咽后淋巴结转移,其中90．4％合并颈部淋巴结转移,咽后淋巴结〉3cm的有3例,按2008分期分别为T4N3M0、T2N1aM0、T4N1bM0。全组淋巴结包膜外侵犯63例,双侧颈淋巴结转移77例,这两项在相同最大横径和最长纵径中的比例差异没有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。11例腮腺淋巴结转移中（6．2％）1例为N0,1例为N1a,其余9例合并N1b以上的淋巴结转移。2008分期、UICC和’92分期的晚期病例分别为81．4％、78．5％和75．7％。结论：2008分期对鼻咽和鼻腔的分界定义偏前,以及将翼内肌列为T3,有其合理性;翼内肌和翼外肌之间的间隙受侵,应该给予明确定义;咽后淋巴结〉3cm,不论大小、侧数一律归为N1a．是合理可行的：淋巴结最大横径或最长纵径可能跟预后无关：淋巴结转移跨区时应该明确定义;腮腺淋巴结转移和耳前（咬肌前）淋巴结转移需要明确N分期归属;使用2008分期,对病例的分期分布影响不大。     

鼻咽癌UICC第7版分期与中国2008分期比较及分期更新建议

目的 比较鼻咽癌UICC第7版分期及中国2008分期, 并对分期的更新提供参考依据。方法 回顾分析2006—2012年病理确诊的初治无远处转移、接受调强适形放疗的鼻咽癌患者767例。以OS、LRFS、DMFS为主要预后指标, 比较两种分期系统T分期、N分期、临床分期对预后的预测价值。Kaplan-Meier法计算各项生存率, 组间差异比较行Logrank检验, Cox法多因素分析。结果 从T分期来看, 中国2008分期在预测OS、LFFS方面优于UICC分期。从N分期来看, 两种分期在预测OS、DMFS方面相当。从临床分期来看, UICC分期在预测OS方面优于中国2008分期。依据统计结果推荐的新分期中T分期、N分期、临床分期对预后均有较好预测价值。结论 鼻咽癌UICC第7版分期与中国2008分期在预测预后方面各有优势。推荐的新分期方案对当前鼻咽癌分期的更新有一定价值。     

A comparison of the Chinese 1992 and fifth-edition International Union Against Cancer staging systems for staging nasopharyngeal carcinoma

BACKGROUND: The Chinese 1992 staging system for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) has been widely adopted in mainland China since 1992. The fifth edition of the International Union Against Cancer (UICC) TNM classification defines new rules for classifying NPC. The current study compares the two in predicting NPC prognosis. METHODS: Four hundred eleven NPC patients, most of whom had disease of undifferentiated histologic type and were treated in a constant fashion and with definitive intent with radiation therapy alone, entered this comparative study. The patients were restaged according to the rules of the fifth edition of the UICC staging manual and the Chinese 1992 staging system. RESULTS: In the opinion of the authors, the predictive power of the Chinese 1992 T classification was superior. Conversely, the authors felt that the UICC N classification was more reasonable. The patients were categorized more evenly by the UICC stages than by the Chinese 1992 stages. The 5-year disease specific survival rates for patients in corresponding stages of both systems were almost identical despite differences in the criteria defining T and N classifications. Statistical analysis showed that the agreement rate was 72%. There were some agreement and correlation between the two staging systems. CONCLUSIONS: Both systems are essentially similar. Each system appears to have some subtleties that could improve the outcome prediction of the other system if the two were somehow combined. However, it appeared to the authors that the UICC system was slightly better.     

178例鼻咽癌患者不同临床分期方法与预后的比较

背景与目的：在世界范围内采用几种不同的鼻咽癌分期方法，这种现象不利于对不同地区鼻咽癌治疗疗效和预后因素的分析。本研究比较不同分期方法与预后的价值，以期找到一个较理想的分期方法。方法：178例无远处转移的初治鼻咽癌患者行超分割后程加速放疗，原发灶全疗程总剂量为78 Gy，60分次，6周完成。采用92福州会议，香港Ho＇s和1997 AJCC／UICC 5th标准进行分期，并且根据T、N组合成4个不同预后组。中位随访期为66．7个月。结果：无论采用哪一种分期标准，绝大多数的患者属于Ⅱ/Ⅲ期。根据92福州分期Ⅰ～Ⅳ期患者的总体生存率分别为85．9％、89．9％、54．3％和42．6％，Ⅰ：Ⅱ和Ⅲ：Ⅳ之间差异未达到统计学意义。另2种分期标准也存在此现象。对4个不同预后组分析，显示根据92福州分期和1997 AJCC／UICC 5th标准早期组疗效最好，原发晚期组和颈部晚期组的失败分别以鼻咽部复发和远地转移为主，局部区域晚期组疗效最差。结论：在不同期别患者的病例数分布和区分生存率等曲线上，3种分期标准无明显区别。采用92福州分期和1997 AJCC／UICC 5th分期标准，可以将患者分成显著不同预后和失败模式的组别。     

Comparison of TNM staging systems for nasopharyngeal carcinoma,and proposal of a new staging system

Background:

There are few systematic evaluations regarding the sixth and seventh editions of the UICC/AJCC TNM Staging System (TNM6th, TNM7th) and Chinese 2008 Staging System (TNMc2008) for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Methods:

We classified 2333 patients into intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) cohort (n=941) and conventional radiotherapy (CRT) cohort (n=1392). Tumour staging defined by TNM6th, TNM7th and TNMc2008 was compared based on Akaike information criterion (AIC) and Harrell''s concordance index (c-index).

Results:

For T-classification, TNM6th (AIC=2585.367; c-index=0.6390385) had superior prognostic value to TNM7th (AIC=2593.242; c-index=0.6226889) and TNMc2008 (AIC=2593.998; c-index=0.6237146) in the IMRT cohort, whereas TNMc2008 was superior (AIC=5999.054; c-index=0.623547) in the CRT cohort. For N-classification, TNMc2008 had the highest prognostic value in both cohorts (AIC=2577.726, c-index=0.6297874; AIC=5956.339, c-index=0.6533576). Similar results were obtained when patients were stratified by chemotherapy types, age and gender. Using staging models in the IMRT cohort, we failed to identify better stage migrations than TNM6th T-classification and TNMc2008 N-classification. We therefore proposed to combine these categories; resultantly, stage groups of the proposed staging system showed superior prognostic value over TNM6th, TNM7th and TNMc2008.

Conclusion:

TNM6th T-classification and TNMc2008 N-classification have superior prognostic value in the IMRT era. By combining them with slight modifications, TNM criteria can be unified and its prognostic value be improved.     

Comparison of 7 staging systems for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing transarterial chemoembolization

BACKGROUND: Many liver staging systems have been proposed for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after locoregional therapy; however, controversies persist regarding which system is the best. In this study, the authors compared the performance of 7 staging systems in a cohort of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent transarterial chemoembolization. METHODS: In total, 131 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent transarterial chemoembolization between August 1998 and February 2005 were included in the study. Demographic, laboratory, and tumor characteristics were determined at diagnosis and before therapy. At the time of censorship, 109 patients had died (83.2%). Predictors of survival were identified by using the Cox proportional hazards model. The likelihood-ratio chi-square statistic and the Akaike Information Criterion were calculated for 7 prognostic systems to evaluate their discriminatory ability. Comparisons of the survival rate between each stage were performed to evaluate the monotonicity of the gradients using Kaplan-Meier estimation and the log-rank test. RESULTS: The 5-year survival rate for the entire cohort was 13.6%. The independent predictors of survival were serum albumin level (60 ng/mL), and portal or hepatic vein tumor thrombosis (P= .001, P= .001, P= .004, and P= .000, respectively). The Cancer of the Liver Italian Program classification system was superior to the other 6 prognostic systems regarding discriminatory ability and the monotonicity of the gradients. CONCLUSIONS: In this comparison of many staging systems, the Cancer of Liver Italian Program system provided the best prognostic stratification for a cohort the patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent transarterial chemoembolization.     

MRI对78例鼻咽癌患者临床分期的影响

背景与目的：目前国内鼻咽癌按92’福州分期进行临床分期,其主要依据是临床检查和CT检查。随着MRI在临床上普及应用,其对显示鼻咽癌侵犯范围更加敏感、精细,势将影响鼻咽癌的临床分期。本文通过对78例鼻咽癌患者的CT与MRI图像的比较,探讨MRI相对于以CT为基础,对鼻咽癌92’福州分期造成的影响。方法：回顾分析我院2005年8月至2006年8月收治的78例鼻咽癌患者放射治疗前的CT和MRI图像,所有病例均经病理证实。采用χ2检验分别以CT和MRI图像为依据的鼻咽癌92’福州分期的差异。结果：MRI和CT对鼻咽癌病变检出率分别为：茎突前间隙82.0%,65.4%;口咽34.6%,20.5%;咽后淋巴结74.4%,55.1%;颅底骨质51.3%,30.8%;海绵窦/颅内19.2%,5.1%;副鼻窦33.3%,19.2%;翼腭窝16.7%,6.4%等,差异均有显著性（P〈0.05）。鼻腔28.2%,21.8%;茎突后间隙侵犯65.4%,67.9%;喉咽2.6%,1.3%;以及对颈部淋巴结各区检出率等,差异无显著性。对T、N分期的影响：按照92’福州分期标准,MRI使42.3%的T分期发生改变;25.6%（20/78）的N分期发生改变。对临床分期的影响：按照92’福州分期标准,MRI使28.2%的临床分期发生改变。结论：以MRI作为鼻咽癌的检测手段,诊断更准确,尤其对颅底颅内病变和咽后淋巴结;临床分期改变幅度大,将影响对临床预后的评估;应考虑将MRI图像作为鼻咽癌的临床分期标准。     

对鼻咽癌2008分期的评价与建议

鼻咽癌2008分期的优点:①采用MRI为主要分期手段;②舍弃了主观性的因素,纳入了新的独立预后因素如咽后淋巴结、RTOG颈部分区概念;③对T分期进行了简化;④N分期和总临床分期可以很好地预测远处转移风险及总生存率.这些改变适应了现代诊疗模式,具有很高的实用性.而对现行标准进行前瞻性、多中心的临床验证,进而修正完善,则符合分期的发展性和科学性原则.不足的是:①鼻腔、口咽等解剖结构的定义过于局限,咀嚼肌间隙的表达不够直观;②淋巴结大小等指标的循证医学证据不足;③T分期之间的风险差异性不显著:④与国际UICC/AJCC第六版分期标准基本概念如口咽、颈部分区上的差异,将有碍于国内外资料的交流.     

肿瘤体积在鼻咽癌不同分期系统中的意义比较

目的根据鼻咽癌（nasopharyngeal carcinoma,NPC）原发灶肿瘤、颈部转移淋巴结体积大小分别在鼻咽癌中国2008分期与美国癌症研究联合会（American Joint Committee on Cancer,AJCC）分期中的关系进行比较,验证两种分期系统中T分期、N分期的合理性。方法将100例鼻咽癌患者治疗前行磁共振增强扫描后,应用美国CMS适形调强4.0治疗计划系统进行NPC原发肿瘤靶区鼻咽部大体肿瘤体积（nasopharynx gross tumor volume,GTVnx）及颈部阳性淋巴结大体肿瘤体积（lymph node gross tumor volume,GTVnd）勾画和体积计算。结果在鼻咽癌T分期中,中国2008分期原发病灶肿瘤体积大小在不同T分期之间差异具有统计学意义（P=0.000）,两两比较中T2、T3分期差别不大,差异无统计学意义（P=0.225）;第7版AJCC分期中,原发病灶肿瘤体积大小在不同T分期之间差异具有统计学意义（P=0.000）,且两两比较,各组之间差异均有统计学意义（均P〈0.05）。在鼻咽癌N分期中,两种分期系统颈部转移淋巴结体积大小在不同N分期之间差异具有统计学意义（P=0.0008）,两两比较相邻N分期之间差异无统计学意义（均P〉0.05）。结论鼻咽癌原发灶肿瘤、颈部转移淋巴结体积与两种分期均具有相关性,建议将体积因素作为预后判断指标,鼻咽癌第7版AJCC系统在T2、T3分期较中国2008分期合理,建议中国2008分期进一步细化。     

Evaluation of the New International Union Against Cancer TNM staging for gastric carcinoma

BACKGROUND: The lymph node (N) classification in the International Union Against Cancer (UICC) TNM staging system for gastric adenocarcinoma has been revised. The new classification is based on the number of positive regional lymph nodes instead of the anatomic location of the regional lymph node metastasis. Both classification systems were compared for prognostic significance. METHODS: A total of 4362 gastric carcinoma patients who underwent resection between 1969 and 1990 were analyzed. RESULTS: Thirteen percent of patients could not be staged according to the new system. Based on the previous classification, 647 patients were classified as pN1 and 711 patients as pN2. When reclassified, 587 patients remained pN1, 54 patients became pN2, and 6 patients became pN3. Of the 711 pN2 patients, 333 became pN1, 267 remained pN2, and 111 patients became pN3. Both lymph node classification methods defined groups with widely differing prognoses. The prognoses of patients classified as new pN2 were more homogeneous than those of the group classified as old pN2. Survival of new pT4/pN1 patients was significantly better than that of other subgroups in Stage IV. Nine potential prognostic factors, including lymph node metastasis, were studied in multivariate analysis. The hazard ratios were 1.38 (1.16-1.64) for pN1 and 2.55 (2.16-3.01) for pN2, based on the old classification. They were 1.51 (1.29-78) for pN1, 3.11 (2.56-3.78) for pN2, and 3.88 (2.98-5.05) for pN3, based on the new classification. CONCLUSIONS: The new N classification is superior as a prognostic factor to the old N classification, although there is inadequacy in stage grouping. [See editorial on pages 1763-5, this issue.] Copyright 2000 American Cancer Society.     

Accuracy of 18F-flurodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography in the staging of newly diagnosed nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

The specific role of 18F-flurodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) in staging of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remains to be validated. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to assess the accuracy of staging FDG-PET/CT for newly diagnosed NPC.

Methods

We searched various biomedical databases and conference proceedings for relevant studies. We determined the pooled sensitivities and specificities, diagnostic odds ratios (DOR) and constructed summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curves using the hierarchical regression model.

Results

15 relevant studies including 851 patients were identified. Five addressed primary tumor (T), nine addressed regional lymph nodes (N) and seven addressed distant metastasis (M). The combined sensitivity estimate for FDG-PET/CT in T classification was 0.77 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.59–0.95). For N classification, combined sensitivity was 0.84 (95% CI 0.76–0.91), specificity was 0.90 (95% CI 0.83–0.97), DOR was 82.4 (23.2–292.6) and Q*-index was 0.90. For M classification, the combined sensitivity estimate was 0.87 (95% CI 0.74–1.00), specificity was 0.98 (95% CI 0.96–1.00), DOR was 120.9 (43.0–340.0) and Q*-index was 0.89.

Conclusion

FDG-PET/CT showed good accuracy in N and M but not T classification for newly diagnosed NPC. FDG-PET/CT, together with Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the nasopharynx, should be part of the routine staging investigations.     

鼻咽癌患者外周血循环肿瘤细胞的检测及其与预后的相关性

目的:利用抗体标记和流式细胞仪联合方法检测鼻咽癌外周血中的循环肿瘤细胞(circulating tumor cells,CTCs)数量,分析评价CTCs与患者临床特征和预后之间的相关性.方法:针对福建省肿瘤医院2012年7月至2014年5月收治的67例鼻咽癌首诊患者以及10例健康志愿者,抽取外周血10ml,提取其中的单个核细胞.依次应用抗Epcam、抗CD45以及抗CK单克隆抗体对上述提取的单个核细胞进行抗体标记,将Epcam阳性、CD45阴性以及CK阳性的细胞作为鼻咽癌患者的CTCs,应用流式细胞仪检测其在外周血中的存在情况,分析其与患者临床特征及预后之间的关系.结果:鼻咽癌组外周血中的CTCs明显高于健康志愿者组,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05).单因素分析结果表明,鼻咽癌患者外周血CTCs水平与进展情况(P=0.04)、N分期(P=0.001)以及临床分期(P=0.035)均显著相关.Logistic多因素回归分析结果则显示,仅患者的N分期与CTCs水平具有相关性(P=0.003),CTCs阳性患者的N分期更晚.Kaplan-Meier生存分析显示,CTCs阳性患者的无进展生存期(progression free survival,PFS)要显著短于CTCs阴性患者(P=0.029).结论:鼻咽癌患者外周血中CTCs阳性与患者N分期相关,且提示预后不良,可能成为鼻咽癌患者预后评估的一个辅助指标.