Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging for detecting lymph node metastasis of rectal cancer

Background  

Preoperative diagnosis of lymph node metastasis is important in determining the optimal therapy for rectal cancer. It has been shown that diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) is a useful tool for detecting malignant tumors.     

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。     

Paratracheal lymph node metastasis is associated with cervical lymph node metastasis in patients with thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND: We determined which lymph node metastases were associated with cervical lymph node metastases of thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. METHODS: A total of 6464 lymph nodes derived from 155 consecutive patients with thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were stained by immunohistochemistry (antibody: AE1/AE3). Lymph node metastases were mapped according to the mapping scheme of the American Thoracic Society, as modified by Casson et al. (Ann Thorac Surg 1994;58:1569-70). Patients were divided into two groups: those with and without cervical lymph node metastasis (CLNM). Mapping data were examined by uni- and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Hematoxylin and eosin-positive and AE1/AE3-positive lymph node metastases were found in 59% and 77% of patients, respectively. Twenty-one (55%) of 38 patients in the CLNM(+) group and 30 (26%) of 117 patients in the CLNM(-) group had AE1/AE3-positive lymph node metastasis in the thoracic paratracheal lymph node. Paratracheal lymph node metastasis is only one independent factor for (CLNM), whereas upper thoracic paraesophageal lymph node and pulmonal hilar lymph node status were also significant in univariate analysis. Three (43%) of seven patients with cervical jumping metastasis from the thoracic esophagus had micrometastasis in the paratracheal lymph node. CONCLUSIONS: The paratracheal lymph node is most associated with (CLNM) of thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.     

颈部超声评价胸段食管癌颈部淋巴结转移

目的　探讨提高胸段食管癌颈部淋巴结转移诊断正确率的方法。　方法　 42例胸段食管鳞癌患者 ,术前行双侧颈部超声检查 ,转移淋巴结判定标准包括淋巴结的大小 (长径≥ 1 0mm)和形态 (短径 /长径 >0 5)。　结果　术前超声发现颈部淋巴结肿大 (短径≥ 5mm) 1 6例 ,触诊可扪及 5例。其中根据超声检查结果 9例判定为转移淋巴结 (cM1 LN) ,触诊可扪及 4例。本组 5例无法行肿瘤根治性切除者行非手术治疗 ;37例手术切除肿瘤的患者中 ,术后病理证实 6例颈部淋巴结转移(pM1 LN) ,其中 4例肿瘤侵犯食管外膜 (pT3)、2例术中发现肿瘤外侵 (pT4 ) ,并且均同时伴纵隔淋巴结转移 ,其中 4例还伴有腹腔淋巴结转移 ;1 1例pT1 、pT2 患者中无一例发现颈部淋巴结转移 (P =0 0 2 0 )。根据病理及临床治疗结果 ,超声判定颈部淋巴结转移的准确率显著高于触诊 (40 / 4 2 ,95 %比34/ 4 2 ,81 % ,P =0 0 4 3) ,敏感性亦明显高于触诊 (82 %比 36 % ,P =0 0 81 )。全组病例中 ,有 5例 (5/ 39,1 3 % )因颈部超声检查结果而改变治疗方式。　结论　超声检查判断颈部淋巴结转移的敏感性及准确率明显高于体检触诊 ,有助于提高食管癌术前分期的准确性     

Assessment of cervical lymph node metastasis in esophageal carcinoma using ultrasonography.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of ultrasonography for the diagnosis of cervical lymph node metastasis in esophageal carcinoma. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Ultrasound (US) examination is useful for diagnosing lymph node metastasis. However, few reports have examined its role in the decision to perform cervical lymph node dissection in esophageal carcinoma. METHODS: Ultrasound examination was performed to evaluate cervical lymph node metastasis in 519 patients with esophageal carcinoma. The patients were divided into 5 groups according to treatment received: group 1, 153 patients who underwent curative resection of primary tumor by right thoracotomy and complete bilateral cervical lymphadenectomy; group 2, 112 patients who underwent curative resection of primary tumor by right thoracotomy but without cervical lymphadenectomy; group 3, 78 patients who underwent esophagectomy by left thoracotomy or blunt dissection with or without removal of cervical lymph nodes; group 4, 76 patients with palliative resection without cervical lymphadenectomy; and group 5, 100 patients without any surgical treatment. US diagnosis was compared with histologic findings or cervical lymph node recurrence. RESULTS: Lymph node metastasis was detected in 30.8% of patients (160/519). The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of US diagnosis in group 1 were 74.5%, 94.1%, and 87.6%, respectively. Cervical lymph node recurrence was seen in 7 patients (4.6%) in group 1, in 4 patients (3.6%) in group 2, and 3 patients (3.8%) in group 3. Although the incidence of cervical lymph node metastasis as determined by US examination was high in groups 4 and 5, almost none of the patients died of cervical lymph node metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound examination plays a useful role in the decision to perform cervical lymph node dissection in patients with esophageal carcinoma, particularly in those with potentially curative dissection.     

Preoperative esophageal cancer staging: magnetic resonance imaging of lymph node with ferumoxtran-10, an ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide

BACKGROUND: Accurate detection of metastasis to lymph nodes is an essential component of the approach to treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of magnetic resonance imaging with ferumoxtran-10 in diagnosing lymph node metastasis in esophageal cancer. STUDY DESIGN: Sixteen patients with esophageal cancer who were scheduled for surgical lymph node dissection were enrolled. All patients underwent MRI scanning before and 24 hours after intravenous administration of ferumoxtran-10, an ultrasmall, superparamagnetic iron oxide. The presence or absence of metastasis was identified in lymph nodes by their enhancement patterns. Nonmalignant nodes contained macrophages that phagocytosed ferumoxtran-10. Metastatic nodes exhibited a decrease in phagocytic activity, and consequently showed little or no uptake of ferumoxtran-10. So we subdivided the enhancement patterns into the following three patterns: (A) node having an overall low signal intensity, (B) node having an area of high signal intensity, and (C) node having an overall high signal intensity. We identified that patterns (B) and (C) were metastatic patterns. The imaging results were compared with histopathologic findings. RESULTS: Of the 408 resected lymph nodes, imaging results of 133 nodes could be compared with histopathologic findings. Twenty-four lymph nodes had histopathologic metastases. Using our enhancement criteria, sensitivity was 100%, specificity was 95.4%, and accuracy was 96.2% for diagnosis of metastatic nodes. CONCLUSIONS: Ferumoxtran-10 is useful for characterizing benign or malignant lymph nodes in esophageal cancer patients based on the defined enhancement criteria.     

Experimental study of lymph node metastasis in thoracic esophageal carcinoma--regarding lymph node metastasis and changes in lymphatic flow by ultrafine charcoal in rabbit esophageal carcinoma model]

Esophageal carcinoma models were created by transplanting VX2 cells to rabbit esophagus endoscopically. By injecting finely divided activated charcoal into normal rabbit esophagus and tumor sites of esophageal carcinoma model, lymph flow was observed directly. Existence of lymph node metastasis was studied in detailed pathology. In 30 rabbits with upper esophageal carcinoma, lymph node metastasis was seen in 77%. Metastasis to bilateral intrathoracic paratracheal lymph node was seen in 50%, and also concentration of lymphatic flows from tumor site was seen. However, there were no metastasis and no lymph flow to abdominal lymph nodes. While, metastasis to cervical lymph nodes showed around 13%. Esophageal lymphatic flows were also seen reaching the cervical area along the esophagus. In 40 models with mid lower esophageal carcinoma, lymph node metastasis were seen in 88%. Metastasis to right and left thoracic paratracheal lymph nodes was 75% and 53%, respectively, and 25% of metastasis went to cardia lymph nodes. The lymph flows were going up and down around these lymph nodes, and reaching to lymph nodes at upper highest mediastinum or left gastric artery. The metastatic rate to the cervical lymph nodes was about 5%. There were no significant differences in lymphatic metastasis between right and left mediastinum. These findings suggest the necessity of radical dissection for both sides of the mediastinum.     

Location and clinical impact of solitary lymph node metastasis in patients with thoracic esophageal carcinoma

BACKGROUND: The location and clinical impact of solitary lymph node metastasis from thoracic esophageal carcinoma have not been evaluated sufficiently. METHODS: A consecutive series of 91 patients with a solitary positive lymph node who underwent curative surgery for thoracic esophageal carcinoma was investigated. The prognostic impact was evaluated by univariate analysis and multivariate analysis using Cox's proportional hazards model. RESULTS: A total of 52 (57%) of the 91 patients showed a solitary positive node beyond the thorax. While 29% of the patients with an upper thoracic tumor showed a cervical node, 13% of the patients with a middle tumor and none of the patients with a lower tumor showed a cervical node. Tumor depth and venous invasion were found to be independent risk factors for poor survival. CONCLUSIONS: The solitary positive lymph nodes were broadly distributed depending on the tumor location and tumor depth. Tumor depth and venous invasion were risk factors for poor survival in these patients.     

胸段食管癌隆突下淋巴结转移影响因素分析

目的探讨胸管食管癌隆突下淋巴结的转移规律及相关影响因素。方法回顾性分析安阳肿瘤医院2015-06—2018-05间1402例行食管癌根治术患者的病例资料(淋巴结清扫包括隆突下淋巴结)。结果胸段食管癌隆突下转移发生率为8.35%,与患者的性别、年龄、病理类型及手术方式等无关(P>0.05);与肿瘤部位、浸润深度、淋巴结转移程度、分化程度、TNM分期、脉管癌栓、神经侵犯及术前治疗方法等有关(P<0.05)。结论胸段食管癌隆突下淋巴结转移率较高,但食管胸上段癌、cT1期的食管癌患者隆突下淋巴结转移发生率较低,可行选择性清扫;胸中下段食管癌术中仍应作为淋巴结常规清扫部位。术前行放疗或同步放化疗后患者隆突下淋巴结转移发生明显降低,对局部晚期食管癌患者推荐术前放疗或同步放化疗。     

胃癌孤立性淋巴结转移的分析

目的　探讨胃癌孤立性淋巴结转移的规律及其临床价值。方法　分析49例孤立性胃癌淋巴结转移患者的临床病理资料,比较跳跃性转移与非跳跃性转移两组之间的临床病理及预后的差别。结果　本组孤立性淋巴结转移率为13 5%,跳跃性转移发生率为4 4%。非跳跃性转移组33例,以第3、6组常见;跳跃性转移组16例,以第7组常见。位于第二站者14例,位于第三站者2例(均为第12组)。与非跳跃式转移组相比,跳跃式转移与肿瘤浸润全层(χ2 =5 08,P=0 016)以及肿瘤大小(t=2 215,P=0 032 )均有显著相关性。两组复发率和生存率之间差异均无统计学意义。结论　胃癌孤立性淋巴结转移以胃周为主。跳跃式转移与肿瘤浸润全层及肿瘤大小有关,以胃左动脉周围淋巴结多见。D2 根治术加第12组淋巴结清扫有利于预防跳跃性转移灶的残留。     

Lymph flow and lymph node metastasis in esophageal cancer

This paper delineates which lymph nodes should be dissected due to the high frequency of metastasis associated with different types of primary lesions of the thoracic esophagus. In cancer involving the upper third of the esophagus (Iu), lymph flow was found to be primarily from the superior mediastinal area to the cervical area; in that involving the middle third (Im), it was broadly distributed from the superior, middle, and inferior mediastinal region to the cervical and abdominal regions; and in that involving the lower third (Ei), it tended to extend from the inferior mediastinal region to the abdominal region, with single primary metastatic nodes also being noted in this area. The significance of the top nodes, namely, the nodes located along the right recurrent laryngeal nerve in the upper portion of the thorax, was also investigated, and it was confirmed that the prognosis for patients with metastases to both the top nodes and other nodes was unfavorable. An immunohistochemical study on mediastinal lymph flow using the anti-Su-Ps antibody demonstrated interactions between top nodes and cervical and/or thoracic nodes.Part of this paper was presented at the UICC Kyoto International Symposium on Recent Advances in Management of Digestive Cancers held in Kyoto, Japan, in April 1993.     

Preoperative evaluation of lymph node metastasis in esophageal cancer.

Lymph node metastasis (LMN) in esophageal cancer occurs from the superficial cancer and spreads wildly from the neck to the abdomen. Hence precise determination of LMN is essential when adequate treatments are employed. There are several reports about ultrasonic features of malignant lymph nodes (LNs), and in summary, reports of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) findings of malignant LNs showed they were more than 5-10 mm in diameter, with a distinct border, hypoechoic internal echo and round shape. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracies for the diagnosis of malignant LNs by EUS were 49-99%, 33-99% and 71-96%. The rates widely varied, because the accuracy of EUS's ability to determine malignancy were based on the evaluation of various echo features of LNs, and were dependent on the judgement of subjective observers. Therefore histological analysis is necessary for adequate treatments. Endoscopic ultrasonography guided fine-needle aspiration cytology (EUS-FNA) has been performed for the diagnosis of malignant LNs since 10 years. Results of those reports were sensitivity 81-97%, specificity 83-100% and accuracy 83-97%. EUS-FNA staging was better than EUS staging. Also clinically obvious complications by EUS-FNA have not been reported. Therefore published evidence showed that EUS-FNA is safe and useful for confirmation of malignant LNs.     

N1期食管鳞癌淋巴结转移规律及预后分析

目的：探讨N1期食管鳞癌淋巴结转移规律及其与预后的关系。方法回顾性分析2005年1月至2008年12月间天津医科大学肿瘤医院行食管癌根治术且术后病理诊断为N1期（1～2枚淋巴结转移）的126例患者的临床及随访资料,分析各组淋巴结转移情况及其对预后的影响。结果126例患者中仅1枚淋巴结转移者70例,2枚淋巴结转移者56例。上纵隔淋巴结、中下食管旁淋巴结、贲门周围淋巴结和胃左动脉旁淋巴结的早期转移率较高,分别为53．8％（14/26）、38．3％（41/107）、34．5％（30/87）和36．8％（39/106）。隆突下淋巴结转移（P＝0．031）和中下食管旁淋巴结转移（P＝0．042）是影响食管鳞癌早期淋巴结转移患者的独立预后因素。隆突下淋巴结转移者5年生存率明显低于其他部位淋巴结转移者（8％比26％,P＝0．004）;而仅中下食管旁淋巴结转移者5年生存率则明显高于其他部位淋巴结转移者（33％比12％,P＝0．029）。结论 N1期食管鳞癌淋巴结易转移至上纵隔、中下食管旁、贲门周围和胃左动脉旁淋巴结等部位,而隆突下及中下食管旁淋巴结转移是N1期患者的独立预后因素。     

Mesojejunal lymph node metastasis in esophageal cancer following total gastrectomy

We report on a case of thoracic esophageal cancer following total gastrectomy (ρ-Roux-en-Y reconstruction) with metastasis to the mesojejunal lymph nodes. Subtotal esophagectomy with reconstruction using pedicled colon and dissection of two lymph node fields was performed. During the operation, we found three lymph nodes showing metastasis at the ρ-Roux loop of the mesentery, and resected the ρ-Roux loop. The route of the lymphatic drainage to the abdomen from the thoracic tumor seemed to have been changed by the prior gastrectomy. Based on the pathological findings, the case was diagnosed with T2N4M0, Stage IVa. We did not confirm that the distant metastases skipped the mesojejunal lymph nodes preoperatively; the distant metastases were detected accidentally by lymphoscintigraphy using technetium-99m tin colloid. We believe this case highlights the need for detailed examinations in esophageal cancer patients who have had prior gastrectomy.