Surgical outcomes in patients with T4 gastric carcinoma

BACKGROUND: There is controversy about the best therapeutic surgical approach for treatment of patients with T4 gastric cancer. STUDY DESIGN: We used univariate and multivariate analyses to review the surgical outcomes and prognostic factors of 117 patients who underwent surgery for T4 gastric carcinoma. RESULTS: Curative resection was performed in 38 (32.4%) patients, with the pancreas being the most frequently resected organ. The 5-year survival rate was 16.0% and the median survival time (MST) was 11 months for all 117 registered patients. The 5-year survival rates and MSTs in patients after curative and noncurative resection were 32.2% versus 9.5% and 20 months versus 8 months, respectively. These values differed considerably between the two groups (p < 0.0001). Curability was an independent prognostic factor among all registered patients, including those who underwent noncurative resection. A relatively small tumor diameter (< 100 mm) and few lymph node metastases (six or fewer metastatic lymph nodes) were independent prognostic factors when curative resection could be performed. Postoperative morbidity and mortality were acceptable after curative combined resection. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend the use of aggressive combined resection of adjacent organs, with extended lymph node dissection, for patients with T4 gastric carcinoma in whom curative resection can be used; that is, those with few metastatic lymph nodes (six or less) and a relatively small tumor diameter (100 mm). But noncurative resection should be avoided in patients with T4 gastric cancer.     

Relevant prognostic factors in gastric cancer: ten-year results of the German Gastric Cancer Study.

OBJECTIVE: In 1986 a prospective multicenter observation trial in patients with resected gastric cancer was initiated in Germany. An analysis of prognostic factors based on the 10-year survival data is now presented. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 1654 patients treated for gastric cancer between 1986 and 1989 at 19 centers in Germany and Austria were included. The resected specimen were evaluated histopathologically according to a standardized protocol. The extent of lymphadenectomy was classified after surgery based on the number of removed lymph nodes on histopathologic assessment (25 or fewer removed nodes, D1 or standard lymphadenectomy; >25 removed nodes, D2 or extended lymphadenectomy). Endpoint of the study was death. Follow-up is complete for 97% of the included patients (median follow-up of the surviving patients is 8.4 years). Prognostic factors were assessed by multivariate analysis. RESULTS: A complete macroscopic and microscopic tumor resection (R0 resection according to the UICC 1997) could be achieved in 1182 of the 1654 patients (71.5%). The calculated 10-year survival rate in the entire patient population was 26.3% +/- 4.7%; it was 36.1% +/- 1.6% after an R0 resection. In the total patient population there was an independent prognostic effect of the ratio between invaded and removed lymph nodes, the residual tumor (R) category, the pT category, the presence of postsurgical complications, and the presence of distant metastases. Multivariate analysis in the subgroup of patients who had a UICC R0 resection confirmed the nodal status, the pT category, and the presence of postsurgical complications as the major independent prognostic factors. The extent of lymph node dissection had a significant and independent effect on the 10-year survival rate in patients with stage II tumors. This effect was present in the subgroups with (pT2N1) and without (pT3N0) lymph node metastases on standard histopathologic assessment. The beneficial effect of extended lymph node dissection for stage II tumors persisted when patients with insufficient lymph node dissection (<15 nodes) were excluded from the analysis. There was no difference in the postsurgical morbidity and mortality rates between patients with standard and extended lymph node dissection. CONCLUSIONS: Lymph node ratio and lymph node status are the most important prognostic factors in patients with resected gastric cancer. In experienced centers, extended lymph node dissection does not increase the mortality or morbidity rate of resection for gastric cancer but markedly improves long-term survival in patients with stage II tumors. This effect appears to be independent of the phenomenon of stage migration.     

Value of lymph node dissection during resection of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Hepatectomy with extensive lymph node dissection is the standard operation for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC). However, lymph node dissection may not always be effective at reducing tumour recurrence. METHODS: Forty-nine patients with IHCC who underwent hepatectomy were investigated to determine patterns of tumour recurrence and to estimate the value of lymph node dissection during resection. RESULTS: At hepatectomy most metastatic lymph nodes were identified at least to the level of group 2 lymph nodes. Among 23 patients who developed recurrence, 17 had liver metastases and the other six had recurrence at other sites, mainly in the peritoneum. Poorly differentiated histology was related to the development of liver metastases. No patient with the intraductal growth type of IHCC had tumour recurrence. Lymph node dissection did not appear to improve patient survival. Histological findings of lymph node metastases and intrahepatic metastases were independent indicators of poor prognosis. CONCLUSION: Lymph node metastases were seldom limited to the regional lymph nodes; most tumour recurrence occurred in the liver. Lymph node dissection did not appear to improve patient survival. Lymph node dissection alone is not likely to improve the prognosis without further control of liver metastases.     

Extended lymphadenectomy is associated with a survival benefit for node-negative gastric cancer

The purpose of this study was to determine whether extended lymph node (D2) dissection is associated with a survival benefit for patients with histologically node-negative gastric cancer at a single institution in the United States. Review of the prospective gastric database at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center from July 1985 to August 1995 identified 774 patients who had undergone curative gastric resection. Of these, 247 patients (32 %) were identified with histologically negative lymph nodes by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Data are expressed as median (range). Overall survival was compared by log-rank test. The overall 5-year survival rate for the entire cohort was 79%. The extent of lymph node dissection did not predict survival over the entire cohort. However, when stratified for tumor (T) stage, D2 dissection offered a survival advantage for T3 tumors. The 5-year survival rate for patients with T3 tumors undergoing a D2 dissection (n = 15) was 54% compared to 39% for those undergoing a DI dissection (n = 53, P < 0.05). D2 dissection is associated with improved survival in advanced T stage, node-negative gastric cancer. With adequate staging, results of gastric resection for adenocarcinoma in Western countries begin to approximate those seen in Japan. Excision of N2 lymph nodes may also remove microscopic metastatic disease, contributing to the survival benefit. Supported by the Lillian Wells Foundation. Presented at the Thirty-Eighth Annual Meeting of The Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, Washington, D.C., May 11–14, 1997.     

Surgical outcome after the clearance of abdominal metastatic lymph nodes in 138 patients with thoracic esophageal carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Although abdominal lymph node metastasis in patients with thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) has been reported to be a risk factor to reduce long-term survival, only a few studies have so far evaluated the clinicopathologic factors among this group of patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the patients' surgical outcome after the clearance of metastatic abdominal nodes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1980 to 2002, 550 consecutive patients with thoracic esophageal SCC underwent surgery with an abdominal lymph node dissection. A total of 138 patients with abdominal lymph node metastases were curatively resected. Those patients, including 62 from 1980 to 1989 and 76 from 1990 to 2002, were retrospectively reviewed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the impact of clinicopathologic factors on the survival of these patients. RESULTS: The overall 5-year survival rate of the 138 patients with abdominal lymph node metastases was 23%. A univariate analysis revealed that the following groups showed a greater than 30% overall 5-year survival rate: patients with T1 or T2 tumors, patients without thoracic node metastases, and those with poorly differentiated type tumors. Good prognostic factors based on a multivariate analysis were the most recent time period of surgery and 4 or fewer positive nodes. CONCLUSION: Among the patients with abdominal lymph node metastases, those with T1 or T2 tumors, patients without thoracic node metastases, and patients with 4 or fewer positive nodes showed an acceptable overall survival after a curative resection.     

Surgical management of endocrine tumor of the pancreas in Japan

Endocrine tumor of the pancreas is potentially malignant. A multicenter analysis of these tumors was conducted to clarity the present status of their surgical management and the subsequent long-term surgical results. The Japan pancreatoduodenectomy (JPD) study group carried out the study; 368 patients were enrolled and variables related to tumor characteristics, surgery, and survival were retrospectively analyzed. There were 222 patients with functioning tumor and 143 patients with nonfunctioning tumor. Malignant tumor was found in 140 of 368 (38%) of the patients, and 63/140 (45%) of these patients had metastatic lesion; the most common site of the metastasis was liver 34/136 (25%), followed by regional lymph nodes 26/136 (19%). Pancreatic resection was performed in 91% of patients with nonfunctional tumor and in 83% of those with malignant tumor, and 73% of the pancreatic resections were done with lymph node dissection. The overall 5-year actuarial survival rate was 76% in patients with malignant tumor. The actuarial 5-year survival rate was 93% in the patients without metastasis and 83% in patients who received curative resection. Multivariate analysis showed that the presence or absence of synchronous metastasis was the sole significant prognostic factor. The results suggest that: (i) malignant endocrine tumor of the pancreas is a curable malignancy when pancreatic resection with lymph node dissection is adopted and (ii) that synchronous metastasis is the dominant prognostic factor. This study was carried out as a group project. The authors' institutions are as follows     

Surgery and the management of peripheral lung tumors adherent to the parietal pleura.

Among 37 patients with peripheral T3 lung lesions, preoperative clinical and imaging evidence was suggestive of T3 disease in 28 and of T2 disease in nine. Intraoperatively, the T2 designation was changed to T3 on the basis of adherence of the tumor to the parietal pleura. All had mediastinoscopy followed by resection and complete lymph node dissection. There were 17 lobectomies and 20 pneumonectomies. The chest wall was resected in continuity with the lung in 21 patients, and in 16 only an extrapleural resection was done. Follow-up was completed in all patients (range 2 to 14 years, median 7 years). The 5-year actuarial survival rate for all patients was 30%. As expected, the presence of lymph node metastasis affected the 5-year actuarial survival rate: N0 = 41%; N1 = 29%, and N2 = 0%. Histologic examination of the resected specimen confirmed a T3 lesion in 30 patients. The tumor was removed completely in 100% of patients whose chest wall was resected in continuity with the lung but in only 31% in whom an extrapleural resection was done. In the absence of lymph node metastasis, the 5-year survival rate of patients after en bloc resection of the chest wall was 50% compared with 33% for those with extrapleural resection (p less than 0.05). The finding of a peripheral lung tumor adherent to the parietal pleura indicates, in most instances, extension through the parietal pleura. When tumor is firmly adherent to the parietal pleura, an en bloc resection of the chest wall rather than an extrapleural dissection should be performed. This assures complete tumor removal and improves the probability of long-term survival.     

Clinicopathologic Study of Gastric Cancer Based on Dukes' Classification

Dukes' classification is a useful staging system in patients with colorectal cancer. The aim of this study was to present clinicopathologic characteristics and survival of patients with gastric cancer based on Dukes' classification. A total of 273 patients with gastric cancer curatively treated by radical gastrectomy and lymph node dissection (D2, D3) were studied. With the modified Dukes' classification, A includes tumors limited to the mucosa, submucosa, or muscularis propria; B includes tumors extending into the subserosa or serosa; Ca includes tumors with one to six positive lymph nodes; and Cb includes tumors with seven or more positive lymph nodes. Dukes' classification modified by the number of positive lymph nodes well correlated with the tumor size (p < 0.01), depth of wall invasion (p < 0.01), level of lymph node metastasis (p < 0.01), and degree of lymphatic permeation (p < 0.01) and venous permeation (p< 0.01). The 5-year survival rate was significantly different among Dukes' A (98%), Dukes' B (90%), Dukes' Ca (75%), and Dukes' Cb (44%) cases. The results indicate that Dukes' classification modified by the number of positive lymph nodes (Dukes' A, B, Ca, an Cb) significantly correlates with tumor progression and patient survival; and it may be a simple and useful staging system for gastric cancer.     

Impact of the Number and Extent of Positive Lymph Nodes in 200 Patients with Thoracic Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma after Three-field Lymph Node Dissection

Background Subtotal esophagectomy with three-field lymph node dissection (3FLD) has been reported to improve survival in patients with thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic impact of the extent and number of positive lymph nodes for long-term survival of patients who underwent 3FLD. Methods From January 1983 to December 2002, a total of 200 patients with thoracic esophageal SCC underwent 3FLD without any neoadjuvant therapy. The prognostic impact of the extent and number of positive lymph nodes was evaluated by both univariate and multivariate analysis. Results The extent of positive nodes associated with a 5-year survival were as follows: none, 69%; one-field, 50%; two-field, 29%; and three-field, 11%. The number of positive nodes associated with 5-year survival were as follows: single node, 65%; two-nodes, 51%; and more than three-nodes, 20%. Among patients with cervical lymphatic spreading, patients with upper tumors showed significantly better survival than patients with lower tumors (P = 0.036). Multivariate analysis indicated that number of positive nodes and the abdominal node status were independent prognostic factors among lymph node status. Conclusions Together, number and extent of positive lymph nodes can be considered an independent predictor of a high risk of recurrence. Although cervical lymphatic spreading was risk factor for worse survival, patients with upper tumors may have survival benefit after cervical lymph node dissection.     

Evaluation of extensive lymph node dissection for carcinoma of the stomach

We compared the results of curative resection for carcinoma of the stomach in 254 patients who underwent simple resection (SR) and 454 patients who underwent extensive regional lymph node dissection (ELD). The 5-year survival rates of the 2 procedures were significantly different in carcinoma involving the serosa of the stomach; it was 45% in the ELD group and 18% in the SR group (p<0.001). In patients with regional lymph node metastasis we obtained a 5-year survival rates of 39% and 18% by ELD and SR, respectively (p<0.001). The incidence of metastasis to the secondary lymph nodes, removable only by ELD, was higher in cases with carcinomatous invasion of the deeper layers of the gastric wall, and this may have been the reason why ELD proved to be more effective than SR. ELD is discussed in relation to the site of the primary carcinoma and the extent of lymph node metastasis.     

Analysis of the relationships between clinicopathologic factors and survival time in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND: This study elucidated the relationships between various clinicopathologic factors and the outcome of patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) treated by hepatic resection. METHODS: A total of 37 ICC patients were treated by hepatic resection in our department between March 1979 and March 2001. Eleven clinicopathological variables (age, sex, preoperative jaundice, operative curability, number of tumors, UICC [Union Internationale Contre le Cancer] pT factor, UICC pN factor, UICC pM factor, histological tumor type, 10-year period during which they initially examined, and adjuvant therapy) were selected for univariate and multivariate analysis to evaluate their influence on the outcome. RESULTS: The actuarial 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates in the 37 resected cases were 54.1%, 34.0%, and 23.9%, respectively. The stage of the ICC influenced their overall survival rate. The univariate analysis revealed that curative resection (P = 0.0018), UICC pT factor (P = 0.0445), pN factor (P = 0.0029), pM factor (P = 0.0022), and histological type (P = 0.0030) were significant risk factors for survival. Multivariate analysis revealed that noncurative resection, lymph node metastasis, and less differentiated histological type were significant risk factors for poor outcome. All 6 of the 37 patients who survived more than 5 years had undergone curative resection, all of their tumors were well differentiated, and none had lymph node metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: Curative surgical resection remains the only effective approach to the treatment of ICC. Extensive resection is not indicated if lymph node metastasis can be identified preoperatively or intraoperatively. Current adjuvant therapy is ineffective, and it will be necessary to assess the efficacy of new adjuvant therapy strategies or the addition of new agents in terms of the outcome of ICC.     

Impact of Lymph Node Micrometastasis in Patients with Pancreatic Head Cancer

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of nodal micrometastasis in patients who underwent a curative operation for pancreatic cancer. Experimental Design Fifty-eight patients underwent a macroscopically curative resection with extended lymph node dissection for pancreatic cancer. The total number of resected lymph nodes was 1,058, and 944 histologically negative lymph nodes were subjected to immunohistochemical staining to detect occult micrometastases. Results Nodal micrometastases were detected immunohistochemically in 147 out of 944 resected histologically negative lymph nodes (15.6%). Forty-four of all 58 patients (75.9%) and 13 of the 23 histologically node-negative patients (56.5%) had nodal micrometastases. Nodal micrometastases existed in the N1 lymph node area most frequently, followed by the N2 and N3 lymph node areas. The distribution was similar to that of histologically metastatic lymph nodes. Ten out of 16 patients (62.5%) with histological N1, and 5 out of 16 patients (31.3%) with histological N2 had nodal micrometastases beyond the histological lymph node status. Three and 5-year survival rates of pN0 patients without lymph node nodal micrometastases were both 60.0%, while those with nodal micrometastases were 19.2% and 0%, respectively. There was statistically significant difference between the both groups (P = 0.041). Conclusions Nodal micrometastasis in pancreatic cancer existed in wider and more distant areas than histological lymph node status, and it was an unfavorable predictive factor, even in N0 patients.     

Extended versus limited lymph node dissection in radical cystectomy: impact on recurrence pattern and survival

Objectives: To compare recurrence patterns and survival of patients with carcinoma of the urinary bladder undergoing radical cystectomy and extended or limited lymph node dissection. Methods: From a consecutive series of 469 patients undergoing radical cystectomy, two different historical cohorts were constructed; one with 265 patients intentionally undergoing extended lymph node dissection and one with 204 patients undergoing limited lymph node dissection. Results: Early lymph node recurrences were more frequently located outside the pelvic region in patients from the extended lymph node dissection cohort, whereas the overall risk of recurrence was not reduced by carrying out an extended lymph node dissection compared with the limited lymph node dissection cohort (8% vs 6%, P = 0.5). However, positive node patients had a significantly better prognosis after extended lymph node dissection (5‐year disease‐specific survival 29% vs 8%, P = 0.002). Improved survival was also found in negative node patients with non‐organ confined tumors undergoing extended lymph node dissection compared with limited lymph node dissection (5‐year disease‐specific survival 76% vs 62%, P = 0.008). A total of 16 positive node patients (6%) in the extended lymph node dissection cohort were identified as possible stage migrators with metastasis exclusively in lymph nodes outside the limited template. A total of 5% of patients undergoing extended lymph node dissection had an evident survival benefit of an extended lymph node dissection compared with a limited lymph node dissection. Conclusions: Extended lymph node dissection provides more accurate nodal staging than a limited lymph node dissection. However, recurrence patterns are not significantly altered by extending the limits of lymph node dissection, suggesting a survival benefit only in a minority of patients. Improved survival is more likely in patients with locally advanced disease.     

Optimal lymph node dissection for carcinoma of the biliary tract]

To clarify the optimal lymph node dissection for carcinoma of the biliary tract, we analyzed the mode of lymphatic spread in 86 resected cases with carcinoma of the gallbladder and 139 with carcinoma of the extrahepatic bile duct, and investigated long-term results after resection based on the degree of lymph node metastasis. Of the 86 patients with carcinoma of the gallbladder, 62 (72.1%) had lymph node metastasis. Patients with m and mp tumors (n = 9) had no lymph node metastasis, whereas ss tumors (n = 13) had 23.1% lymph node metastasis. Those with se, si tumors (n = 64) had greater lymph node involvement (92.2%). In 4 patients with advanced carcinomas (ss or more) who survived more than 5 years, only one (limited to periportal lymph nodes) of them had lymph node metastasis. Of the 139 patients with carcinoma of the extrahepatic bile duct, 58 (41.7%) had lymph node metastasis. There was no lymph node metastasis in 15 patients with m or fm tumors. The frequency of metastasis in the ss (n = 39) and se, si (n = 85) tumors was 17.9% and 60.0%, respectively. Twenty-four patients with advanced tumors survived more than 5 years. Curative resection was achieved in all 24 and lymph node metastasis was n0 in 19, n1 in 4 and n2 in 1 patients. Satisfactory long-term result can be achieved in carcinoma of the biliary tract after resection when lymph node metastasis is limited to nodes in the hepatoduodenal ligament. In view of our surgical results and the lymphatic drainage system of the biliary tract, systemic dissection of the regional lymph nodes, including periportal, posterior pancreato-duodenal, and celiac nodes, is necessary in patients with N0-N2 (limited to lymph nodes in the hapatoduodenal ligament) tumors in whom it contributes to good prognosis.     

Survival of Early Gastric Cancer in a Specialized European Center. Which Lymphadenectomy Is Necessary?

Purpose A clinicopathological study of early gastric cancer has been carried out in a single experienced surgical unit to identify prognostic indicators for survival and factors related to lymph nodes metastasis and document a survival benefit of D2 gastrectomy. Methods A retrospective review of our database from January 1990 to December 2004 revealed 189 patients with early gastric cancer undergoing surgical resection with either D1 or D2 lymph node dissection. Clinicopathological factors analyzed included Lauren’s histological type, histological differentiation, size, mucosal versus submucosal invasion, venous invasion, number of lymph node involved, and extent of nodal dissection performed. Factors related to increased risk of nodal metastases and predicting 5- and 10-year disease-specific survival were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analysis. Results Median follow-up time was 77 months. Lymph node involvement was documented in 21.1% of patients. A D2 gastrectomy was performed in 56% of patients. The cumulative 10-year survival rate was 92.5%; it was strictly related to nodal metastases (p = .0014). Poor differentiation, size larger than 2 cm, and submucosal depth of invasion were related to increased risk of nodal metastases but not to decreased survival. Overall, 10-year survival after D2 gastrectomy was higher than after D1 gastrectomy (95 versus 87.5%), but this difference was not statistically significant (p = .80). No survival benefit was documented for D2 gastrectomy in subsets of patients with increased risk of nodal metastasis. Conclusion In this retrospective analysis a survival benefit of D2 gastrectomy was not documented either in the overall population or in subset analyses of patients with increased risk of nodal metastasis.     

Impact of microscopic hepatic lymph node involvement on survival after resection of colorectal liver metastasis

BACKGROUND: Macroscopic hepatic lymph node involvement is usually a contraindication to hepatic resection. Only a few studies have investigated the impact of hepatic lymph node involvement on survival. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess microscopic hepatic lymph node involvement in resectable colorectal liver metastasis and outcomes in patients with such involvement. STUDY DESIGN: From January 1985 to December 2000, 156 patients underwent curative liver resection in association with systematic hepatic lymph node dissection for colorectal liver metastasis. A first analysis was performed to assess the association between hepatic lymph node metastasis and patients' characteristics. A second analysis assessed survival after resection of liver colorectal metastasis by using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Twenty-three of the 156 patients (15%) had microscopically involved hepatic lymph nodes. No predictive factor of lymph node metastasis was identified. Multivariate analysis showed that lymph node metastasis, preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen level, number of metastases, and morbidity were factors influencing survival. The 3- and 5-year survival rates of patients with lymph node metastasis were 27% and 5%, respectively, compared with 56% and 43% without lymph node metastasis (p = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: During resection of liver colorectal metastasis, microscopic lymph node involvement occurred in 15% of the patients and was associated with a poor 5-year survival. Hepatic lymph node dissection should be performed systematically to select high-risk patients.     

Reduced Lymph Node Yield in Rectal Carcinoma Specimen After Neoadjuvant Radiochemotherapy Has No Prognostic Relevance

Background  In colorectal surgery UICC/AJCC criteria require a yield of 12 or more locoregional lymph nodes for adequate staging. Neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy for rectal carcinoma reduces the number of lymph nodes in the resection specimen; the prognostic impact of this reduced lymph node yield has not been determined. Methods  One hundred two patients with uT3 rectal carcinoma who were receiving neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy were compared with 114 patients with uT3 rectal carcinoma who were receiving primary surgery followed by adjuvant radiochemotherapy. Total lymph node yield and number of tumor-positive lymph nodes were determined and correlated with survival. Results  After neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy both total lymph node yield (12.9 vs. 21.4, p < 0.0001) and number of tumor-positive lymph nodes (1.0 vs. 2.3, p = 0.014) were significantly lower than after primary surgery plus adjuvant radiochemotherapy. Reduced total lymph node yield in neoadjuvantly treated patients had no prognostic impact, with overall survival of patients with 12 or more lymph nodes the same as that of patients with less than 12 lymph nodes. Overall survival of neoadjuvantly treated patients was significantly influenced by the number of tumor-positive lymph nodes with 5-year-survival rates of 88, 63, and 39% for 0, 1–3, and more than 3 positive lymph nodes (p < 0.0001). Conclusion  The UICC/AJCC criterion of a total lymph node yield of 12 or more should be revised for rectal carcinoma patients. D. Doll and R. Gertler contributed equally to this work.     

Therapeutic Value of Lymph Node Dissection in Advanced Gastric Cancer with Macroscopic Duodenum Invasion: Is the Posterior Pancreatic Head Lymph Node Dissection Beneficial?

Background  In advanced gastric cancer (AGC) with duodenum invasion, the posterior pancreatic lymph nodes are susceptible to metastasis because of their proximity to the duodenum. The therapeutic value of lymph node dissection in this area for AGC with macroscopic duodenum invasion remains unclear. Methods  Patients who had undergone curative gastrectomy for lower-third AGC from 1970 to 2004 at the Cancer Institute Hospital were recruited for this study. Clinicopathological data were collected retrospectively, and compared between cases of AGC with duodenum invasion (AGC-DI group) and AGC without duodenum invasion (AGC-nDI group). In the AGC-DI group, the therapeutic value of lymph node dissection was evaluated using a therapeutic index (multiplication of the frequency of metastasis to the station by the 5-year survival rate of patients with metastasis to that station). Results  The AGC-DI group generally had tumors of higher pathological stage, which might account for the poorer 5-year survival rate compared with that of the AGC-nDI group (50.1% versus 68.5%; P = 0.0002). The incidence of lymph node metastasis was higher in the AGC-DI group than that in the AGC-nDI group, including nodes in the posterior pancreatic head (23.9% versus 7.0%, P < 0.0001). In the AGC-DI group, posterior pancreatic head lymph node dissection was of therapeutic value (4.19) equivalent to dissection of second-tier lymph nodes. Conclusions  The dissection of posterior pancreatic head lymph nodes might be effective in AGC with macroscopic duodenum invasion since this has therapeutic value equivalent to that of second-tier lymph node dissection and might improve patients’ long-term outcomes.     

Comparison of perioperative and oncologic outcomes between open and laparoscopic liver resection for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

Background

Laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) has become an essential method for treating malignant liver tumors. Although the perioperative and oncologic outcomes of LLR in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma have been reported, there are few reports of LLR for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC).

Methods

Patients who underwent liver resection for T1 or T2 IHCC between March 2010 and March 2015 in Gyeongsang National University Hospital were enrolled. They were divided into open (n = 23) and laparoscopic (n = 14) approaches, and the perioperative and oncologic outcomes were compared.

Results

The Pringle maneuver was less frequently used (p = 0.015) and estimated blood loss was lesser (p = 0.006) in the laparoscopic group. There were no significant differences in complication rate (p = 1.000), hospital stay (p = 0.371), tumor size (p = 0.159), lymph node metastasis (p = 0.127), and the number of retrieved lymph nodes (p = 0.553). The patients were followed up for a median of 21 months. The 3-year overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were 74.7 and 55.2 %, respectively. No differences were observed in the 3-year OS (75.7 vs 84.6 %, p = 0.672) and RFS (56.7 vs 76.9 %, p = 0.456) rates between the open and laparoscopic groups, even after the groups were divided into patients that received liver resection with or without lymph node dissection.

Conclusion

LLR for IHCC is a treatment modality that should be considered as an option alongside open liver resection in selected patients.

     

肾癌区域淋巴结转移的临床分析

目的 了解肾癌区域淋巴结转移的临床特点及发生发展规律,提高对本病的诊治效果.方法 回顾性分析2004年1月至2008年12月19例肾癌伴有区域淋巴结转移患者的资料.男15例,女4例.年龄29～77岁,中位年龄57岁.肿瘤位于左肾12例,右肾7例.腹膜后肿大淋巴结最大径1.5～5.0 cm,中位数2.8 cm,其中4例影像学检查未发现肿大淋巴结,术中探查证实.行腹膜后肿大淋巴结切除11例,区域淋巴结清扫8例.结果 肾癌发生区域淋巴结转移占同期收治肾癌的1.6%(19/1213).术后19例均获随访,随访时间8～78个月,中位数34个月.无瘤生存6例,带瘤生存7例,死亡6例,5年生存率68.4%.腹膜后区域淋巴结清扫组与肿大淋巴结切除组生存期及术后复发转移率比较差异均无统计学意义(P=0.644;P=0.319).结论 肾癌发生单纯区域淋巴结转移少见,术前影像学可能漏诊,部分患者通过区域淋巴结清扫或肿大淋巴结切除可获得无瘤生存.

Abstract：

Objective To discuss the characteristics of renal cell carcinoma with regional lymph node metastasis at diagnosis. Methods The data of 19 patients diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma with regional lymph node metastases at diagnosis from January 2004 to December 2008 were reviewed.The median age was 57 years (29-77).The study group included 15 males and four females.The primary tumor was located in the left kidney in 12 patients and fight in seven patients.The median maximam diameter of retroperitoneal lymph nodes was 2.8 cm(1.5-5.0).The lymph nodes in four patients were not detected by the preoperative image examination,but were confirmed by intraoperative exploration.Eleven cases had enlarged retroperitoneal lymph nodes resected and eight had regional lymph nodes dissected. Results The patients with regional lymph node metastases at diagnosis of renal celI carcinoma accounted for 1.6% (19/1213) of the total renal cell carcinoma cases.With a median follow-up of 34 months,six patients were survival without progression,and seven were survival with progression.giving a 5-year survival rate of 68.4%.The survival and recurrence rates after surgery were not significantly different by Fisher test(P=0.644 and 0.319 respectively) between the patients who underwent retroperitoneal regional lymph node dissection and those who underwent enlarged lymph node resection. Condmiom Renal cell carcinoma with regional lymph node metastasis at diagnosis is uncommon.Some patients may achieve long-term tumor-free survival through regional lymph node dissection or enlarged Iymph nodes resection.