Two-step three-field lymph node dissection is beneficial for thoracic esophageal carcinoma

Aggressive surgery including extensive lymph node dissection is considered necessary to improve the long-term survival of patients with esophageal carcinoma. While three-field lymph node dissection is widely performed for patients with thoracic esophageal carcinoma, cervical lymph node metastasis is uncommon. In order to reduce surgical stress, we have developed a two-step three-field lymph node dissection procedure for thoracic esophageal carcinoma. In the first-step operation, total thoracic esophagectomy through a right thoracotomy is performed. Mediastinal and abdominal lymph node dissection is performed synchronously. When recurrent nerve lymph node metastasis is pathologically positive, cervical lymph node dissection is performed about 3 weeks after the first operation (second step). Of 343 patients with carcinoma of the esophagus surgically treated in our department between 1990 and 2001, 146 underwent the operation described above. Three-field dissection was performed in 68 patients (group A), while two-field dissection was performed in 78 patients (group B). In the 68 group A patients, cervical lymph node metastasis was positive in 15 patients (22%). There was no marked difference in the onset of major complications between the two groups. The 5-year survival rate was 58% for group A and 61% for group B, not a statistically significant difference. In 78 of the 146 patients, it was possible to avoid cervical lymph node dissection without negatively affecting therapeutic outcomes. Two-step three-field lymph node dissection can reduce surgical stress of patients with good clinical outcome.     

IL-2、IL-4、GM-CSF对食管癌引流淋巴结细胞生长及分泌细胞因子的影响

目的 探讨不同刺激剂对食管癌肿瘤引流淋巴结(TDLN)细胞生长和分泌细胞因子的影响.方法 术中切取TDLN进行培养,根据培养基中添加刺激剂不同分为三组,A组:添加IL-2;B组:添加IL-2+IL-4+GM-CSF;C组:添加IL-2+IL4+GM-CSF+自身肿瘤细胞抗原(tAg).计数培养第1、7、14、21天的细胞数,采用FCM测定TDLN细胞中CD3+、CD4+、CD8+、CD56+、CD83+细胞的比例,采用ELISA和Griess法测定培养上清液中IL-12、IFN-γ、TNF-а和NO水平.结果 三组间收获细胞数相似(F=1.689,P=0.127),第14天收获细胞数明显多于第7、21天(P<0.001),第7天与第21天相似(P0.05).收获的细胞中,三组CD4+、CD8+、CD83+细胞比例差异显著(P<0.05).三组TNF-а仅水平相近(P=0.302),但在第14天明显高于第7、21天(P<0.05),第7天与第21天时相似(P0.05).三组的IFN-γ、IL-12和NO含量比较,P<0.05.三组的IFN-γ水平在培养第14、21天均明显高于第7天(P相似文献   

Three-field vs two-field lymph node dissection for esophageal cancer: A meta-analysis

AIM: To assess the effects of 3-field lymphadenectomy for esophageal carcinoma.METHODS: We conducted a computerized literature search of the PubMed, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, and EMBASE databases from their inception to present. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or observational epidemiological studies (cohort studies) that compared the survival rates and/or postoperative complications between 2-field lymphadenectomy (2FL) and 3-field lymphadenectomy (3FL) for esophageal carcinoma with R0 resection were included. Meta-analysis was conducted using published data on 3FL vs 2FL in esophageal carcinoma patients. End points were 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates and postoperative complications, including recurrent nerve palsy, anastomosis leak, pulmonary complications, and chylothorax. Subgroup analysis was performed on the involvement of recurrent laryngeal lymph nodes.RESULTS: Two RCTs and 18 observational studies with over 7000 patients were included. There was a clear benefit for 3FL in the 1- (RR = 1.16; 95%CI: 1.09-1.24; P < 0.01), 3- (RR = 1.44; 95%CI: 1.19-1.75; P < 0.01), and 5-year overall survival rates (RR = 1.37; 95%CI: 1.18-1.59; P < 0.01). For postoperative complications, 3FL was associated with significantly more recurrent nerve palsy (RR = 1.43; 95%CI: 1.28-1.60; P = 0.02) and anastomosis leak (RR = 1.26; 95%CI: 1.05-1.52; P = 0.09). In contrast, there was no significant difference for pulmonary complications (RR = 0.93; 95%CI: 0.75-1.16, random-effects model; P = 0.27) or chylothorax (RR = 0.77; 95%CI: 0.32-1.85; P = 0.69).CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis shows that 3FL improves overall survival rate but has more complications. Because of the high heterogeneity among outcomes, definite conclusions are difficult to draw.     

Posterior mediastinal lymph node dissection using the pneumomediastinum method for esophageal cancer

Although posterior mediastinal lymph node metastases are often observed in patients with esophageal cancer, their complete resection via a right thoracic approach is difficult and carries a risk of complications. We have developed a novel procedure for en-bloc dissection of the posterior mediastinal lymph nodes using the pneumomediastinum method. The patient was a 48-year-old female with middle thoracic esophageal cancer. A computed tomography scan showed a posterior mediastinal lymph node 1?cm in diameter. After division of the gastrosplenic ligament by hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery, the esophageal hiatus was opened, and carbon dioxide was introduced into the mediastinum. The anterior and left sides of the distal esophagus were separated, and a swollen posterior mediastinal lymph node was detected. Subsequently, the adventitia of the thoracic aorta was exposed, and the posterior side of the lymph node was separated. While lifting these nodes like a membrane, we cut them along the border of the left mediastinal pleura. Histopathological examination revealed a single squamous cell carcinoma metastasis in the resected lymph node. A good surgical view was obtained in our surgical procedure, and en-bloc dissection of the posterior mediastinal lymph nodes was safely performed.     

An esophageal gastrointestinal stromal tumor with regional lymph node metastasis

We report a case of a 72-year-old woman with an esophageal gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) with regional lymph node metastasis. Endoscopy and barium esophagography revealed a large submucosal tumor in the lower esophagus. Computed tomography showed a solid 8-cm tumor, suggesting an esophageal mesenchymal tumor. Endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy was positive for c-KIT and CD34, and negative for desmin and S-100. The patient underwent middle and lower esophagectomy via left thoracotomy, followed by gastric tube reconstruction. The tumor was completely resected, but a metastasis in the right paracardial lymph node was observed. Pathological examination confirmed the tumor to be high risk. We are carefully following up the patient.     

Open retroperitoneal lymph node dissection

Testicular cancer has become one of the most curable solid malignancies. Although chemotherapy can rescue patients with advanced disease, accurate staging of the retroperitoneum has been a mainstay of effectiveness of treatment. Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection via open technique has been and remains the gold standard for pathologic staging of the retroperitoneum as well as effective therapy for patients with minimal nodal involvement. Retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy has resulted in a 99.5% tumor survival for patients with clinical stage I or early stage II disease. Alternatives to open retroperitoneal lymph node dissection include laparoscopic retroperitoneal lymph node dissection, active surveillance, or primary chemotherapy. Each of these modalities has a potential role in selected patients. For the majority of patients, however, a meticulous retroperitoneal lymph node dissection gives patients the highest likelihood of survival with relatively low morbidity.     

Significance of lymph node dissection of the superior mediastinal region in esophageal cancer patients

The effect of the superior mediastinal lymph node dissection was compared retrospectively with that of standard dissection in 108 esophageal cancer patients. Five-year survival rates were 46.3% in patients who underwent standard surgery (group A) and 39.3% in patients who underwent superior mediastinal lymph node dissection (group B). The survival curves were basically the same. Nineteen out of 42 (45.2%) tumors in group A and 24 out of 66 (36.4%) tumors in group B recurred. The distribution of the first sites of recurrence did not differ significantly between groups. However, 14 tumors (67%) in group A recurred in the lymph nodes, but only seven tumors recurred (28%) in the lymph nodes in group B. Eleven tumors (52%) in group A recurred to superior mediastinal nodes, but only one tumor (4%) recurred to a superior mediastinal node in group B. Fourteen of the group B patients showed metastasis to superior mediastinal lymph nodes and none of these patients survived for more than 5 years. Eleven of these 14 patients showed metastasis to only one or two nodes. Based on our data and other reported findings, we conclude that extended lymphadenectomy of the superior mediastinal region alone does not contribute to improved survival of esophageal cancer patients, but it does contribute to the prevention of lymph node recurrence in this region.     

Lateral lymph node dissection for lower rectal cancer

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of lateral lymph node dissection (LLD) on overall survival, disease-free survival, and local recurrence for the patients with lower rectal cancer. METHODOLOGY: From 1990 through 2000, 169 consecutive patients with T2 (TNM classification) or more advanced, extended lower rectal cancer (located below the peritoneal reflection) underwent curative resection at Kanagawa Cancer Center were reviewed. One hundred and forty-three patients who underwent LLD and the 26 patients who did not were entered in this study. RESULTS: Cox's multivariate regression analysis showed T stage (TMN classification), N stage (TNM classification), and LLD were found to be significantly related to the rates of both cumulative survival and disease-free survival. That mean LLD was identified as a significant prognostic factor. But disease-free survival did not differ significantly between the patients who underwent LLD and those who did not undergo LLD in stage I, II, or III disease (p = 0.3681, p = 0.1815, and p = 0.0896, respectively). The local recurrence rate was similar in patients who received LLD (17.5 percent) and in those who did not receive LLD (23.1 percent; p = 0.498). But 7 patients with lateral lymph node metastasis (33.3 percent) remained disease free. And these patients had local lateral lymph node metastasis and benefited from LLD. CONCLUSIONS: LLD can substantially improve outcomes in selected patients at high risk for lateral lymph node metastasis. A randomized controlled clinical study is necessary to clarify the role of LLD in the treatment of rectal cancer.     

Value of subcarinal lymph node dissection in esophageal cancer surgery: A case-control study

We investigated the value of subcarinal lymph node dissection in esophageal cancer surgery. Altogether, 240 patients with esophageal cancer admitted to our department between June 2012 and January 2016 were prospectively assigned to an experimental group (subcarinal lymph node dissection group, n = 120 cases) and a control group (uncleaned group, n = 120 cases). The number of subcarinal lymph nodes and the rate of subcarinal lymph node metastasis were determined, and the factors influencing subcarinal lymph node metastasis were analyzed using logistic regression in the experimental group. The operation time, postoperative complications, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, total postoperative hospital cost, and 5-year survival rate were compared between the 2 groups. In the experimental group, an average of 6.03 subcarinal lymph nodes were dissected, and the lymph node metastasis rate was 18.33%. The subcarinal lymph node metastasis rate in the experimental group was related to the size of the subcarinal lymph nodes, depth of tumor invasion, and tumor location. The 5-year survival rate was higher in the experimental group than in the control group (44.2% vs 30.0%, χ² = 6.407, P = .04). The subcarinal lymph node metastasis rate in patients with esophageal cancer is high. Patients with mid-thoracic esophageal cancers that infiltrate beyond the esophageal muscle layer with subcarinal lymph node size > 1.0 cm should undergo lymph node resection, despite increased operation time, incidence of postoperative pulmonary infection, hospitalization time, and total postoperative cost; lymph node resection may improve the 5-year survival rate.     

Indications for paraaortic lymph node dissection in gastric cancer patients with paraaortic lymph node involvement

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The surgical results for stage IVb gastric cancer remain very poor. The purpose of the current study is to reveal indications for paraaortic lymph node dissection in stage IVb gastric cancer patients with paraaortic lymph node involvement by analyzing prognostic factors for 3-year survival of stage IVb gastric cancer patients followed by curative B resection. METHODOLOGY: The 3-year survival in clinicopathologic variables were compared by univariate analysis. Using Cox proportional hazards regression model, independent prognostic factors were identified from 11 variables. RESULTS: Overall 5-year survival in stage IVb was 26.5%; mean survival was 19 months. Using univariate analysis, p53 expression significantly influenced 3-year survival. Using Cox proportional hazards regression model, the number of total positive lymph nodes, the number of positive paraaortic lymph nodes, and p53 expression were independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS: In stage IVb, paraaortic lymph node dissection should be indicated in patients with < or = 10 total positive lymph nodes, and < or = 3 positive paraaortic lymph nodes or p53 expression < or = 50%. This indication can be applied according to the preoperative imaging, the staining of p53 by endoscopic biopsy specimens and the intraoperative microscopic evaluation of dissected lymph nodes.     

Lymph node metastasis along the recurrent nerve chain is an indication for cervical lymph node dissection in thoracic esophageal cancer

This study examined whether recurrent nerve chain node metastasis serves as an indicative factor for cervical lymph node dissection in thoracic esophageal cancer. The association of recurrent nerve chain lymph node metastasis and cervical node metastasis was analyzed for 91 patients with thoracic esophageal cancer who had undergone three-field lymph node dissection. In patients with upper thoracic esophageal cancer, the incidence of cervical lymph node metastasis was similar regardless of recurrent nerve chain node metastasis. On the other hand, in patients with middle or lower esophageal cancer, the incidence was significantly higher in recurrent nerve-positive (16/31, 51.6%) than in recurrent nerve-negative (5/43, 11.6%) patients. The prognosis of patients with recurrent nerve chain node metastasis was significantly better in the three-field dissection group than in the two-field dissection group, while in patients with no recurrent nerve chain node metastasis, survival was similar between the two groups. In conclusion, cervical lymphadenectomy can be omitted for recurrent nerve chain node-negative patients with middle and lower thoracic esophageal cancer.     

胃癌淋巴结转移规律及其清扫范围探讨

目的　探讨胃癌淋巴结转移规律及其清扫范围。方法　对188例接受手术治疗的胃癌患者,于术中用美蓝-胃癌单克隆抗体(MAb)3H11标记淋巴结,并对染色淋巴结进行清扫,术后统计切除标本的淋巴结转移情况及病理特征。结果 188例胃癌患者的淋巴结转移率为62.8％(118／188)。胃上1／3(U区)、中1／3(M区)、下1／3(L区)及全胃癌患者的淋巴结转移率分别为61.9％、60.0％、57.5％及95.0％。早、中、晚期胃癌患者淋巴结转移率依次呈递增趋势,P<0.05。浸润型(Ⅲ、Ⅳ型)转移率(76.1％)明显高于局限型(Ⅰ、Ⅱ型)(44.3％),P<0.05。肿瘤直径≤4cm、-7cm和≥8cm者的淋巴结转移率依次增加,差异有显著性,P均<0.01。结论 胃癌淋巴结转移率较高。尤其晚期、浸润型及直径>4cm的胃癌,其淋巴结转移率更高,术中应按胃癌的临床病理分期、部位、大小及Borrman分型,选择淋巴结清扫范围。如果根据术中美蓝-MAb3H11标记结果确定淋巴清扫范围将更准确可靠。     

Aortic and vena caval reconstruction with retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for metastatic germ cell tumor

A 49-year-old man who had a huge testicular tumor with retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis and bilateral multiple pulmonary metastases was referred to our hospital. Firstly orchiectomy was done obtaining the pathological diagnosis of mixed type germ cell tumor. After cisplatin-based chemotherapy, he underwent resection of the retroperitoneal lymph node involving the abdominal aorta and the inferior vena cava. Both great vessels were resected with the tumor and reconstructed with prosthetic grafts. Two months after the laparotomy, 12 metastatic nodules in the left lung were resected. Seven months later, he furthermore underwent resection of 4 metastatic nodules in the right lung. Microscopically, all resected metastatic tumors were diagnosed to be mature teratoma without viable malignant cells. The patient remains well 30 months after the first operation. Follow-up CT scan demonstrates patency of aortic and vena caval bypass grafts without local recurrence or distant metastasis.     

Three-field lymph node dissection in the treatment of thoracic esophageal carcinoma: the Turkish experience

SUMMARY.  The role of extended lymphatic dissection on the prognosis and outcome of thoracic esophageal carcinoma is still controversial. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of three-field lymphatic dissection on the survival and recurrence rates of patients with thoracic carcinoma of the esophagus. Forty-six patients with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus underwent esophagectomy with three-field lymphatic dissection between 1992 and 2003. Recurrence and survival rates were examined as well as complications. Overall survival for the patients was 45.6 months and 5-year survival rate was 56%. Five-year survival rates for patients with Stage 2A, 2B, 3 and 4 were 68%, 0%, 53% and 33%, respectively. There was no Stage 1 patient. Mean disease-free survival was 41.4 months. Sixty three percent of patients had node-negative disease (5-year survival rate, 68.9%) and 37% had nodal metastases (5-year survival rate, 33.7%) ( P  = 0.002). Surgical morbidity was seen in 35 patients (76.1%). Conclusively, lymph node involvement in patients with thoracic esophageal carcinoma is the major determinant of prognosis and survival. Extended lymphatic dissection provides higher disease-free and overall survival rates and our study revealed the highest survival rate for thoracic esophageal carcinoma, to best of our knowledge.     

Effectiveness of paraaortic lymph node dissection for advanced gastric cancer

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To evaluate the effectiveness of paraaortic lymph node dissection (D4) for gastric cancer from the viewpoint of long-term results. METHODOLOGY: Among 879 patients who underwent gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer, 130 patients who underwent D4 lymphadenectomy were evaluated in relation to clinicopathological findings and long-term results. RESULTS: The frequency of histological paraaortic lymph node metastasis (n4) was 23.1% (30/130). The cumulative 5-year survival rate of 30 n4 patients with D4 lymphadenectomy was 16.7%, which was higher than that (4.2%) of n4 patients without D4 (sampling of paraaortic lymph nodes). Among n4 patients with D4 lymphadenectomy, the cumulative survival rate in 8 patients with 1-2 paraaortic lymph nodes involved (5-year survival rate: 50%) was significantly higher than that in 21 patients with 3 or more paraaortic lymph nodes involved (5-year survival rate: 4.6%). According to the intra-operative macroscopic extent of lymph node metastasis, the cumulative survival rate of patients who were judged as N2 was higher than that of patients judged as N4. CONCLUSIONS: Paraaortic lymph node dissection for advanced gastric cancer was effective, especially when it was done prophylactically and when the number of paraaortic lymph node metastases were 2 or less.     

Proposal on the extent of lymph node dissection for gallbladder carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To evaluate the value of performing extended regional lymph node dissection for gallbladder carcinoma, the mode of recurrence after curative resection was analyzed. METHODOLOGY: Records of 45 patients who underwent surgical resection for gallbladder carcinoma from 1973 to August 1997 were reviewed. RESULTS: Thirty-three cases underwent a curative resection and 12 received a non-curative resection. Among the 32 patients who survived the curative resection, cancer recurred in 7 with lymph node metastasis, whereas recurrence was found in only 1 of the remaining 25 patients without lymph node metastasis (p < 0.0001). At the 1st diagnosis of recurrence in these 8 patients, lymph node recurrence was detected in 7, and the site of recurrence was limited to the lymph nodes, which were confined to the peripancreatic region and the interaortocaval nodes near the left renal vein in 4 cases. CONCLUSIONS: In view of the site of the metastatic lymph nodes and the lymphatic drainage system of the gallbladder, it was considered that lymph node dissection was inadequate in 5 of the 8 patients and that 2 might have been cured by extended regional lymph node dissection, including complete resection of the retroportal, posterior pancreatoduodenal, right celiac and interaortocaval nodes.     

Rationale for extent of lymph node dissection for right colon cancer

PURPOSE: The extent of lymph node dissection optimal for the prognosis of right colon cancer is investigated. METHODS: Between 1946 and 1991, 275 patients had curative operation for right colon cancer. A retrospective analysis of rate and degree of lymph node metastasis was performed in each of the 275 patients, and survival rate was estimated in 197 patients who could be followed over a period of three years or more. RESULTS: In most of the curative operative cases of right colon cancer, metastasis to epicolic and paracolic nodes was restricted up to 10 cm proximal or distal to the tumor margin, and metastasis in the central direction was restricted up to main nodes. When cancer metastasized to infrapyloric lymph nodes, dissection of the nodes resulted in a higher rate of long-term prognosis. The five-year cumulative survival rates showed no statistically significant difference between any two of the N0 to N3 lymph node metastasis groups. CONCLUSION: The dissection procedure for right colon cancer involved removal of 10 cm of normal bowel both proximal and distal to the lesion and, in the central direction, dissection of regional lymph nodes along the main trunk artery up to main nodes,i.e., nodes situated anterior to the surgical trunk, which was confirmed to have a therapeutically satisfactory benefit. Infrapyloric lymph nodes must be dissected when metastasis to the nodes is suspected. In cases of cecal or ascending colon cancer in which the middle colic artery is no longer the main trunk artery, a right hemicolectomy with resection of only the right branch of the middle colic artery will usually suffice.