Omission of mediastinal lymph node dissection in lung cancer: its techniques and diagnostic procedures.

To reduce or omit a mediastinal lymph node dissection in the patients with clinical stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), several authors examined the prevalence of metastatic sites of lymph nodes. Because lymphatic drainage usually heads for the upper mediastinum in upper lobe cancer and for the lower mediastinum in lower lobe cancer, upper and lower mediastinal lymph node dissection could be reduced in lung cancers of lower lobe and upper lobe. By using sentinel node (SN) navigation surgery, it is possible to omit mediastinal lymph node dissection. Radiological findings are also useful to determine reduction of mediastinal lymph node dissection. In clinical stage Ia adenocarcinomas that show ground glass opacity (GGO) findings on computed tomography (CT) or negative for fluorodeoxyglucose accumulation on positron emission tomography (PET), mediastinal lymph node dissection can be omitted, because these types of adenocarcinomas rarely metastasize to the lymph nodes. By using these procedures, mediastinal lymph node dissection can be reduced or omitted with little risk of local recurrence.     

Sentinel node sampling limits lymphadenectomy in stage I non-small cell lung cancer.

OBJECTIVE: It is controversial whether a systematic mediastinal lymph node dissection (MLND) needs to be performed in all patients with stage I lung cancer. The present study was done to examine the new sentinel lymph nodes hypothesis based on the lobe of the primary tumor. METHODS: In our first study, the lymph node (LN) metastases were assessed in 291 stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who had a major lung resection with a systematic mediastinal lymph node dissection. We evaluated the validity of using our new sentinel lymph nodes method based on the lobe of the primary tumor as follows: the pretracheal (#3), tracheobronchial (#4), and hilar nodes (#10) for right upper lobe tumors; #4, subcarinal (#7), and #10 for middle lobe tumors; the subaortic (#5), paraaortic (#6), and #10 for left upper lobe tumors; and the #7, #10, and interlobar nodes (#11) for tumors in either lower lobes. In the second study, we performed a lobectomy with new sentinel node sampling in 64 patients with preoperative complications. If all of the sampling nodes showed no metastases on frozen section diagnosis, systematic node dissections were not performed. RESULTS: Six of 291 patients in the first study had skip metastases that did not involve the new sentinel nodes; 5 of the 6 patients had macroscopic pleural invasion. Thus, we defined pleural invasion as an exclusion criterion for the second study. In the second study, the median follow-up time was 39 months. Metastatic lymph nodes were detected in 11 of 64 patients. Fifty-three patients (83%) had no metastasis in the sampled nodes, and, therefore, a mediastinal lymph node dissection was not done. The morbidity rate in the sampling group was 36%, and there was no mortality. In the sampling group, local recurrences were observed in two patients, distant metastases in eight, and carcinomatous pleuritis in one; the overall 5-year survival rate was 82%. CONCLUSIONS: We found that it is possible to perform a less invasive lymphadenectomy for patients with stage I lung cancer using intra-operative sampling of new sentinel lymph nodes.     

直径≤3cm的周围型非小细胞肺癌纵隔淋巴结转移规律的初步研究

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

Mediastinal lymph node involvement as the initial manifestation of occult thyroid cancer in the surgical treatment of lung cancer: Report of a case

A 63-year-old man was referred to our institute for the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the upper lobe of his right lung. A right upper lobectomy of the lung was performed with a mediastinal lymph node dissection. The postoperative pathological examination of the dissected specimens revealed one of the superior mediastinal lymph nodes to be morbid with micrometastasis of occult thyroid cancer, while no node involvement was seen due to lung cancer. A right lobectomy of the thyroid gland with a modified radical neck dissection was done 4 years later after the confirmation of the absence of any recurrent sign of lung cancer. In the resected specimen, papillary thyroid microcarcinoma was observed with several intraglandular metastases and right regional lymph node involvement. Eight months later, a new primary lung cancer developed in the left lung, and a left upper lobectomy of the lung with a mediastinal lymph node dissection was performed. At that time, the absence of mediastinal lymph node metastasis from lung cancer or thyroid cancer was confirmed. Mediastinal lymph node involvement as the initial manifestation of occult thyroid cancer in surgical treatment for lung cancer is rare, but it is important to be aware of the possibility of incidentally detecting occult thyroid cancer in surgical dissections in this area for lung cancer. The appropriate surgical treatment should be determined while carefully considering the prognosis of the lung cancer as well as that of any coexisting malignancy.     

Recurrence in regional pulmonary lymph nodes after surgery for isolated pulmonary metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma occasionally metastasizes to extrahepatic organs, rarely to the mediastinal lymph nodes. We present the case of a 64-year-old man who presented with nodules in the upper and right lower lobes of the lung 4 years after undergoing resection of a hepatocellular carcinoma. We performed wedge resection of both lesions. Pathological examination showed that the lesion in the right upper lobe was non-small cell lung cancer and that in the right lower lobe hepatocellular carcinoma. We accordingly performed right upper lobectomy with lymph node dissection. Nine months later, enlarged subcarinal and segmental lymph nodes were detected and mediastinal lymph node metastases from the hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosed by transbronchial needle aspiration.     

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

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

Prolonged survival in patients with resected non-small cell lung cancer and single-level N2 disease

OBJECTIVES: To test the hypothesis that patients with non-small cell lung cancer and single-level N2 metastases constitute a favorable subgroup of patients with mediastinal metastases, we analyzed the results of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group 3590 (a randomized prospective trial of adjuvant therapy in patients with resected stages II and IIIa non-small cell lung cancer) by site of primary tumor and pattern of lymph node metastases. METHODS: Accurate staging was ensured by mandating either systematic sampling or complete dissection of the ipsilateral mediastinal lymph nodes. The overall survival of patients with left lung non-small cell lung cancer and metastases in only 1 of lymph node levels 5, 6, or 7 and right lung non-small cell lung cancer with metastases in only 1 of levels 4 or 7 was compared with that of patients with N1 disease originating in the same lobe. RESULTS: The median survival of the 172 patients with single-level N2 disease was 35 months (95% confidence interval: 27-40 months) versus 65 months (95% confidence interval: 45-84 months) for the 150 patients with N1 disease (median follow-up 84 months, P =.01). However, among patients with left upper lobe tumors, survival was not significantly different between patients with N1 disease and patients with single-level N2 disease (49 vs 51 months, P =.63). The median survival of the 71 patients with single-level N2 metastases without concomitant N1 disease (skip metastases) was 59 months (95% confidence interval: 36-107 months) versus 26 months (95% confidence interval: 16-36 months) for the 145 patients with both N1 and N2 metastases (P =.001). CONCLUSIONS: Survival of patients with left upper lobe non-small cell lung cancer and metastases to single-level N2 lymph nodes is not significantly different from that of patients with N1 disease. The presence of isolate N2 skip metastases is associated with improved survival when compared with patients with both N1 and N2 disease. Survival should be reported by the lobe of primary tumor and metastatic pattern to guide future clinical trial development, treatment strategies, and revisions of the TNM staging system.     

The spread of metastatic lymph nodes to the mediastinum from left upper lobe cancer: results of superior mediastinal nodal dissection through a median sternotomy.

BACKGROUND: This study endeavored to clarify the location, frequency, and prognostic value of metastatic lymph nodes in the mediastinum among patients with left upper lung cancer who underwent complete dissection of the superior mediastinal lymph node through a median sternotomy. METHODS: Forty-four patients with left upper lobe cancer underwent extended radical mediastinal nodal dissection (ERD), all of whom were analyzed in this retrospective study. The group comprised 12 females and 32 males, with ages ranging from 28 to 70 years (median age, 60 years). Mediastinal nodal status was assessed according to the systems of Mountain/Dresler 7 and Naruke 8. The clinicopathological records of each patient were examined for prognostic factors, including age, sex, histology, tumor size, c-N number, preoperative serum CEA level, metastatic stations and distribution of metastatic nodes according to Naruke's system 8. The superior mediastinal lymph nodes which cannot be dissected through a left thoracotomy (bilateral #1 and #2, #3, right #3a, and right #4 according to Naruke's map 8 were defined as extra-superior mediastinal nodes for left lung cancer (ESMD). RESULTS: Fourteen patients had one or more metastases to mediastinal lymph nodes, among whom the most common metastatic station was the aortic nodes: 71.4% had metastasis to #5 or #6 (57.1% to #5 and 50% to #6). The next most common metastatic station was the left tracheobronchial nodes (42.8%). Metastasis to the ESMD occurred in 7 of the 44 study subjects (16%), representing a 50% rate of occurrence (7/14) among those with mediastinal nodal involvement. Univariate analysis found that CN factor and aortic nodal involvement (#5, #6) were significant predictive factors for ESMD metastasis. Multivariate analysis determined that only aortic nodal involvement was significant (p = 0.008). Furthermore, ESMD metastasis was rare (5.8%) in the absence of aortic node metastasis. The overall survival rate at 5 years was 50% among the patients without ESMD metastasis. However, the survival rate was 32% at 3 years and 0% at 5 years among the seven patients with ESMD metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: The aortic lymph node is the most common site of metastasis from left upper lobe cancer. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that aortic nodal involvement was a significant predictive factor for ESMD metastasis. Based upon the rates of metastasis and the post-operative prognosis in our study patients, dissection of aortic nodes and left tracheobronchial nodes may be important for patients with left upper lobe cancer. Whether ESMD dissection has a beneficial effect on prognosis remains controversial.     

Rational lymph node dissection for lung cancer according to the occurrence lobe and histological type]

Between January 1989 and December 1998, 134 cases of squamous cell carcinoma and 244 cases of adenocarcinoma underwent surgical resection of the lung with systematic lymph node dissection in our hospital. The cN diagnosis by CT scan and pN diagnosis were compared. In squamous cell carcinoma pN 2-3 cases were only one patient (2%) out of 60 patients with cN 0, 5 patients (18%) out of 28 patients with cN 1, and 21 patients (46%) out of 46 patients with cN 2-3. On the other hand in adenocarcinoma pN 2-3 cases were 27 patients (14%) out of 193 patients with cN 0, 3 patients (25%) out of 12 patients with cN 1, and 24 patients (62%) out of 39 patients with cN 2-3. The pathways of the lymphatic metastases to the mediastinal nodes were analized in 27 patients with squamous cell carcinoma and 54 patients with adenocarcinoma undergoing systematic lymph node dissection. All patients had histologically proven mediastinal metastasis. Histologically there was no difference in pathways of the lymphatic metastases to the mediastinal nodes. 1. The dominant lymphatic drainage from the right upper lobe flowed into the superior mediastinal nodes. The direct metastatic passages to the superior mediastinal nodes were observed (47%). Subcarinal and inferior mediastinal node involvement was rare (3%). 2. The dominant lymphatic drainage from the middle and the lower lobe flowed into the subcarinal nodes (85%). The involvement of the superior mediastinal nodes occurred in 53% of subcarinal node positive patients on the right side. 3. The dominant lymphatic drainage from the left upper lobe flowed into the subaortic or paraaortic nodes (69%). Subcarinal and inferior mediastinal node involvement was rare (6%). We conclude that subcarinal and inferior mediastinal lymph node dissection is not necessary for upper lobe lung cancers, and that superior mediastinal lymph node dissection can be omitted in middle and lower lobe lung cancers without hilar and subcarinal lymph node involvement, especially in the cases of cN 0.     

肺叶、肺段淋巴结引流的解剖学特征

目的探讨肺叶、肺段淋巴结引流的解剖学特征。 方法对9具成人尸体采用解剖乳胶填充剂行胸部淋巴结灌注,然后游离标本的纵隔前、纵隔后及中纵隔淋巴结,同时游离并清扫右肺上、中、下肺叶和各个肺段,以及左肺上、下肺叶和各个肺段的肺内淋巴结、肺门淋巴结;观察淋巴结的分布、数目和淋巴回流状况。 结果在标本上共观察到212个纵隔淋巴结,平均每例23.5个;各区淋巴结的数目以隆突下淋巴结7区和右下气管旁4R最多,其次为右气管支气管旁(10R)、左支气管旁(10L)和主-肺动脉窗区(5区)淋巴结;纵隔各区以隆突下区(7区)淋巴结最大,其次是右气管支气管旁(10R)淋巴结,气管旁淋巴结自上而下直至隆突下淋巴结逐渐增大,并且右侧大于左侧,即下大于上,右大于左。左肺和右肺的肺内淋巴结一般按照亚段淋巴结→段淋巴结→叶淋巴结→叶间淋巴结/肺门淋巴结;右肺上叶、中叶及肺门淋巴结通常回流至上纵隔淋巴结及隆突下淋巴结,下叶回流至下纵隔淋巴结。而左肺上叶一般引流至主—肺动脉窗区淋巴结及隆突下淋巴结,下叶也引流至下纵隔淋巴结。 结论肺叶及纵隔淋巴回流具有一定的规律性,从而为肺叶特异性/系统性淋巴结清扫方式的选择提供了解剖学依据。     

Thoracoscopic right upper mediastinal dissection for left lung cancer

OBJECTIVE: In left lung cancer, left and right mediastinum lymphatic spread occur equally frequently. We evaluated the safety and effectiveness of thoracoscopic right upper mediastinal dissection, implemented prior to left lung resection for left lung cancer. METHODS: Between January 1999 and May 2000, 17 patients with left lung cancer underwent thoracoscopic right upper mediastinal dissection prior to resection of the left lung and left mediastinal dissection for left lung cancer. These patients had either enlarged left hilar or bilateral mediastinal nodes, or either a tumor at least 3 cm in diameter or tumor extension to the hilum, mediastinum, or chest wall. Tumor and lymph nodes were examined with hematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemical staining of cytokeratin for micrometastasis. RESULTS: In 3 patients (17.6%), metastasis occurred in right paratracheal nodes. The 30-day mortality was 0% and morbidity 35.3% (6/17). Postoperative complications occurred in 3 of 4 patients (75%) undergoing induction chemotherapy, but none were lethal. CONCLUSION: Thoracoscopic right upper mediastinal dissection is safe and feasible in treating advanced left lung cancer.     

Video-assisted thoracic surgery for left lung cancer in a patient with a right aortic arch

We report a rare case of left lung cancer in a patient with a right aortic arch. A 65-year-old woman was diagnosed to have an adenocarcinoma in the left upper lobe (S3) in addition to a right aortic arch (type II), with the left subclavian artery originating from the descending aorta. Left upper lobectomy and lymph node dissection was performed by video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). For the mediastinal dissection, the upper mediastinal lymph nodes were easily resected after verifying the location of the arterial ligament and the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN). This is the first report of using VATS to remove a lung cancer from a patient with a right aortic arch.     

The pattern of mediastinal nodal involvement in lung cancer according to tumor-located lobe]

To clarify the pathway of the metastases from each pulmonary lobe to mediastinal nodes, we examined the pattern of mediastinal nodal involvement in 462 resected pN2 non-small cell lung cancer. Carcinomas of the right upper lobe frequently involved #3 (78/133) and #4 (70/133) nodes, whereas those of the right middle or lower lobe frequently metastasized to #7 nodes (18/23 and 86/113, respectively). On the other hand, carcinoma of left upper lobe frequently involved #5 nodes (81/118), whereas those of the left lower lobe most frequently metastasized to #7 nodes (50/75). Of 462 pN2 patients, 95 (20.6%) had skip metastases to the mediastinal nodes. Skip metastasis was observed more frequently in carcinomas of right upper and middle lobe. One of the reasons of skip metastasis may be the direct lymph drainage through subpleural space to mediastinum.     

In what case can we abbreviate mediastinal lymph nodes dissection of peripheral small-sized lung cancer?

We analyzed 723 cases of non small cell lung cancer (459 adenocarcinomas and 264 squamous cell carcinomas) from the view point of lymph nodes metastases, according to histological type, location of cancer and tumor size. METHOD: Histological type was adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma. Location was divided into 8 areas [right side; 4 areas, upper lobe (RUL)/middle lobe (RML)/S6 (RS6)/basal segment of lower lobe (RBS): left side; 4 areas, upper division of upper lobe (LUD)/lingula (LLS)/S6 (LS6)/Basal segment of lower lobe (LBS)]. Tumor size was divided by centimeters, namely 0.0-1.0 cm, 1.1-2.0 cm, 2.1-3.0 cm, etc.. RESULTS: Safety size of lung cancer in which we can abbreviate mediastinal lymph nodes dissection was as follows. In adenocarcinoma, in RUL/RML/RBS 1.0 cm, in RS6 2.0 cm, in LUD 1.0 cm, in LLS/LS6/LBS 2.0 cm. In squamous cell carcinoma, in RUL 1.0 cm, in RML/RS6/RBS 2.0 cm, in LUD 1.0 cm, in LLS/LS6/LBS 2.0 cm. CONCLUSION: In 1.0 cm or smaller non small cell lung cancer we might abbreviate mediastinal lymph nodes dissection. Moreover, in squamous cell carcinoma of (RML, LLS, right or left lower lobe) of 2.0 cm or smaller size, we might abbreviate mediastinal lymph nodes dissection.     

Results of surgical intervention for p-stage IIIA (N2) non-small cell lung cancer: acceptable prognosis predicted by complete resection in patients with single N2 disease with primary tumor in the upper lobe

OBJECTIVES: Non-small cell lung cancer with mediastinal lymph node involvement is a heterogeneous entity different from single mediastinal lymph node metastasis to multiple nodes or extranodal disease. The objective of this study was to identify the subpopulation of patients with N2 disease who can benefit from surgical intervention. METHODS: We reviewed 219 consecutive patients with N2 non-small cell lung cancer treated with a thoracotomy between November 1980 and June 2002 and retrospectively analyzed 154 of those who had p-stage IIIA disease and underwent a complete resection. Age, sex, side (right or left), histology, location (upper or middle-lower lobe), tumor size, c-N factor, and N2 level (single or multiple) were used as prognostic variables. RESULTS: The 3- and 5-year survivals were 45.3% and 28.1%, respectively, in patients with p-stage IIIA (N2) disease. Survival for those with single N2 non-small cell lung cancer was significantly better than in those with multiple N2 disease (P =.0001), and patients with a tumor in the upper lobe showed a significantly longer survival than those with middle-lower lobe involvement (P =.0467). The 3- and 5-year survivals for patients with single N2 disease with a primary tumor in the upper lobe were 74.9% and 53.5%, respectively. A multivariate analysis with Cox regression identified 5 predictors of better prognosis: younger age, squamous cell carcinoma as determined by histology, primary tumor location in the upper lobe, c-N0 status, and a single station of mediastinal node metastasis. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that of the heterogeneity of N2 diseases, patients with single N2 disease with non-small cell lung cancer in the upper lobe are good candidates for pulmonary resection.     

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

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

Systemic mediastinal lymph node dissection of right lung cancer: surgical quality control and analysis of mediastinal lymph node metastatic patterns

Standardization of systemic mediastinal lymph node dissection (SMLD) of lung cancer requires further investigation. A consecutive 124 right lung cancer patients were recruited for pulmonary resection plus SMLD. Three mediastinal lymph node compartments, (i) the upper compartment (station 1-4), (ii) the middle compartment (station 7-8) and (iii) the lower compartment (station 9), were en bloc collected to achieve surgical quality control and to analyze mediastinal lymph node metastatic patterns. The number of total harvested lymph nodes, N1 nodes and N2 nodes were 21.9+/-8.7, 9.2+/-4.7 and 12.8+/-6.7, respectively. Tumor location (peripheral or central) (P=0.023) and status of blood vessel invasion (P=0.002) were identified as risk factors for nodal involvement. Right upper lobe (RUL) cancer with N2 disease primarily metastasized to the upper compartment (27.3%) (P=0.001). For right lower lobe (RLL) cancer, lymph node metastasis most commonly detected in the middle compartment (48.8%) (P=0.001). Single mediastinal compartment metastasis occurred in 64.7% (11/17) of adenocarcinomas from RUL and RML, whereas multiple compartments metastasis occurred in all adenocarcinoma cases (12/12) from RLL (P=0.001). SMLD needs to standardize the extent of lymphadenectomy and number of removed lymph nodes for surgical quality control. Simplifying mediastinal lymph node stations to three compartments may benefit surgical excision.     

肺癌跳跃式纵隔淋巴结转移的临床病理探讨

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

Indication of limited pulmonary resection for small-sized lung cancer based on preoperative clinical data

Limited pulmonary resection is performed mostly based on the size of lung cancer and ground-glass opacity (GGO). It has been proposed to determine the indication of segmentectomy according to hilar lymph node involvement. There is a potential risk of underestimation for lymph node involvement since there may be a skip mediastinal lymph node metastasis without hilar involvement. We propose to use standardized uptake value( SUV) max of primary lung cancer as an indicator of non-invasive lung cancer. None of 44 small-sized lung cancers with SUVmax lower than 1 had lymph node metastasis or vessel invasion. A small-sized lung cancer ≤ 2 cm with SUVmax ≤ 1 is indicated wedge resection if GGO area is greater than 75% of tumor. Segmentectomy is indicated if the GGO area is less than 75%. We also propose selective lymphadenectomy for small-sized lung cancer. The lower mediastinal lymphadenectomy may be omitted if a small-sized tumor is located in the right upper lobe or the left upper segment. The upper mediastinal lymphadenectomy may be omitted if a small-sized lung cancer is located in the lower lobe and if the lower mediastinal lymph node involvement is excluded.     

Complete resection via medial sternotomy for non-small cell lung cancer in the right upper lobe

BACKGROUND: Right upper lobectomy with right cervical and bilateral mediastinal lymph node dissection via a median approach was performed for non-small cell lung cancer. METHODS: From 1995 to 2003, 48 patients aged < or = 70 years underwent resection of cancer in the right upper lobe, including 26 with N0, four with N1 and 18 with N2 disease. RESULTS: Metastases to the right cervical, highest mediastinal, pretracheal and bilateral tracheobronchial lymph nodes were frequent. There were no operative or hospital deaths. Preoperative accuracy of N-factor diagnosis was only 35.4%. The overall 5-year survival rate was 58.8%. The rate for C-N2 disease (n = 18) was 42.6%, and the rate for p-N2 disease (n = 7) and p-N3 disease (n = 13) was 57.1% and 0%, respectively, using the Kaplan-Meier method. CONCLUSIONS: Patients without N3 disease have a good prognosis, and extended and systematic radical lymphadenectomy via median sternotomy improves the staging, and possibly the prognosis of pure N2 disease.