Preoperative CT scan for esophageal tumor]

Thoracic CT scans were performed preoperatively in 19 patients with carcinoma of the esophagus and one patient with esophageal leiomyoma. CT findings were compared with surgical and pathological findings before and after operation. CT was shown to be inaccurate in the preoperative assessment of the involvement of esophageal carcinoma and of little value in judging potential resectability (69%). Its accuracy was low in staging the tumor, usually understaging (37.5% staging II) or overstaging tumor (45.4% staging III), without information about suitable treatment of esophageal cancer. With low accuracy in visualizing lymph nodes of the mediastinum and periesophagus (30%), it is not helpful in distinguishing benign from malignant tumor of the esophagus.     

Positron emission tomographic imaging with fluorodeoxyglucose isefficacious in evaluating malignant pulmonary disease

OBJECTIVE: Positron emission tomography (PET), when used with the intravenously administered radiopharmaceutical F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), has the potential to help in the evaluation of patients with lung cancer because the radiopharmaceutical is concentrated by metabolically active cells. We conducted a retrospective study of PET-FDG in 96 patients evaluated at our institution over the past 2 years for suspected primary pulmonary neoplasms. PET-FDG results were compared with the findings of computed tomographic scans on the same patients. All patients underwent surgical exploration with or without resection of the malignant tumors. Sites of potential malignancy were subjected to biopsy and/or excision, with subsequent pathologic evaluation. RESULTS: A total of 96 patients with suspected or proven primary pulmonary malignant disease were evaluated. Sixty-six patients had histologically confirmed malignant tumors, and 30 had benign masses histologically. PET-FDG had an accuracy of detecting malignancy in pulmonary lesions of 92% (sensitivity 97%; specificity 89%). A total of 111 surgically sampled sites were from lymph nodes. PET-FDG was accurate in predicting the malignancy of nodes in 91% of instances, whereas computed tomography was correct in 64%. The sensitivity, specificity, and predictive accuracy of PET in detecting metastatic lymphadenopathy in mediastinal lymph nodes were 98%, 94%, and 95%, respectively. PET-FDG also changed the M stage in 8 (12%) patients (6 with and 2 without metastases). The 6 malignant (positive) lesions were correctly identified by PET-FDG, and the 2 without tumor were accurately predicted as benign (negative). CONCLUSION: These initial results suggest that PET-FDG is highly accurate in identifying and staging lung cancer. PET-FDG also appears to be more accurate in detecting metastatic mediastinal lymphadenopathy than computed tomographic scan.     

The role of FDG-PET scan in staging patients with nonsmall cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND: To assess the role of flourodeoxyglucose-positron-emission tomography (FDG-PET) scan in staging patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: We prospectively studied 400 patients with NSCLC. Each patient underwent a computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest and upper abdomen, other conventional staging studies and had a FDG-PET scan within 1 month before surgery. All suspicious N2 lymph nodes by either chest CT or by FDG-PET scan were biopsied. Patients that were N2 and M1 negative underwent pulmonary resection and complete thoracic lymphadenectomy. RESULTS: The FDG-PET had a higher sensitivity (71% vs 43%, p < 0.001), positive predictive value (44% vs 31%, p < 0.001), negative predictive value (91% vs 84%, p = 0.006), and accuracy (76% vs 68%, p = 0.037) than CT scan for N2 lymph nodes. Similarly, FDG-PET had a higher sensitivity (67% vs 41%, p < 0.001), but lower specificity (78% vs 88%, p = 0.009) than CT scan for N1 lymph nodes. FDG-PET led to unnecessary mediastinoscopy in 38 patients. FDG-PET was most commonly falsely negative in the subcarinal (#7) station and the aortopulmonary window lymph node (#5, #6) stations. It accurately upstaged 28 patients (7%) with unsuspected metastasis and it accurately downstaged 23 patients (6%). CONCLUSIONS:The FDG-PET scan allows for improved patient selection. It more accurately stages the mediastinum, however there are many false positives lymph nodes and it may be more likely to miss N2 disease in the #5, #6, and #7 stations. A positive FDG-PET scan means a tissue biopsy is indicated in that location.     

Comparative efficacy of positron emission tomography with FDG and computed tomographic scanning in preoperative staging of non-small cell lung cancer

OBJECTIVE: To determine the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of positron emission tomography with 2-fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (PET-FDG) in the preoperative staging (N and M staging) of patients with lung cancer. The authors wanted to compare the efficacy of PET scanning with currently used computed tomography (CT) scanning. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Results of whole-body PET-FDG imaging and CT scans were compared with histologic findings for the presence or absence of lymph node disease or metastatic sites. Sampling of mediastinal lymph nodes was performed using mediastinoscopy or thoracotomy. RESULTS: PET-FDG imaging was significantly more sensitive, specific, and accurate for detecting N disease than CT. PET changed N staging in 35% and M staging in 11% of patients. CT scans helped in accurate anatomic localization of 6/57 PET lymph node abnormalities. CONCLUSION: PET-FDG is a reliable method for preoperative staging of patients with lung cancer and would help to optimize management of these patients. Accurate lymph node staging of lung cancer may be ideally performed by simultaneous review of PET and CT scans.     

A comparison of the combined ultrasound of the mediastinum by use of a single ultrasound bronchoscope versus ultrasound bronchoscope plus ultrasound gastroscope in lung cancer staging: a prospective trial

OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to compare diagnostic utility of combined (i.e. transbronchial and transoesophageal) ultrasound imaging with needle biopsy of the mediastinum in lung cancer (LC) staging, (a) by use of a single ultrasound bronchoscope (CUSb) and (b) by using two scopes (CUS). METHODS In consecutive LC patients, clinical stage IA-IIIB the CUS or CUSb was performed under mild sedation and, if negative, underwent lung resection with confirmatory systematic lymph node dissection. RESULTS From 214 LC patients, 110 underwent CUS and 104 underwent CUSb (618 biopsies); both revealed metastases in 50% of cases. There was 'minimal N2' in 11 of 14 false negative patients. Diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of CUS was 91.7%, 98%, 94.6%, 98.2% and 90.7% respectively and of CUSb was 85%, 93.2%, 88.5%, 94.4%, 82%, respectively with no significant difference in yield of CUS vs CUSb (P?=?0.255 and P?=?0.192). The mean time of CUS (25?±?4.4?min) was significantly longer as compared to CUSb (14.9?±?2.3?min) (P?相似文献   

The role of 18F-FDG PET/CT scan compared to CT-scan alone for lymph node staging before radical cystectomy in patients with bladder cancer

BackgroundAccurate Lymph node (LN) staging before radical cystectomy (RC) in patients with bladder cancer (BC) is crucial to improve patient's management. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography-computed tomography (FDG-PET-CT) become widely used in the loco-regional staging of BC. The diagnostic performance of PET-CT in preoperative LN staging of BC is still unknown due to lacking large trials.ObjectivesWe aim to evaluate the diagnostic value of PET-CT scan, compared with CT scan alone for preoperative LN staging of BC.Patients and methodsFrom January 2010 to November 2020, we retrospectively reviewed the records of 300 patients undergoing RC for muscle-invasive BC and high-risk non-muscle-invasive BC. All patients had PET-CT and CT of abdomen and pelvis to assess for pelvic LN metastases before RC. Patients were excluded from analysis if they had neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for detecting pelvic LN metastases were determined by comparing the results of the FDG PET-CT and CT alone to the final histopathology reports obtained after RC.ResultsLN metastasis was confirmed histology in 134 patients (44.7%). On a patient-based analysis, PET–CT, and CT showed a sensitivity of 40.3% and 13.4 %, respectively, a specificity of 79.5% and 86.7 %, respectively, positive predictive value (PPV) of 61.4% and 45%, respectively, and negative predictive value (NPV) of 62.3% and 55.4%, respectively. The diagnostic accuracy of PET-CT scan depends on multiple preoperative and postoperative factors.ConclusionPET-CT is more accurate than CT-scan alone for preoperative LN staging in patients with BC.     

CALGB 9380: a prospective trial of the feasibility of thoracoscopy/laparoscopy in staging esophageal cancer

BACKGROUND: The staging of esophageal cancer is imprecise. Thoracoscopic/laparoscopic (TS/LS) staging has been proposed as a more accurate lymph node (LN) staging method. We report the experience of an Intergroup NCI trial (CALGB 9380) evaluating the feasibility and accuracy of this staging modality. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From February 1995 to September 1999, 134 patients were entered in the study. This study represents the analysis of final data on 113 patients. TS/LS was considered feasible if TS and 1 LN sampled at least 3 LN by LS; a confirmed positive node was found; or T4 or M1 disease was documented. If this was accomplished in more than 70% of patients, TS/LS was believed to be feasible. RESULTS: The LN stations most frequently sampled in the thorax (134 patients) were levels 2 (33%), 3 (38%), 4 (40%), 7 (76%), 8 (69%), 9 (55%), and 10 (43%) and in the abdomen levels 17 (70%) and 20 (55%). The frequency of positive LN by level were as follows: 2 (10%), 3 (8%), 4 (10%), 7 (10%), 8 (25%), 9 (10%), 10 (10%), 17 (34%), and 20 (27%). Noninvasive tests (computed tomographic scan, magnetic resonance imaging, esophageal ultrasound scan) each incorrectly identified TN staging as noted by missed positive or false-negative LN or metastatic disease found at TS/LS staging in 50%, 40%, and 30% of patients, respectively. Median operating time was 210 minutes (range, 40 to 865 minutes). Median postoperative hospital stay was 3 days (range, 1 to 35 days). There were no deaths or major complications. Seventy-three percent of patients met the definition for feasibility. In 30 patients TS was not feasible. Positive LN disease was found in 43 patients; 32 were deemed N0. Ten patients had T4/M1 disease. Of the 32 potentially resectable N0 patients, 14 patients had preoperative induction therapy; 13 patients went directly to operation with N0 confirmed in 9 patients, NX in 1 and N1 in 3. Three patients were unresectable, 1 patient died, and 1 was lost to follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, the feasibility of TS/LS was confirmed. It doubled the number of positive LNs identified by conventional, noninvasive staging. The overall accuracy remains to be defined by analysis of the LN negative group in follow-up. Although the positive predictive value was high, further study is warranted to confirm the role of TS/LS in the staging algorithm of esophageal cancer.     

Advantages of Diffusion-Weighted Imaging Over Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography in Assessment of Hilar and Mediastinal Lymph Node in Lung Cancer

Background

The significance of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is uncertain for the diagnosis of nodal involvement. The purpose of this study was to examine diagnostic capability of DWI compared with PET-CT for nodal involvement of lung cancer.

Methods

A total of 160 lung cancers (114 adenocarcinomas, 36 squamous cell carcinomas, and 10 other cell types) were analyzed in this study. DWI and PET-CT were performed preoperatively.

Results

The optimal cutoff values to diagnose metastatic lymph nodes were 1.70 × 10^?3 mm²/s for ADC value and 4.45 for SUVmax. DWI correctly diagnosed N staging in 144 carcinomas (90 %) but incorrectly diagnosed N staging in 16 (10 %) [3 (1.9 %) had overstaging, 13 (8.1 %) had understaging]. PET-CT correctly diagnosed N staging in 133 carcinomas (83.1 %) but incorrectly diagnosed N staging in 27 (16.8 %) [4 (2.5 %) had overstaging, 23 (14.4 %) had understaging]. Sensitivity, accuracy, and negative predictive value for N staging by DWI were significantly higher than those by PET-CT. Of the 705 lymph node stations examined, 61 had metastases, and 644 did not. The maximum diameter of metastatic lesions in lymph nodes were 3.0 ± 0.9 mm in 21 lymph node stations not detected by either DWI or PET-CT: 7.2 ± 4.1 mm in 39 detected by DWI, and 11.9 ± 4.1 mm in 24 detected by PET-CT. There were significant differences among them. The sensitivity (63.9 %) for metastatic lymph node stations by DWI was significantly higher than that (39.3 %) by PET-CT. The accuracy (96.2 %) for all lymph node stations by DWI was significantly higher than that (94.3 %) by PET-CT.

Conclusions

DWI has advantages over PET-CT in diagnosing malignant from benign lymph nodes of lung cancers.     

Preoperative intrathoracic lymph node staging in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer: accuracy of integrated positron emission tomography and computed tomography

Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of integrated positron emission tomography with ¹⁸F-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (FDG) and computed tomography (PET/CT) in preoperative intrathoracic lymph node staging in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to ascertain the role of invasive staging in verifying positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) results. Methods: Retrospective, single institution study of consecutive patients with suspected or pathologically proven, potentially resectable NSCLC undergoing integrated PET/CT scanning in the same PET centre. Lymph node staging was pathologically confirmed on tissue specimens obtained at mediastinoscopy and/or thoracotomy. Statistical evaluation of PET/CT results was performed on a per-patient and per-nodal-station bases. Results: A total of 1001 nodal stations (723 mediastinal, 148 hilar and 130 intrapulmonary) were evaluated in 159 patients. Nodes were positive for malignancy in 48 (30.2%) out of 159 patients (N1 = 17; N2 = 30; N3 = 1) and 71 (7.1%) out of 1001 nodal stations (N1 = 24; N2 = 46; N3 = 1). At univariate analysis, lymph node involvement was significantly associated (p < 0.05) with the following primary tumour characteristics: increasing diameter, maximum standardised uptake value >9, central location and presence of vascular invasion. PET/CT staged the disease correctly in 128 out of 159 patients (80.5%), overstaging occurred in nine patients (5.7%) and understaging in 22 patients (13.8%). The overall sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracy of PET/CT for detecting metastatic lymph nodes were 54.2%, 91.9%, 74.3%, 82.3% and 80.5% on a per-patient basis, and 57.7%, 98.5%, 74.5%, 96.8% and 95.6% on per-nodal-station basis. With regard to N2/N3 disease, PET/CT accuracy was 84.9% and 95.3% on a per-patient basis and on per-nodal-station basis, respectively. Referring to nodal size, PET/CT sensitivity to detect malignant involvement was 32.4% (12/37) in nodes <10 mm, and 85.3% (29/34) in nodes ≥10 mm. Conclusion: Our data show that integrated PET/CT provides high specificity but low sensitivity and accuracy in intrathoracic nodal staging of NSCLC patients and underscore the continued need for surgical staging.     

Accuracy of computed tomographic scan and surgical assessment for staging of bronchial carcinoma. A prospective study.

There is an increasing demand for accurate preoperative and intraoperative staging of bronchial carcinoma with respect to neoadjuvant therapy protocols and parenchyma-sparing operations. This study prospectively evaluated accuracy of computed tomographic scan and surgical assessment for staging of bronchial carcinoma in 108 consecutive patients. The stage of the primary tumor (T stage) was correctly determined in 85% of the patients, and surgical evaluation correctly determined the T stage in 92%. Invasion of major mediastinal structures posed a major problem for computed tomographic scan. On a node-by-node basis, computed tomographic scan predicted involvement of lymph nodes in 81% (sensitivity 29%, specificity 93%, positive predictive value 49%, negative predictive value 85%). The surgeon correctly determined the lymph node status in 69% of lymph nodes (sensitivity 90%, specificity 63%, positive predictive value 39%, negative predictive value 96%). On a patient-by-patient basis, computed tomographic scan correctly predicted the nodal status in 58% of patients. Accuracy of computed tomographic scan and surgical assessment in determination of the lymph node status strongly depended on tumor type and lymph node region (hilar or mediastinal region) studied. This was partly due to the fact that adenocarcinomas exhibited a high proportion of tumor-positive normal-sized lymph nodes, whereas squamous cell carcinomas showed a high proportion of enlarged tumor-free lymph nodes. In conclusion, computed tomographic scan and surgical assessment are sufficiently accurate for determination of the tumor stage but are insufficient in determining the nodal status.     

支气管内超声引导针吸活检术在非小细胞肺癌术前分期中的临床应用

目的探讨支气管内超声引导针吸活检术(EBUS-TBNA)在非小细胞肺癌纵隔淋巴结分期中的应用价值。 方法2010年9月至2012年9月,北京大学人民医院利用EBUS-TBNA对术前确诊或CT扫描高度怀疑非小细胞肺癌且伴有纵隔淋巴结肿大(N₂站淋巴结短径≥1.0cm,或N₁站淋巴结短径≥1.0cm且N₂多站短径≥0.5cm者),有手术切除可能,术前无放、化疗史的126例患者进行纵隔淋巴结分期。最终入组82例非小细胞肺癌患者。 结果该组82例患者,经EBUS-TBNA检查证实纵隔淋巴结转移(阳性)者54例,未见纵隔淋巴结转移(阴性)者28例。EBUS-TBNA在该组肺癌术前纵隔淋巴结分期中的敏感度、特异度和准确性分别为94.7%(54/57)、100.0%(25/25)和96.3%(79/82),阳性预测值及阴性预测值分别为100.0%(54/54)和89.3%(25/28)。而CT对于本组患者纵隔淋巴结分期中的敏感度、特异度和准确性分别为98.2%(55/56)、38.5%(10/26)和79.3%(65/82),阳性预测值及阴性预测值分别为77.5%(55/71)和90.9%(10/11)。CT在术前纵隔淋巴结分期中的假阳性率为22.5%(16/71)。全组中,16例(19.5%)肺癌患者因EBUS-TBNA病理结果改变了治疗策略。 结论EBUS-TBNA用于非小细胞肺癌纵隔淋巴结分期的敏感性、特异性和准确性较高。EBUS-TBNA可以作为非小细胞肺癌术前分期、指导治疗策略的检查手段。     

Significance of metabolic tumor volume and total lesion uptake measured using Ga-68 labelled prostate-specific membrane antigen PET/CT in primary staging of prostate cancer

ObjectiveTo evaluate the accuracy of Ga-68 prostate-specific membrane antigen positron-emission-tomography and computed-tomography(PSMA-PET/CT) in primary nodal staging of prostate cancer (PCa), and the predictive value of volumetric parameters derived from Ga-68- PSMA-PET/CT data in lymph node(LN) metastasis and correlation with histopathological and surgical outcomes.Materials and methodsSeventy-seven patients with newly diagnosed, biopsy-proven PCa who underwent Ga-68-PSMA-PET/CT for primary staging of disease and underwent radical prostatectomy with extendend pelvic LN dissection were evaluated retrospectively. 2 experienced nuclear medicine specialists have retrospectively reviewed PET/CT images blinded to all histopathological and clinical data. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value(PPV), and negative predictive value(NPV) for the detection of LN metastases were analyzed per-patient. Volumetric and semiquantitative PET parameters of the primary prostate lesions including SUVmax,metabolic tumor volume(MTV), and total lesion uptake(TLU) were measured and recorded.ResultsPrimary tumor SUVmax, MTV and TLU were found significantly higher in patients who were in higher ISUP Grade groups 3,4,5 after surgical treatment (P = 0.021,P = 0.049,P = 0.032, respectively). The sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV on LN metastasis detection of Ga-68-PSMA-PET/CT was found 60%, 91%, 82% and 78% respectively. Although the distribution of the measured primary tumor MTV and TLU values were higher in histopathologically proven LN metastasis positive patients compared to negative patients, only TLU was statistically significant(P = 0.023). Increase in primary tumor TLU values were correlated with higher pT stages and surgical margin positivity(P = 0.034).ConclusionGa-68-PSMA-PET/CT is of clinically valuable for primary staging. Measuring and adding these 2 parameters in routine clinical evaluation may increase the prediction power of high-grade disease confirmed by surgery.     

Can FDG-PET reduce the need for mediastinoscopy in potentially resectable nonsmall cell lung cancer?

BACKGROUND: Few fluoro-deoxy-glucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) trials have had sufficient patients to adequately evaluate PET for mediastinal staging. We question whether once PET is performed, is mediastinoscopy necessary? METHODS: We performed a 5-year retrospective analysis of operable patients with known or suspicious NSCLC. Standard PET techniques were used. Inclusion criteria were (1) surgical mediastinal nodal sampling by mediastinoscopy within 31 days of the PET and (2) definitive diagnosis. RESULTS: There were 237 patients who met the evaluation criteria; ninety-nine patients with NSCLC and 138 with suspicious lesions (137 men and 100 women; aged 20 to 88 years). The PETs were performed from 0 to 29 days before mediastinoscopy (median, 7 days). The standardized uptake value for the primary lesion was 0 to 24.6 (7.9+/-5.0). Nine primary lesions had no FDG uptake (1 benign, 8 NSCLCs). Seventy-one patients (31%) had mediastinal PET positive disease, and 44 patients (19%) had histologic positive mediastinal disease; N2 41 patients (17%) and N3 9 patients (4%). In 6 patients (3%), the initial frozen sections were negative, but PET positivity encouraged further biopsies that were positive for cancer. The PET sensitivity was 82%, specificity 82%, accuracy 82%, negative predictive value 95%, and positive predictive value was 51%. All primary lesions with a standardized uptake value less than 2.5 and a negative mediastinal PET were negative histologically (n = 29). Logistic regression analysis resulted in 100% specificity for PET in this group. CONCLUSIONS: In NSCLC PET may reduce the necessity for mediastinoscopy when the primary lesion standardized uptake value is less than 2.5 and the mediastinum is PET negative. Accepting this approach in our patient population, the need for mediastinoscopy would have been reduced by 12%.     

Mediastinal lymph node staging in suspected lung cancer: comparison of positron emission tomography with F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose and mediastinoscopy

BACKGROUND: In patients with bronchogenic carcinoma, mediastinal lymph node staging is essential for determining treatment options. In this retrospective analysis we compared the results of positron emission tomography (PET) using F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose with those of mediastinoscopy in nodal staging for suspected bronchogenic carcinoma. METHODS: From March 1997 to June 2001, 102 patients (86 male,16 female, age 62 +/- 9 years) underwent both PET and mediastinoscopy for radiologically suspected mediastinal lymph node disease in bronchogenic carcinoma. Total body emission scans were acquired 90 to 150 minutes after injection of 230 MBq of F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose. Mediastinoscopic evaluation of lymph node stations was performed according to the method of Mountain and Dresler (1R, 1L, 2L, 2R, 4L, 4R,7). Patients were eligible if surgical staging was performed within 6 weeks after the PET scan. RESULTS. Of the 102 patients, benign lesions were diagnosed in 15. In 87 patients malignant disease was proven by histology, and bronchogenic carcinoma was found in 82. Of 469 nodal stations analyzed, malignancy was documented by histology in 84. In PET analysis 79 true-positive and 304 true-negative samples were found. Five lymph node stations were false negative, and 81 samples were false positive. False-positive findings in PET frequently were seen in inflammatory lung disease. The sensitivity of PET was 94.1%, specificity was 79% with a diagnostic accuracy of 81.6%. The positive predictive value of PET was 49.3%, and the negative predictive value was 98.4%. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with positive PET scan results histologic verification appears necessary for exact lymph node staging. In view of the negative predictive value mediastinoscopy can be omitted in patients with bronchogenic carcinoma whose PET scan results were negative.     

Regional accuracy of computed tomography of the mediastinum in staging of lung cancer

To determine the regional accuracy of computed tomography of the mediastinum in staging lung cancer, we compared the results of preoperative computed tomographic staging to pathologic findings in lymph nodes taken at mediastinoscopy and/or thoracotomy in 61 patients. Twenty-two patients had adenocarcinoma, 24 had squamous cell carcinoma, eight had large cell tumors, and seven had small cell cancer or mixed cellular types. Sixteen patients had Stage I, eight had Stage II, and 37 had Stage III disease. Thirteen patients had mediastinoscopy only, and the remaining 48 patients had thoracotomy. Computed tomographic staging of the mediastinum as a whole had an accuracy of 88% with a negative predictive index of 96.1%. In examining the differential regional accuracy within the mediastinum we found results in the aortopulmonary window to be inferior to those of other regions, with an accuracy of 80% and a negative predictive index of 83.3%. The reliability of computed tomographic scan staging varied relative to cell type. The accuracy rate in adenocarcinoma was 94.7% compared to 70.6% in squamous cell carcinoma. Computed tomography is accurate for staging the mediastinum in lung cancer, and this accuracy holds over the regions of the mediastinum except the aortopulmonary window. Computed tomography is more accurate for staging adenocarcinoma than squamous cell cancer.     

The Potential of Restaging in the Prediction of Pathologic Response After Preoperative Chemoradiotherapy for Rectal Cancer

BACKGROUND: We performed this study to prospectively evaluate the postchemoradiotherapy performance of transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS), pelvic computed tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and endoscopic biopsies for predicting the pathologic complete response of rectal cancer patients. METHODS: Four weeks after completion of preoperative chemoradiotherapy, 46 consecutive patients with mid to low rectal cancer were prospectively evaluated by proctoscopy, TRUS, and pelvic CT scan and MRI. On the basis of T and N status, patients were classified as T0 or T1-4 and N-negative or N-positive. For each staging modality used, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy were calculated. Findings were compared with the pathologic tumor-node-metastasis stage. RESULTS: On histopathologic analysis, 12 patients had pT0 and 34 had pT1-4 lesions; out of 45 assessable patients, 9 were N-positive. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy in predicting T status (T0 vs. T >or=1) were 77%, 33%, 74%, 36%, and 64%, respectively, for TRUS; 100%, 0%, 74%, not assessable, and 74% for CT; and 100%, 0%, 77%, not assessable, and 77% for MRI. The corresponding figures in predicting N status (N-negative vs. N-positive) were, respectively, 37%, 67%, 21%, 81%, and 61% for TRUS; 78%, 58%, 32%, 91%, and 62% for CT; and 33%, 74%, 25%, 81%, and 65% for MRI. CONCLUSIONS: Current rectal cancer staging modalities after chemoradiotherapy allow good prediction of node-negative cases, although none of them is able to predict the pathologic complete response on the rectal wall.     

Preoperative axillary ultrasound scan: its accuracy in assessing the axillary nodal status in carcinoma breast

The aim of this study is to report the accuracy of ultrasound scan in axillary node staging in breast carcinoma. Eighty-four patients with breast cancer attending a breast clinic were entered in this study and axillary ultrasound scan was performed using a 7.5 MHz probe. The sensitivity of ultrasound scan in detection of axillary nodal metastasis was 74% with a specificity of 89%, positive predictive value of 87%, negative predictive value of 84% and overall accuracy of 83%. The sensitivity was low (38%) when nodes were small or non-palpable. The Likelihood Ratio (LR) for the test positive was 6.37 and the LR for the test negative was 0.29. The combined assessment (Clinical Examination+Ultrasound scan+FNA) of axillary node status was very sensitive--88%, with a specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100%, negative predictive value of 88% and overall accuracy of 92%. Ultrasound scan of axilla is a valuable method of preoperatively assessing axillary nodal status, and may prove useful in managing patients with breast cancer.     

Comparison of clinical and surgical-pathologic staging of the patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma

Objective: Clinical staging of non-small cell lung cancer helps to determine the extent of disease and separate patients with potentially resectable disease from those that are unresectable. Since, clinical staging is based on radiologic and bronchoscopic findings, overstaging or understaging may occur comparing to the final surgical-pathologic evaluation. We aimed to analyze preoperative and postoperative stagings in order to evaluate stage migrations and our surgical strategy for marginally resectable patients. Methods: We did a retrospective analysis of 180 patients with non-small cell lung cancer who underwent resectional surgery between 1994 and 2000. In all patients, a thoracic computerized tomography and bronchoscopy were performed to define clinical staging (cTNM). Results: In 86 patients (47.7%) clinical and surgical-pathologic staging concurred. When comparing T subsets alone, correct staging, overstaging and understaging occurred in 133 (73.9%), 28 (15.5%), 47 (26.1%) patients, respectively. Only 13 of 21 patients (61.9%) who were thought to have T4 tumor preoperatively were found to have pT4. Also six patients with cT2 and five patients with cT3 were subsequently found to have T4 disease according to pathology. Clinical staging overestimated the nodal staging in 35 patients (19.4%), while underestimated the lymph node involvement in 45 patients (25%). Conclusion: Construction of cTNM stage remains a crude evaluation, preoperative mediastinoscopy in every patient must be performed. Preoperative limited T4 disease is not to deny surgery to patients since a considerable number of patients with cT4 are to be understaged following surgery.     

Accuracy of computed tomography in nodal staging of colon cancer patients

AIM: To predict node-positive disease in colon cancer using computed tomography(CT).METHODS: American Joint Committee on Cancer stage Ⅰ-Ⅲ colon cancer patients who underwent curavtiveintent colectomy between 2007-2010 were identified at a single comprehensive cancer center. All patients had preoperative CT scans with original radiology reports from referring institutions. CT images underwent blinded secondary review by a surgeon and a dedicated abdominal radiologist at our institution to identify pericolonic lymph nodes(LNs). Comparison of outside CT reports to our independent imaging review was performed in order to highlight differences in detection in actual clinical practice. CT reviews were compared with final pathology. Results of the outside radiologist review, secondary radiologist review, and surgeon review were compared with the final pathologic exam to determine sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, false positive and negative rates, and accuracy of each review. Exclusion criteria included evidenceof metastatic disease on CT, rectal or appendiceal involvement, or absence of accompanying imaging from referring institutions.RESULTS: From 2007 to 2010, 64 stageⅠ-Ⅲ colon cancer patients met the eligibility criteria of our study. The mean age of the cohort was 68 years, and 26(41%) patients were male and 38(59%) patients were female. On final pathology, 26 of 64(40.6%) patients had nodepositive(LN+) disease and 38 of 64(59.4%) patients had node-negative(LN-) disease. Outside radiologic review demonstrated sensitivity of 54%(14 of 26 patients) and specificity of 66%(25 of 38 patients) in predicting LN+ disease, whereas secondary radiologist review demonstrated 88%(23 of 26) sensitivity and 58%(22 of 38) specificity. On surgeon review, sensitivity was 69%(18 of 26) with 66% specificity(25 of 38). Secondary radiology review demonstrated the highest accuracy(70%) and the lowest false negative rate(12%), compared to the surgeon review at 67% accuracy and 31% false negative rate and the outside radiology review at 61% accuracy and 46% false negative rate.CONCLUSION: CT LN staging of colon cancer has moderate accuracy, with administration of NCT based on CT potentially resulting in overtreatment. Active search for LN+ may improve sensitivity at the cost of specificity.     

Computed tomography for evaluation of mediastinal lymph nodes in lung cancer: correlation with surgical staging

Computed tomography (CT) of the chest (late model) was done preoperatively in 56 candidates for resection of lung cancer. Precise borders for each node region were defined by the American Thoracic Society modification of the classification of the American Joint Committee for Cancer Staging and were used to "map" nodes seen on CT and nodes removed surgically. Metastatic involvement of mediastinal nodes was proven by mediastinoscopy in 11 patients; nodes were removed from multiple regions at thoracotomy in 45 patients. The mediastinum was clearly delineated by CT in 46 patients with determinate scans and was judged normal in 32 (CT-negative scans) and abnormal in 14 (CT-positive scans). A node was considered metastatically involved if it measured greater than 1.5 cm in diameter. Positive nodes were found at surgical staging in 3 of 32 patients with CT-negative scans and in all patients with CT-positive scans. Thus, for the 46 patients with determinate scans, sensitivity was 82%, specificity was 100%, and accuracy (true positive and true negative) was 93%. The high accuracy of CT in these patients suggests that mediastinoscopy is not necessary before thoracotomy in the patient with a CT-negative scan, but that for the patient with a CT-positive or CT-indeterminate scan, the indications for mediastinoscopy remain the same.