Retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis from olfactory neuroblastoma: a report of two cases

Olfactory neuroblastoma is a rare, malignant neoplasm arising from the olfactory epithelium. It has an aggressive biological behavior that is characterized by local recurrence, atypical distant metastasis, and poor long-term prognosis. The incidence of cervical lymph node metastasis in olfactory neuroblastoma is variable, and treatment modalities are controversial. Moreover, few reports have been published concerning retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis from olfactory neuroblastoma. We present two cases of olfactory neuroblastoma with retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis. In addition, we provided a review of the current literature regarding olfactory neuroblastoma and retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis from olfactory neuroblastoma.     

房室结逆向传导电生理特点的观察

目的研究房室结逆向传导的电生理特点。方法分析在我院行电生理检查和／或射频消融的成年患者中电生理资料比较完整的300例患者的房室结逆传电生理特点。结果射频消融术后有161例（54％）有房室结逆传。有逆传患者的前传功能要好于无逆传的患者，对于术后存在室房逆传的患者，逆传功能均明显差于前传功能。射频消融术后有28例（17％）经房室结逆传最早激动冠状静脉窦口，其逆传功能较最早激动希氏束电图的病例相比要差，而两者的前传功能差异无统计学意义。结论射频消融术后54％的患者存在房室结逆传，可能是正常人群中室房逆传的真实反映。有室房逆传患者的房室结前传功能优于无室房逆传者，也优于其本身的逆传功能。房室结逆传冲动进入心房可能存在两条不同的通路。     

Surgical results of performing R4 gastrectomy for gastric cancer located in the upper third of the stomach

Because gastric cancers located in the upper third of the stomach are difficult to detect at an early stage, the surgical results remain poor. We performed R4 gastrectomy as a radical procedure for 25 patients, involving complete resection of the latero-aortic and interaorticovenous lymph modes above and below the left renal vein, in combination with the ordinary R2 or R3 gastrectomy (the R4 group). These patients were compared with 156 others who underwent R2 gastrectomy alone (the R2 group). There were no significant differences in operation time, blood loss, or the incidence of complications between the two groups; however, when the survival rates of the patients with tumors invading beyond the subserosa were compared, the 5-year survival rate was found to be significantly higher in the R4 group than in the R2 group. Furthermore, in patients with para-aortic nodal involvement, a significant survival advantage was observed in the R4 group, as compared with the R2 group. These results suggest that the R4 gastrectomy is a rational approach for patients with advanced gastric cancer located in the upper third of the stomach.     

Possible Role of Streptococcus Pyogenes in Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome. XII. Variable Responses of Platelets in MCLS Seem to Be Explainable by Streptococcal Pyrogenic Exotoxin

As a model system for mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome (MCLS), we have advocated and used mice which had been rendered tolerant to Streptococcus pyogenes-associated antigens by neonatal infection with group A fteta-hemolytic streptococci, because these mice have shown a variety of peculiar bioimmunological characteristics bearing a striking resemblance to those of MCLS patients. The results of our current investigations reaffirmed the reliability of the animal model by indicating that mice subjected to neonatal infection with 5. pyogenes , or inoculation with streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin (SPE) in Freund's adjuvant, were perfect counterparts of patients with MCLS on account of their platelet activation and hyperaggregability in response to provocative treatment, which are familiar findings in this disease.     

Lymph node metastases in the neck and parotid gland from an unknown primary melanoma

A lymph node metastasis in the neck or parotid region from an unknown primary melanoma is an uncommon occurrence. Out of a total of 300 patients with head and neck melanoma treated at the Netherlands Cancer Institute between 1976 and 1992, 17 (5.7%) presented in this way. The most common site for metastatic lymph nodes (18 nodes in 17 patients) was level V (n= 7), followed by the parotid region (n= 4), level II (n= 4), level III (n= 2), and level IV (n= 7). Two patients had local excision of the neck node metastasis only, while the remaining 15 patients underwent more extensive surgical treatment. The 5-year disease-specific survival rate in this group was 48%, with a median survival of 36 months, which is more or less similar to the prognosis of stage II melanoma of the head and neck with a known, surgically treated primary tumour. No relation was found between disease-free interval and sex, the number of positive lymph nodes or the duration of symptoms.     

Lymphatic drainage of the gallbladder

Based upon detailed dissections of the lymphatic system in adult cadavers, the lymphatic drainage of the gallbladder was divided into three pathways: (1) The cholecystoretropancreatic pathway, which had two routes, one running spirally from the anterior surface of the common bile duct to the right rear, and the other running almost straight down from the posterior surface of the common bile duct. These routes converged at the principal retroportal node at the posterior surface of the head of the pancreas. (2) The cholecysto-celiac pathway; this was the route running to the left through the hepatoduodenal ligament to reach the celiac nodes. (3) The cholecysto-mesenteric pathway; this was the route running to the left in front of the portal vein to connect with the nodes at the superior mesenteric root. The cholecysto-retropancreatic pathway can be regarded as the main pathway, and the principal retroportal node appeared to be critical as the main terminal node in the visceral lymphatic system of the gallbladder. These three pathways converged with the abdomino-aortic lymph nodes near the left renal vein, and the nodes in the interaortico-caval space were considered to be of particular importance. Offprint requests to: M. Ito     

Prevalence and localization of nodal metastases in squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity: role and extension of neck dissection

Lymph node (LN) metastases represent the most important negative prognostic factor in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oral cavity, even though controversies still exist regarding their management. The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze our experience in surgical management of SCC of the oral cavity with particular focus on the prevalence and localization of lymph nodal metastases and recurrences. The clinical records of 89 consecutive patients treated from 1983 to 2002 by concomitant surgery on both the T and N sites, excluding those undergoing salvage surgery, were reviewed. A total of 119 neck dissections (ND) were performed. Survival outcomes were calculated by the Kaplan–Meier method, while univariate comparisons by the log-rank and non-parametric tests were performed between different groups of patients. Five-year overall and determinate survivals were 50 and 57%, respectively. LN metastases were observed in 52% (56% of these showing extracapsular spread) and their presence strongly correlated with determinate survival (p < 0.0001). The prevalence of clinical and occult nodal disease was not related to the pT status. Neck levels II (59%) and I (56%) were most frequently involved. Metastases to level IV accounted for 15% of positive LN, even though 28% of them turned out to be skip metastases. Five neck recurrences were observed, only one of which was salvaged by surgery. The high prevalence of clinical and occult LN metastases in this setting suggests that ND should be performed on a nearly routine basis, even for lesions with a low-T category and a cN0 neck. Moreover, ND should always encompass level IV due to the possibility of skip metastases, particularly in tumors involving the oral tongue. In patients with a cN+ neck, levels from I to V should be addressed, particularly in the presence of metastases at levels III and IV.     

INDICATIONS FOR ENDOSCOPIC MUCOSAL RESECTION FOR EARLY COLORECTAL CANCER: SHOULD THEY BE STRICT OR SHOULD THEY BE EXPANDED?

Endoscopic technologies have been developed greatly. As for early gastric cancer, the indications for endoscopic mucosal resection for early colorectal cancer have been widened recently. Technological advances can support wider and deeper resections using endoscopy but the remaining problem for the endoscopic management of cancer is lymph node metastasis. I discuss here the indication for endoscopic mucosal resection for early colorectal cancer to bring into focus the risk factors for metastasis to lymph nodes.     

Rate-Related and Autonomic Effects on Atrioventricular Conduction Assessed Through Beat-to-Beat PR Interval and Cycle Length Variability

Atrioventricular Conduction Variability. Introduction: Atrioventricular AV) conduction time varies on a beat-by-beat basis in response to the influences of cardiac efferent autonomic activity and rate-dependent electrical recovery processes. The goals of this study were to distinguish these effects on AV conduction time and to compare the variability in sinoatrial and AV nodal function. Methods and Results: The PR interval on the surface ECG served as an index of AV conduction time in this study of 14 adult human subjects undergoing a random interval breathing protocol. P and R waves were located by a template-matching algorithm. Spectral analysis allowed frequency-domain comparisons between PR and RR interval variability. Spectra of PR and RR intervals had similar power distributions, although the power of the RR interval spectra was much greater. Autonomic blockade with atropine plus propranolol reduced the power of both spectra. Standing significantly decreased the spectral power from 0.15 to 0.5 Hz for PR and RR spectra, and introduced a peak near 0.1 Hz in the mean PR and RR spectra, although the latter finding was significant only for the RR interval spectra. Propranolol had no significant effects on the PR and RR interval spectra. Linear regression analysis allowed quantification of the autonomic and recovery effects on AV conduction and showed which effect predominated. Simple linear regression confirmed in adults a previous finding in children that conduction time may be either positively or negatively correlated with cycle length. By multiple regression and transfer function analysis, the inverse relation seen in some subjects was attributed to the effect of recovery from the preceding cycle. With the preceding recovery period accounted for, the conduction time and cycle length of the current beat were positively correlated, presumably due to the parallel autonomic effects on the sinoatrial and AV nodes. The magnitude of the recovery effect predicted by the regression analysis was similar to published values. Conclusion: A noninvasive evaluation of the surface ECG can be used to compare variability in AV conduction time and cycle length and characterize the effects of autonomic efferent activity and rate-related recovery on AV nodal function.