Lingual lymph nodes: Anatomy,clinical considerations,and oncological significance

Lingual lymph nodes are an inconstant group of in-transit nodes, which are located on the route of lymph drainage from the tongue mucosa to the regional nodes in neck levels I and II. There is growing academic data on the metastatic spread of oral cancer, particularly regarding the spreading of oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma to lingual nodes. These nodes are not currently included in diagnostic and treatment protocols for oral tongue cancer. Combined information on surgical anatomy, clinical observations, means of detection, and prognostic value is presented. Anatomically obtained incidence of lingual nodes ranges from 8.6% to 30.2%. Incidence of lingual lymph node metastasis ranges from 1.3% to 17.1%. It is clear that lymph nodes that bear intervening tissues from the floor of the mouth should be removed to improve loco-regional control. Extended resection volume, which is required for the surgical treatment of lingual node metastasis, cannot be implied to every tongue cancer patient. As these lesions significantly influence prognosis, special efforts of their detection must be made. Reasonably, every tongue cancer patient must be investigated for the existence of lingual lymph node metastasis. Lymphographic tracing methods, which are currently implied for sentinel lymph node biopsies, may improve the detection of lingual lymph nodes.     

甲状腺乳头状癌伴发桥本甲状腺炎的临床研究

背景与目的：甲状腺乳头状癌（papillary thyroid carcinoma，PTC）和桥本甲状腺炎（Hashimoto’s thyroiditis，HT）的发病率均呈上升趋势，两者之间的关系已成为目前研究的热点。探讨PTC和HT之间的关系。方法：回顾性分析2014—2015年期间在中国科学院大学附属肿瘤医院头颈肿瘤外科行甲状腺癌手术治疗的首诊患者306例，术后病理学检查均明确诊断为PTC，其中术后病理学确诊伴发HT者42例，比较伴发HT与未伴发HT患者的临床病理学特征。结果：PTC患者女性发病年龄高于男性（46.2岁 vs 41.9岁）。相较于与未伴发HT的PTC患者，伴发HT的患者中女性比例更高（93% vs77%），中央区淋巴结数目较多［（5.0±3.4）枚 vs （2.5±2.7）枚］，术前促甲状腺激素（thyroid-stimulating hormone，TSH）水平较高［（3.28±1.91）μU/mL vs （2.12±1.29）μU/mL］，术前抗甲状腺过氧化物酶抗体（thyroid peroxidaseantibody，TPOAb）阳性率较高（55% vs 14%），术前甲状腺球蛋白抗体（thyroglobulin antibodies，TgAb）阳性率较高（69% vs 13%）。发生中央区淋巴结转移的患者中，中央区淋巴结转移数目与中央区淋巴结总数显著相关（Pearson相关系数=0.582）。多因素logistic回归分析发现，男性、低龄、被膜侵犯是PTC患者中央区淋巴结转移的独立危险因素。结论：伴发HT对PTC患者的预后无显著影响。伴发HT的PTC患者TSH水平显著偏高，提示HT可能是PTC发病风险因素之一。中央区淋巴结转移数目与中央区淋巴结总数相关，推测PTC淋巴结转移可能与淋巴结炎症反应相关。     

A Novel Nomogram to Identify Candidates for Extended Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection Among Patients with Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer Diagnosed with Magnetic Resonance Imaging-targeted and Systematic Biopsies

Background

Available models for predicting lymph node invasion (LNI) in prostate cancer (PCa) patients undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP) might not be applicable to men diagnosed via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-targeted biopsies.

The prognostic role of tumour‐infiltrating lymphocytes in oral squamous cell carcinoma: A meta‐analysis

It has been suggested that tumour‐infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are associated with the progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). However, the prognostic value of TILs is inconclusive due to the heterogeneity of immune cells within the tumour microenvironment. In this meta‐analysis, we aimed to assess the prognostic value of TILs in OSCC. The PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, Scopus and Web of Science databases were searched up to April 20, 2019, and 33 studies were ultimately included in this meta‐analysis. Our pooled meta‐analysis showed that high infiltration of CD8⁺ TILs, CD45RO⁺ TILs and CD57⁺ TILs favoured better overall survival (OS). However, high infiltration of CD68⁺ macrophages and CD163⁺ macrophages was associated with poor prognosis in OSCC. These findings suggest that CD8⁺ TILs, CD45RO⁺ TILs, CD57⁺ TILs, CD68⁺ macrophages and CD163⁺ macrophages might serve as novel prognostic factors and therapeutic targets in OSCC.     

LONG‐TERM FOLLOW UP OF PATIENTS WITH SMALL GASTROINTESTINAL STROMAL TUMORS IN THE STOMACH USING ENDOSCOPIC ULTRASONOGRAPHY‐GUIDED FINE‐NEEDLE ASPIRATION BIOPSY

Background: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are one of the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. GIST are defined by positive immunohistochemical staining for KIT or CD34 and thus are generally diagnosed after surgery. Because small GIST are rarely diagnosed before surgery, the clinical course of these small tumors is not clear. The aim of the present study was to follow changes in size and configuration of small GIST that were pathologically confirmed using endoscopic ultrasonography‐guided fine‐needle aspiration biopsy (EUS‐FNAB). Methods: Between July 1997 and December 2003, 16 tumors in 16 patients (10 men and 6 women) with an immunohistochemical diagnosis of GIST were regularly followed in our hospital. The median patient age when EUS‐FNAB was performed was 62 years (range 26–82 years) and the median follow‐up period was 4.9 years (range 0.5–9.6 years). Results: Fourteen tumors showed no remarkable changes in size and shape during follow up compared with the initial diagnosis. Two tumors enlarged: one tumor approximately doubled its diameter in 8 years and the other tumor increased from 1.8 cm at diagnosis to up to 10 cm after only 2 years. Doubling time of the latter tumor was calculated as 3.1 months. Conclusions: We conclude that EUS‐FNAB might be a good modality for final diagnosis of GIST without surgery, and that GIST without rapid growth on follow up can be endoscopically followed.