Survival in node-positive early oral squamous cell carcinoma: sentinel node biopsy versus elective neck dissection

Patients undergoing sentinel node biopsy (SLNB) for early oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) who harbour occult metastases (pN+ve) may be at greater risk of mortality due to prolonged overall treatment times than those identified as pN+ve on elective neck dissection (ELND). A retrospective comparative survival analysis was therefore undertaken to test this hypothesis. Patients were identified from the South Glasgow multidisciplinary team (MDT) database. Group 1 comprised 38 patients identified as pN+ve, or who were false negative, on sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). Group 2 comprised 146 patients staged pN+ve on ELND. The groups were compared with the Kaplan Meier method and Cox proportional hazards model. In addition, a matched-pair analysis was performed. A unique and specifically designed algorithm was deployed to optimise the pairings. No difference in disease-specific or overall survival was found between the groups. Patients undergoing SLNB as the initial neck staging modality in early OSCC and are identified as pN+ve do not appear to be at a survival disadvantage compared with those staged with ELND.     

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: diagnostic challenges,histopathologic features and ancillary testing

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is an aggressive thyroid malignancy with high mortality rate. This malignancy arises in thyroid follicular cells either denovo or with an associated differentiated thyroid carcinoma component. Clinically, it usually presents as a rapidly enlarging mass, pain and locally compressive symptoms. Histopathologic variability and heterogeneity often pose diagnostic challenges, especially in scant and paucicellular specimens. This article describes the clinical, histopathologic and molecular features of ATC and also addresses the associated diagnostic limitations and challenges.     

Topical glaucoma medications – Clinical implications for the ocular surface

Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness. The use of topical eye drops to reduce intraocular pressure remains the mainstay treatment. These eye drops frequently contain preservatives designed to ensure sterility of the compound. A growing number of clinical and experimental studies report the detrimental effects of not only these preservatives but also the active pharmaceutical compounds on the ocular surface, with resultant tear film instability and dry eye disease. Herein, we critically appraise the published literature exploring the effects of preservatives and pharmaceutical compounds on the ocular surface.     

直肠癌淋巴结转移的深度神经网络评判研究进展

正目前,临床上对于直肠癌常用的影像评估方法有MRI、螺旋CT、PET-CT、直肠腔内超声(ERUS)等。而MRI作为首选检查方式,对肿瘤位置、浸润深度、淋巴结转移、血管侵犯、环周切缘及周围器官侵犯等方面的评估均具有明显优势~([1-2])。通过MRI诊断淋巴结的方法通常是影像科医师逐层浏览每一幅图像,从中识别淋巴结的形状、界限及密度来判断,这种传统方式耗时较长且存在主观偏倚,导致     

Dry eye signs and symptoms in aromatase inhibitor treatment and the relationship with pain

PurposeAromatase inhibitors (AIs) limit the synthesis of oestrogen in peripheral tissues thus lowering levels of oestrogen. The primary aim was to evaluate whether women treated with AIs have altered dry eye symptoms and signs. A sub-aim was to investigate whether symptoms of dry eye in postmenopausal women were associated with symptoms of non-eye pain, ocular pain and self-rated pain perception.MethodsThis cross-sectional, observational, single visit study recruited 56 postmenopausal women (mean age 64.1 + 7.9 years) and 52 undergoing AI treatment (mean age 66.6 + 9.0). Ocular symptoms (OSDI, MGD14) and pain questionnaires (PSQ, OPAS) were administered and signs of dry eye and meibomian gland dysfunction were evaluated.ResultsAlmost half of each group reported dry eye symptoms, defined as OSDI>12 (48% control, 46% AI). The PSQ score was significantly higher in the AI group (p = 0.04). Neither frequency or severity of dry eye (or MGD) symptoms scores were significantly different between groups. In the AI group, meibomian gland expressibility score was worse (p = 0.003); there were no differences in any other signs. Higher OSDI scores were associated with higher OPAS eye-pain scores (r = 0.49, p < 0.001), but not OPAS non-eye pain (r = 0.09, p = 0.35). Pain perception (PSQ) showed a moderate positive association with OPAS eye-pain (r = 0.30, p = 0.003).ConclusionsIn this study elevated ocular symptoms were observed in both the AI treated and the untreated groups, with no difference between the groups. Women undergoing AI treatment for early stage breast cancer had worse meibum expressibility score and increased pain perception compared to an untreated group of women.     

Sentinel lymph node biopsy for 102 patients with primary cutaneous melanoma at a single Japanese institute

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is a widely accepted standard procedure for patients with clinically localized melanoma. Melanoma prevalence and Clark's subtype differ between Asians and Caucasians. Here, we evaluated our experience on SLNB for cutaneous melanoma in a Japanese population. SLNB was performed for patients with melanoma between July 2000 and June 2014. We retrospectively analyzed 102 patients regarding association of clinicopathological features with sentinel lymph node (SLN) status, melanoma‐specific survival (MSS) and disease‐free survival (DFS). A positive SLN was significantly associated with primary Breslow thickness. Compared with 43 patients with negative SLN, 59 patients with positive SLN had significantly shorter MSS (5‐year survival rate, 94.3% vs 63.2%; P = 0.0002) and DFS (5‐year survival rate, 92.7% vs 63.4%; P = 0.0004). According to our subgroup analyses, nine patients with positive non‐SLN had significantly shorter MSS compared with 32 patients with negative non‐SLN (5‐year survival rate, 32.4% vs 68.5%; P = 0.0273). The survival of 51 Japanese patients with acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) was not inferior to the survival of patients with other Clark's subtype. Breslow thickness is an important factor for both MSS and DFS, and the status of SLN is the most predictive prognostic factor in Japanese patients with clinically localized melanomas, as in case of Caucasians. Features of ALM may be different between Asians and Caucasians.     

Association of meibomian gland architecture and body mass index in a pediatric population

PurposeTo determine if meibomian gland architecture in a pediatric population is impacted by body mass index (BMI).MethodsProspective evaluation of 175 eyes of 175 pediatric patients from two clinics. Demographic and clinical information were reviewed. Symptoms of dry eye were assessed with the Standard Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness (SPEED) questionnaire. Meibography was performed and grading of images was performed by a masked rater using a previously validated 5-point meiboscale (0–4) for gland atrophy and a 3-point score (0–2) for gland tortuosity.Results175 eyes of 175 participants aged 4–17 years (11.6 ± 3.7 years) were imaged. The mean meiboscore was 0.82 ± 0.94 (range 0–4) and the mean gland tortuosity score was 0.53 ± 0.70 (range 0–2). Ninety-six patients (56%) showed evidence of gland atrophy (meiboscore greater than 0) and the majority of patients (n=50, 29%) had a gland tortuosity score of 1. The mean BMI was 20.5 ± 4.86 kg/m² with 39.4% of patients (n = 69) above the 85th percentile. BMI percentile was not found to be a significant predictor of a meiboscore greater than 0 (odds ratio (OR) 1.004 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.99–1.10, p = 0.41). However, BMI percentile was found to be a significant predictor of gland tortuosity score (OR 1.01 95% CI (1.00–1.02), p = 0.02). Patients with BMI percentiles between 41 and 60 were 3.79 times more likely to have a gland tortuosity score of greater than 0 than patients with BMI percentiles between 0 and 20 (OR 3.789 CI (1.17–12.24)). No significant associations were found between age, race, or sex and meiboscore or tortuosity. There was a trend towards reduction in lipid layer thickness with increasing BMI percentile (p = 0.028, r² = 0.04).ConclusionIn this pediatric population, there was an association between meibomian gland tortuosity and higher percentiles of BMI. Future studies are needed to elucidate the pathogenesis of meibomian gland tortuosity and atrophy in pediatric patients.