Fascia- vs vessel-oriented lateral lymph node dissection for rectal cancer: Short-term outcomes and prognosis in a single-center experience

BACKGROUND For the management of lateral lymph node(LLN)metastasis in patients with rectal cancer,selective LLN dissection(LLND)is gradually being accepted by Chinese scholars.Theoretically,fascia-oriented LLND allows radical tumor resection and protects of organ function.However,there is a lack of studies comparing the efficacy of fascia-oriented and traditional vessel-oriented LLND.Through a preliminary study with a small sample size,we found that fasciaoriented LLND was associated with a lower incidence of postoperative urinary and male sexual dysfunction and a higher number of examined LLNs.In this study,we increased the sample size and refined the postoperative functional outcomes.AIM To compare the effects of fascia-and vessel-oriented LLND regarding short-term outcomes and prognosis.METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study on data from 196 patients with rectal cancer who underwent total mesorectal excision and LLND from July 2014 to August 2021.The short-term outcomes included perioperative outcomes and postoperative functional outcomes.The prognosis was measured based on overall survival(OS)and progression-free survival(PFS).RESULTS A total of 105 patients were included in the final analysis and were divided into fascia-and vesseloriented groups that included 41 and 64 patients,respectively.Regarding the short-term outcomes,the median number of examined LLNs was significantly higher in the fascia-oriented group than in the vessel-oriented group.There were no significant differences in the other short-term outcomes.The incidence of postoperative urinary and male sexual dysfunction was significantly lower in the fascia-oriented group than in the vessel-oriented group.In addition,there was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative lower limb dysfunction between the two groups.In terms of prognosis,there was no significant difference in PFS or OS between the two groups.CONCLUSION It is safe and feasible to perform fascia-oriented LLND.Compared with vessel-oriented LLND,fascia-oriented LLND allows the examination of more LLNs and may better protect postoperative urinary function and male sexual function.

Separate lateral parametrial lymph node dissection improves detection rate of parametrial lymph node metastasis in early-stage cervical cancer: 10-year clinical evaluation in a single center in China

Objective: To investigate the clinical significance of separate lateral parametrial lymph node dissection(LPLND) in improving parametrial lymph node(PLN) and its metastasis detection rate during radical hysterectomy for early-stage cervical cancer.Methods: From July 2007 to August 2017, 2,695 patients with cervical cancer in stage IB1-IIA2 underwent radical hysterectomy were included. Of these patients, 368 underwent separate dissection of PLNs using the LPLND method, and 2,327 patients underwent conventional radical hysterectomy(CRH). We compared the surgical parameters, PLN detection rate and PLN metastasis rate between the two groups.Results: Compared with CRH group, the rate of laparoscopic surgery was higher(60.3% vs. 15.9%, P<0.001),and the blood transfusion rate was lower(19.0% vs. 29.0%, P<0.001) in the LPLND group. PLNs were detected in 356 cases(96.7%) in the LPLND group, and 270 cases(11.6%) in the CRH group(P<0.001), respectively. The number of PLNs detected in the LPLND group was higher than that in the CRH group(median 3 vs. 1, P<0.001).The PLN metastases were detected in 25 cases(6.8%) in the LPLND group, and 18 cases(0.8%) in the CRH group(P<0.001), respectively. In multivariable analysis, LPLND is an independent factor not only for PLN detection [odds ratio(OR)=228.999, 95% confidence interval(95% CI): 124.661-420.664;P<0.001], but also for PLN metastasis identification(OR=10.867, 95% CI: 5.381-21.946;P<0.001).Conclusions: LPLND is feasible and safe. The surgical method significantly improves the detection rate of PLN and avoids omission of PLN metastasis during radical hysterectomy for early-stage cervical cancer.

Significance of the lymph nodes in the 7th station in rational dissection for metastasis of distal gastric cancer with different T categories

Objective： To determine the clinicopathological characteristics, and evaluate the appropriate extent of lymph node dissection in distal gastric cancer patients with comparable T category. Methods： A retrospective study was conducted on 570 distal gastric cancer patients, who underwent gastric resection with D2 nodal dissection, which was performed by the same surgical team from January 1997 to January 2011. We compared the differences in lymph node metastasis rates and metastatic lymph node ratios between different T categories. Additionally, we investigated the impact of lymph node metastasis in the 7th station on survival rate of distal gastric cancer patients with the same TNM staging. Results： Among the 570 patients, the overall lymph node metastasis rate of advanced distal gastric cancer was 78.1%, and the metastatic lymph node ratio was 27%. The lymph node metastasis rate in the 7th station was similar to that of perigastric lymph nodes. There was no statistical significance in patients with the same TNM stage （stage Ⅱ and Ⅲ）, irrespective of the metastatic status in the 7th station. Conclusions： Our results suggest that to a certain extent, it is reasonable to include lymph nodes in the 7th station in the D 1 lymph node dissection.

Station 10 lymph node dissections in laparoscopic-assisted spleen-preserving radical gastrectomy for advanced proximal gastric cancer

D2 gastric resection has been increasingly recognized as the optimal surgical treatment for advanced gastric cancer. Dissection of the station 10 splenic lymph nodes is required in the treatment of advanced proximal gastric cancer. Based on vascular anatomy and anatomical plane of fascial space, integrated with our experience in station 10 splenic lymph node dissection in open surgery and proven skills of laparoscopic operation, we have successfully mastered the surgical essentials and technical keypoints in laparoscopic-assisted station 10 lymph node dissection.

Extended lymph node dissection in robot-assisted radical prostatectomy： lymph node yield and distribution of metastases

In this study, we reported our experience performing robotic extended lymph node dissection （eLND） in patients with prostate cancer. A total of 147 patients with intermediate and high-risk prostate cancer who underwent robotic eLND from May 2008 to December 2011 were included in this analysis. The dissection template extended to the ureter crossing the iliac vessels. We assessed lymph node yield, lymph node positivity, and perioperative outcomes. Lymph node positivity was also evaluated according to the number of lymph nodes （LNs） removed （〈22 vs 〉22）. The median number of LNs removed was 22 （11-51）, and 97 positive LNs were found in 24 patients （16.3%）. While the obturator fossa was the most common site for LN metastases （42.3%, 41/97）, the internal iliac area was the most common area for a single positive LN packet （20.8%, 5/24）. Eight patients （33.3%, 8/24） had positive LNs at the common iliac area. The incidence of positive LNs did not differ according to the number of LNs removed. Complications associated with eLND occurred in 21 patients （14.3%） and symptomatic lymphocele was found in five patients （3.4%）. In conclusion, robotic eLND can be performed with minimal morbidity. Furthermore, LN yield and the node positive rate achieved using this robotic technique are comparable to those of open series. In addition, the extent of dissection is more important than the absolute number of LNs removed in eLND, and the robotic technique is not a prohibitive factor for performing eLND.

Laparoscopic vs.open lower mediastinal lymphadenectomy for Siewert typeⅡ/Ⅲadenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction:An exploratory,observational,prospective,IDEAL stage2b cohort study(CLASS-10 study)

Objective:This study aims to verify the feasibility and efficacy of laparoscopic lower mediastinal lymphadenectomy for Siewert typeⅡ/Ⅲadenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction(AEG).Setting:An exploratory,observational,prospective,cohort study will be carried out under the Idea,Development,Exploration,Assessment and Long-term Follow-up(IDEAL)framework(stage 2 b).Paritcipants:The study will recruit 1,036 patients with cases of locally advanced AEG(Siewert typeⅡ/Ⅲ,clinical stage cT2-4 aN0-3 M0),and 518 will be assigned to either the laparoscopy group or the open group.Interventions:Patients will receive lower mediastinal lymphadenectomy along with either total or proximal gastrectomy.Primary and secondary outcome measures:The primary endpoint is the number of lower mediastinal lymph nodes retrieved,and the secondary endpoints are the surgical safety and prognosis,including intraoperative and postoperative lower-mediastinal-lymphadenectomy-related morbidity and mortality,rate of rehospitalization,R0 resection rate,3-year local recurrence rate,and 3-year overall survival.Conclusions:The study will provide data for the guidance and development of surgical treatment strategies for AEG.Trial registration number:The study has been registered in ClinicalTrials.gov(No.NCT04443478).

Differences in rates of pelvic lymph node dissection in National Comprehensive Cancer Network favorable,unfavorable intermediate-and high-risk prostate cancer across United States SEER registries

Background:The National Comprehensive Cancer Network(NCCN)guidelines recommend pelvic lymph node dissection(PLND)in NCCN high-and intermediate-risk prostate cancer patients.We tested for PLND nonadherence(no-PLND)rates within the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results(2010-2015).Materials and methods:We identified all radical prostatectomy patients who fulfilled the NCCN PLND guideline criteria(n=23,495).Nonadherence rates to PLND were tabulated and further stratified according to NCCN risk subgroups,race/ethnicity,geographic distribution,and year of diagnosis.Results:Overall,the no-PLND rate was 26%;it was 41%,25%,and 11%in the NCCN intermediate favorable,intermediate unfavorable,and high-risk prostate cancer patients,respectively(p<0.001).Overtime,the no-PLND rates declined in the overall cohort and within each NCCN risk subgroup.Georgia exhibited the highest no-PLND rate(49%),whereas New Jersey exhibited the lowest(15%).Finally,no-PLND race/ethnicity differences were recorded only in the NCCN intermediate unfavorable subgroup,where Asians exhibited the lowest no-PLND rate(20%)versus African Americans(27%)versus Whites(26%)versus Hispanic-Latinos(25%).Conclusions:The lowest no-PLND rates were recorded in the NCCN high-risk patients followed by NCCN intermediate unfavorable and favorable risk in that order.Our findings suggest that unexpectedly elevated differences in no-PLND rates warrant further examination.In all the NCCN risk subgroups,the no-PLND rates decreased over time.

A comprehensive evaluation of sexual and reproductive outcomes following robot-assisted retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for nonseminomatous germ cell tumor

Sexual disorders following retroperitoneal pelvic lymph node dissection(RPLND)for testis tumor can affect the quality of life of patients.The aim of the current study was to investigate several different andrological outcomes,which may be influenced by robot-assisted(RA)RPLND.From January 2012 to March 2020,32 patients underwent RA-RPLND for stage I nonseminomatous testis cancer or postchemotherapy(PC)residual mass.Modified unilateral RPLND nerve-sparing template was always used.Major variables of interest were erectile dysfunction(ED),premature ejaculation(PE),dry ejaculation(DE),or orgasm alteration.Finally,fertility as well as the fecundation process(sexual intercourse or medically assisted procreation[MAP])was investigated.Ten patients(31.3%)presented an andrological disorder of any type after RA-RPLND.Hypospermia was present in 4(12.5%)patients,DE(International Index of Erectile Function-5[IIEF-5]<25)in 3(9.4%)patients,and ED in 3(9.4%)patients.No PE or orgasmic alterations were described.Similar median age at surgery,body mass index(BMI),number of nodes removed,scholar status,and preoperative risk factor rates were identified between groups.Of all these 10 patients,6(60.0%)were treated at the beginning of our robotic experience(2012-2016).Of all 32 patients,5(15.6%)attempted to have a child after RA-RPLND.All of these 5 patients have successfully fathered children,but 2(40.0%)required a MAP.In conclusion,a nonnegligible number of andrological complications occurred after RA-RPLND,mainly represented by ejaculation disorders,but ED occurrence and overall sexual satisfaction deficit should be definitely considered.No negative impact on fertility was described after RA-RPLND.

Surgical treatment of fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma:an underestimated malignant tumor?

BACKGROUND： Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma （FLHCC） is a rare disease with an indolent behavior. Its prognosis is better than that of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. The authors present their experience with resection of FLHCC. METHODS： Twenty-one patients with FLHCC were treated at our institution between 1990 and 2012. Of these patients, 14 were subjected to resection of the tumor. Patient demographics, medical history, results of imaging studies and laboratory tests, surgical data, and pathologic findings were evaluated. RESULTS： The median age of the patients at the diagnosis of the tumor was 20 years and 14 patients were female. None of the patients had tumor-associated chronic liver disease or cirrhosis. The mean tumor size was 12.8 cm （range 6-19） and 18 patients had a single liver nodule. Fourteen patients were subjected to hepatectomy and six of them had lymph node metastases resected. Pathologic evaluation revealed that 5 （35.7%） patients had major vascular invasion. Tumor recurrence was seen in 8 patients （66.7%）, during a follow-up. The median survival time for patients who were subjected to resection was 36 months. The 5-year overall survival rate and disease free survival rate were 28.0% and 8.5%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that vascular invasion was the only variable associated with the disease free survival rate.CONCLUSIONS： Despite an aggressive treatment, patients with FLHCC presented unexpected low survival rates. It seems that an underestimated malignant behavior is attributed to this disease, and that the forms of adjuvant treatment should be urgently evaluated.

Is it possible to adopt the same oncological approach in urgent surgery for colon cancer?

BACKGROUND Locoregional complications may occur in up to 30%of patients with colon cancer.As they are frequent events in the natural history of this disease,there should be a concern in offering an oncologically adequate surgical treatment to these patients.AIM To compare the oncological radicality of surgery for colon cancer between urgent and elective cases.METHODS One-hundred and eighty-nine consecutive patients with non-metastatic colon adenocarcinoma were studied over two years in a single institution,who underwent surgical resection as the first therapeutic approach,with 123 elective and 66 urgent cases.The assessment of oncological radicality was performed by analyzing the extension of the longitudinal margins of resection,the number of resected lymph nodes,and the percentage of surgeries with 12 or more resected lymph nodes.Other clinicopathological variables were compared between the two groups in terms of sex,age,tumor location,type of urgency,surgical access,staging,compromised lymph nodes rate,differentiation grade,angiolymphatic and perineural invasion,and early mortality.RESULTS There was no difference between the elective and urgency group concerning the longitudinal margin of resection(average of 6.1 in elective vs 7.3 cm in urgency,P=0.144),number of resected lymph nodes(average of 17.7 in elective vs 16.6 in urgency,P=0.355)and percentage of surgeries with 12 or more resected lymph nodes(75.6%in elective vs 77.3%in urgency,P=0.798).It was observed that the percentage of patients aged 80 and over was higher in the urgency group(13.0%in elective vs 25.8%in urgency,P=0.028),and the early mortality was 4.9%in elective vs 15.2%in urgency(P=0.016,OR:3.48,95%CI:1.21–10.06).Tumor location(P=0.004),surgery performed(P=0.016)and surgical access(P<0.001)were also different between the two groups.There was no difference in other clinicopathological variables studied.CONCLUSION Oncological radicality of colon cancer surgery may be achieved in both emergency and elective procedures.

Double inferior vena cava does not complicate para-aortic nodal dissection for the treatment of pancreatic carcinoma

Duplication of the inferior vena cava(IVC) involves large veins on both sides of the aorta that join anteriorly at the level of the renal arteries to become the suprarenal IVC.We report CT scan and intraoperative images of a patient with duplication of the IVC who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy with para-aortic lymphadenectomy for carcinoma of the pancreatic head:nodal dissection along the left caval vein was not carried out.The anatomical background of the lymphatic flow to the para-aortic lymph nodes and the theoretic basis for lymph node dissection of the para-aortic area in cases of double IVC are highlighted.Lymphadenectomy along the left caval vein is not necessary in patients with double IVC who undergo pancreaticoduodenectomy with extended lymphadenectomy for carcinoma of the pancreatic head in the absence of preoperative appearance of para-aortic disease.

Comparison of clinicopathological characteristics between resected ampullary carcinoma and carcinoma of the second portion of the duodenum

BACKGROUND Few studies compared the oncological and biological characteristics between ampullary carcinoma(AC) and cancer of the second portion of the duodenum(DC-Ⅱ), although both tumors arise from anatomically close locations.AIM To elucidate differences in clinicopathological characteristics, especially the patterns of lymph node metastasis(LNM), between AC and DC-Ⅱ.METHODS This was a retrospective cohort study of 80 patients with AC and 27 patients with DC-Ⅱ who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy between January 1998 and December 2018 in two institutions. Clinicopathological factors, LNM patterns, and prognosis were compared between the two groups.RESULTS The patients with AC and DC-Ⅱ did not exhibit significant differences in 5-year overall survival(66.0% and 67.1%, respectively) and 5-year relapse-free survival(63.5% and 62.2%, respectively). Compared to the patients with DC-Ⅱ, the rate of preoperative biliary drainage was higher(P = 0.042) and the rates of digestive symptoms(P = 0.0158), ulcerative-type cancer(P < 0.0001), large tumor diameter(P < 0.0001), and advanced tumor stage(P = 0.0019) were lower in the patients with AC. The LNM rates were 27.5% and 40.7% in patients with AC and DC-Ⅱ,respectively, without significant difference(P = 0.23). The rates of LNM to hepatic nodes(N-He)and pyloric nodes(N-Py) were significantly higher in patients with DC-Ⅱ than in those with AC(metastasis to N-HE: 18.5% and 5% in patients with DC-Ⅱ and AC, respectively;P = 0.0432;metastasis to N-Py: 11.1% and 0% in patients with DC-Ⅱ and AC, respectively;P = 0.0186)CONCLUSION Although there were no significant differences in the prognosis and recurrence rates between the two groups, metastases to N-He and N-Py were more frequent in patients with DC-Ⅱ than in those with AC.

应用亚甲蓝行乳腺癌前哨淋巴结活检276例分析

目的探讨以亚甲蓝作为示踪剂行乳腺癌前哨淋巴结（SLN）活检的临床应用及影响因素。方法分析了276例临床T1-T2N0M0乳腺癌患者前哨淋巴结活检（SLNB）结果，对SLN检出率及假阴性率影响因素进行了初步分析。结果276例患者中，成功检出SLN者246例（检出率为89．1％）。共检出SLN423枚，每例1～4枚。前哨淋巴结对腋窝淋巴结转移情况预测的敏感性为77．3％（68／88），假阴性率为8．1％（20／246），假阳性率为0，准确率为91．9％（226／246）。临床T2N0M0SLNB成功率高于临床T1N0M0乳腺癌患者（P=0．046）；年龄〈50岁者SLNB检出成功率高于年龄≥50岁病例（P=0．000），SLNB假阴性率年龄〈50岁者显著低于高龄患者（P=0．037）；外上象限和外下象限肿瘤SLNB检出成功率明显高于其他象限（P=0．000）。内上象限肿瘤SLNB假阴性率高于外上及外下象限（P=0．018）。临床TMN分期、ER、PR表达情况及病理类型对SLNB成功率及假阴性率无影响。结论以亚甲蓝作为示踪剂行乳腺癌SLNB，患者年龄、临床TNM分期、肿瘤部位对SLN检出率有一定影响，患者年龄、肿瘤部位可影响SLNB假阴性率。

A modified clinicopathological tumor staging system for survival prediction of patients with penile cancer

Background:The 8th American Joint Committee on Cancer tumor-node-metastasis(AJCC-TNM)staging system is based on a few retrospective single-center studies.We aimed to test the prognostic validity of the staging system and to determine whether a modified clinicopathological tumor staging system that includes lymphovascular emboliza-tion could increase the accuracy of prognostic prediction for patients with stage T2-3 penile cancer.Methods:A training cohort of 411 patients who were treated at 2 centers in China and Brazil between 2000 and 2015 were staged according to the 8th AJCC-TNM staging system.The internal validation was analyzed by bootstrap-corrected C-indexes(resampled 1000 times).Data from 436 patients who were treated at 15 centers over four conti-nents were used for external validation.Results:A survivorship overlap was observed between T2 and T3 patients(P=0.587)classified according to the 8th AJCC-TNM staging system.Lymphovascular embolization was a significant prognostic factor for metastasis and survival(all P<0.001).Based on the multivariate analysis,only lymphovascular embolization showed a significant influ-ence on cancer-specific survival(CSS)(hazard ratio=1.587,95%confidence interval=1.253-2.011;P=0.001).T2 and T3 patients with lymphovascular embolization showed significantly shorter CSS than did those without lymphovascu-lar embolization(P<0.001).Therefore,a modified clinicopathological staging system was proposed,with the T2 and T3 categories of the 8th AJCC-TNM staging system being subdivided into two new categories as follows:t2 tumors invade the corpus spongiosum and/or corpora cavernosa and/or urethra without lymphovascular invasion,and t3 tumors invade the corpus spongiosum and/or corpora cavernosa and/or urethra with lymphovascular invasion.The modified staging system involving lymphovascular embolization showed improved prognostic stratification with significant differences in CSS among all categories(all P<0.005)and exhibited higher accuracy in predicting patient prognoses than did the 8th AJCC-TNM staging system(C-index,0.739 vs.0.696).These results were confirmed in the external validation cohort.Conclusions:T2-3 penile cancers are heterogeneous,and a modified clinicopathological staging system that incorporates lymphovascular embolization may better predict the prognosis of patients with penile cancer than does the 8th AJCC-TNM staging system.