Assessment of Appropriateness of Diagnostic Lymph Node Tissue Collection from the Operating Theater and by Interventional Radiologist. A Clinical Audit

Background: Appropriate sample requesting, collecting and timely dispatch to the appropriate laboratory is essential in establishing diagnosis of pathologies with lesions. Much time and effort may be wasted if this is not done according to certain standards. We conducted this study to assess the route of lymph node samples from requests to reaching the laboratories. Methods: We conducted an audit over a period from 4th June until 10th Aug 2023. Data for all the procedures performed over this period on lymph node samples (was entered into and analysed using Excel. Results: A total of eighteen samples for sixteen patients were obtained during this period. Median age of the patients was 34 years (19 - 73) with a M:F ratio of 5:11. Among the IR samples, nine samples were from the neck, three from inguinal area and one from axilla. Seven samples (53.8%) were tru-cut biopsies, six samples (46.15%) were FNA. All samples were sent to the pathology laboratory fixed in formalin. Samples for TB were sent only for five cases (31.25%) and for only two cases (12.5%) were samples sent for bacterial culture. For the OR samples, none were sent for either bacterial culture or TB. Overall, eight patients (50%) were not investigated for any infectious etiologies like brucella, toxoplasmosis, CMV, EBV plus other possible causes. Repeat sampling was required for 25% of patients (within and out of the audit period). Conclusions: to avoid delays in making diagnoses, it is paramount to consider infectious etiologies as possible diagnosis for lymphadenopathy and request appropriate investigations. This requires liaising with infectious diseases/clinical microbiology experts to guide regarding types of samples, types of media and timely dispatch to the correct laboratory.

Predictive value of positive lymph node ratio in patients with locally advanced gastric remnant cancer

BACKGROUND Traditional lymph node stage(N stage)has limitations in advanced gastric remnant cancer(GRC)patients;therefore,establishing a new predictive stage is necessary.AIM To explore the predictive value of positive lymph node ratio(LNR)according to clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of locally advanced GRC.METHODS Seventy-four patients who underwent radical gastrectomy and lymphadenectomy for locally advanced GRC were retrospectively reviewed.The relationship between LNR and clinicopathological characteristics was analyzed.The survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox regression model.RESULTS Number of metastatic LNs,tumor diameter,depth of tumor invasion,Borrmann type,serum tumor biomarkers,and tumor-node-metastasis(TNM)stage were correlated with LNR stage and N stage.Univariate analysis revealed that the factors affecting survival included tumor diameter,anemia,serum tumor biomarkers,vascular or neural invasion,combined resection,LNR stage,N stage,and TNM stage(all P<0.05).The median survival time for those with LNR0,LNR1,LNR2 and LNR3 stage were 61,31,23 and 17 mo,respectively,and the differences were significant(P=0.000).Anemia,tumor biomarkers and LNR stage were independent prognostic factors for survival in multivariable analysis(all P<0.05).CONCLUSION The new LNR stage is uniquely based on number of metastatic LNs,with significant prognostic value for locally advanced GRC,and could better differentiate overall survival,compared with N stage.

Advantage of log odds of positive lymph nodes in prognostic evaluation of patients with early-onset colon cancer

BACKGROUND Colon cancer(CC)is one of the most common cancers of the digestive tract,the third most common cancer worldwide,and the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths.Previous studies have demonstrated a higher risk of lymph node metastasis(LNM)in young patients with CC.It might be reasonable to treat patients with early-onset locally advanced CC with extended lymph node dissection.However,few studies have focused on early-onset CC(ECC)patients with LNM.At present,the methods of predicting and evaluating the prognosis of ECC patients with LNM are controversial.From the data of patients with CC obtained from the Surveillance,Epidemiology,and End Results(SEER)database,data of young patients with ECC(≤50 years old)was screened.Patients with unknown data were excluded from the study,while the remaining patients were included.The patients were randomly divided into a training group(train)and a testing group(test)in the ratio of 7:3,while building the model.The model was constructed by the training group and verified by the testing group.Using multiple Cox regression models to compare the prediction efficiency of LNM indicators,nomograms were built based on the best model selected for overall survival(OS)and cause-specific survival(CSS).In the two groups,the performance of the nomogram was evaluated by constructing a calibration plot,time-dependent area under the curve(AUC),and decision curve analysis.Finally,the patients were grouped based on the risk score predicted by the prognosis model,and the survival curve was constructed after comparing the survival status of the high and low-risk groups.RESULTS Records of 26922 ECC patients were screened from the SEER database.N classification,positive lymph nodes(PLN),lymph node ratio(LNR)and log odds of PLN(LODDS)were considered to be independent predictors of OS and CSS.In addition,independent risk factors for OS included gender,race,marital status,primary site,histology,grade,T,and M classification,while the independent prognostic factors for CSS included race,marital status,primary site,grade,T,and M classification.The prediction model including LODDS is composed of minimal Akaike information criterion,maximal concordance indexes,and AUCs.Factors including gender,race,marital status,primary site,histology,grade,T,M classification,and LODDS were integrated into the OS nomogram,while race,marital status,primary site,grade,T,M classification,and LODDS were included into the CSS nomogram.The nomogram representing both cohorts had been successfully verified in terms of prediction accuracy and clinical practicability.CONCLUSION LODDS is superior to N-stage,PLN,and LNR of ECC.The nomogram containing LODDS might be helpful in tumor evaluation and clinical decision-making,since it provides an appropriate prediction of ECC.

Assessing the Clinical Efficacy and Effectiveness of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Combined with Breast-Conserving Surgery for Early-Stage Breast Cancer

Objective:To analyze the impact of sentinel lymph node biopsy(SLNB)combined with breast-conserving surgery in the clinical treatment of early-stage breast cancer.Methods:80 patients with early-stage breast cancer admitted to the Second Department of Breast Surgery at Dezhou Second People’s Hospital from September 2020 to September 2022 were selected and randomly divided into a control group and an observation group using the random number table method,with 40 cases in each group.The control group underwent a modified radical mastectomy,while the observation group underwent SLNB combined with breast-conserving surgery.The surgical efficacy and prognosis between the two groups were compared.Results:The observation group exhibited shorter operation,hospitalization,and extubation times,as well as less intraoperative blood loss and drainage volume,all of which were significantly better than those in the control group(P<0.05).Additionally,the observation group demonstrated a higher rate of excellent breast cosmetology and quality of life,with lower complication incidence,significantly outperforming the control group(P<0.05).There was no statistical difference in the metastasis rate and recurrence rate between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion:The combination of SLNB and breast-conserving surgery proves highly effective for patients with early-stage breast cancer,presenting fewer complications and enhancing both breast cosmetic outcomes and quality of life.

Different lymph node staging systems for predicting the prognosis of colorectal neuroendocrine neoplasms

BACKGROUND Colorectal neuroendocrine neoplasms(NENs)are a rare malignancy that primarily arises from the diffuse distribution of neuroendocrine cells in the colon and rectum.Previous studies have pointed out that the status of lymph node may be used to predict the prognosis.AIM To investigate the predictive values of lymph node ratio(LNR),positive lymph node(PLN),and log odds of PLNs(LODDS)staging systems on the prognosis of colorectal NENs treated surgically,and compare their predictive values.METHODS This cohort study included 895 patients with colorectal NENs treated surgically from the Surveillance,Epidemiology,and End Results database.The endpoint was mortality of patients with colorectal NENs treated surgically.X-tile software was utilized to identify most suitable thresholds for categorizing the LNR,PLN,and LODDS.Participants were selected in a random manner to form training and testing sets.The prognosis of surgically treating colorectal NENs was examined using multivariate cox analysis to assess the associations of LNR,PLN,and LODDS with the prognosis of colorectal NENs.C-index was used for assessing the predictive effectiveness.We conducted a subgroup analysis to explore the different lymph node staging systems’predictive values.RESULTS After adjusting all confounding factors,PLN,LNR and LODDS staging systems were linked with mortality in patients with colorectal NENs treated surgically(P<0.05).We found that LODDS staging had a higher prognostic value for patients with colorectal NENs treated surgically than PLN and LNR staging systems.Similar results were obtained in the different G staging subgroup analyses.Furthermore,the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values for LODDS staging system remained consistently higher than those of PLN or LNR,even at the 1-,2-,3-,4-,5-and 6-year follow-up periods.CONCLUSION LNR,PLN,and LODDS were found to significantly predict the prognosis of patients with colorectal NENs treated surgically.

Mycobacterium gordoniasis of the cervical lymph nodes:A case report

BACKGROUND Owing to the advancement in bacterial identification techniques,the detection rate of non-tuberculous mycobacterium(NTM)has been on the rise.Different from Mycobacterium tuberculosis,the clinical symptoms of NTM are not easily detected,and the clinical efficacy and prognosis are somewhat heterogeneous.To report a case of Mycobacterium gordoniasis of cervical lymph node diagnosed in Anhui Chest Hospital in July 2022.CASE SUMMARY Upon examination,the patient who weighed 67.5 kg,was human immunodeficiency virus negative,healthy,without hypertension,diabetes,heart disease and other basic diseases microscopic analysis revealed granulomatous inflammation with coagulation necrosis in the lymphocyte,and tuberculosis was not ruled out.Plain computed tomography scans of the neck and chest indicated the presence of a single grayish-yellow and grayish-brown tissue,the dimensions of which was top of form 10.5 cm×3.0 cm×1.5 cm.After pathological consultation in our hospital,the diagnosis was confirmed as NTM infection.CONCLUSION This case report and the clinical epidemiological research on improving NTM have important guiding significance for improving decision-making in clinical treatments.

Effect of the number of positive lymph nodes and lymph node ratio on prognosis of patients after resection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND： The prognostic factors related to lymph node involvement [lymph node status, the number of positive lymph nodes, lymph node ratio （LNR）] and the number of nodes evaluated in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma after pancreatectomy are poorly defined. METHODS： A total of 167 patients who had undergone resection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma from February 2010 to August 2011 were included in this study. Histological examination was performed to evaluate the tumor differentiation and lymph node involvement. Univariate and multivariate analyses were made to determine the relationship between the variables related to nodal involvement and the number of nodes and survival. RESULTS： The median number of total nodes examined was 10 （range 0-44） for the entire cohort. The median number of total nodes examined in node-negative （pN0） patients was similar to that in node-positive （pN1） patients. Patients with pN1 diseases had significantly worse survival than those with pN0 ones （P=0.000）. Patients with three or more positive nodes had a poorer prognosis compared with those with the negative nodes （P=0.000）. The prognosis of the patients with negative nodes was similar to that of those with one to two positive nodes （P=0.114）. The median survival of patients with an LNR ≥0.4 was shorter than that of patients with an LNR 〈0.4 in the pN1 cohort （P=0.014）. No significance was found between the number of total nodes examined and the prognosis, regardless of the cutoff of 10 or 12 and in the entire cohort or the pN0 and pN1 groups. Based on the multivariate analysis of the entire cohort and the pN1 group, the nodal status, the number of positive nodes and the LNR were all associated with survival. CONCLUSIONS： In addition to the nodal status, the number of positive nodes and the LNR can serve as comprehensive factors for the evaluation of nodal involvement. This approach may be more effective for predicting the survival of patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma after pancreatectomy.

Clinical and Sonographic Assessment of Cervical Lymph Node Metastasis in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

The purpose of this study was to assess the differences in clinical and sonographic features of papillary thyroid carcinoma（PTC） between cervical lymph node metastatic（CLNM） and nonmetastatic groups.Clinical data of PTC patients（414 patients with 624 malignant nodules） who underwent a preoperative ultrasonography and surgery between June 2010 and March 2015 at Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University were retrospectively analyzed.Clinical factors,preoperative ultrasound features and the final pathological findings were obtained.The differences in the sonographic features of PTC between the CLNM group and the non-CLNM group were analyzed.There were 187 CLNM and 227 non-CLNM patients.The median age at the diagnosis of this cohort was 45.4 years old（ranging from 18 to 77 years）.Ultrasonographic parameters that were significantly associated with CLNM [OR=2.569（1.502,4.393）,P〈0.001）] were as follows：the mulifocality of the nodules,size over 2 cm,the presence of microcalcifications,the distance ratio（DR） pattern showing the contact of the nodules with the thyroid capsule,and the extracapsular spread of the nodules.No significant differences in age,gender,thyroid stimulating hormone（TSH） levels and other ultrasonography parameters were found between the CLNM and the non-CLNM groups.Therefore,our results suggest that a larger size,microcalcifications,mulifocality,and the DR pattern showing the contact of the nodules with the thyroid capsule and extracapsular spread are significantly more indicative of CLNM in PTC.

Axillary lymph node management in breast cancer with positive sentinel lymph node biopsy

The surgical treatment of localized breast cancer has become progressively less aggressive over the years.The management of the axillary lymph nodes has been modified by the introduction of sentinel lymph node biopsy. Axillary dissection can be avoided in patients with sentinel lymph node negative biopsies. Based on randomized trials data, it has been proposed that no lymph node dissection should be carried out even in certain patients with sentinel lymph node positive biopsies. This commentary discusses the basis of such recommendations and cautions against a general omission of lymph node dissection in breast cancer patients with positive sentinel lymph node biopsies. Instead, an individualized approach based on axillary tumor burden and biology of the cancer should be considered.

Development and validation of prognostic nomogram based on log odds of positive lymph nodes for patients with gastric signet ring cell carcinoma

Objective: Our aims were to establish novel nomogram models, which directly targeted patients with signet ring cell carcinoma(SRC), for individualized prediction of overall survival(OS) rate and cancer-specific survival(CSS).Methods: We selected 1,365 SRC patients diagnosed from 2010 to 2015 from Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results(SEER) database, and then randomly partitioned them into a training cohort and a validation cohort.Independent predicted indicators, which were identified by using univariate testing and multivariate analyses, were used to construct our prognostic nomogram models. Three methods, Harrell concordance index(C-index), receiver operating characteristics(ROC) curve and calibration curve, were used to assess the ability of discrimination and predictive accuracy. Integrated discrimination improvement(IDI), net reclassification improvement(NRI) and decision curve analysis(DCA) were used to assess clinical utility of our nomogram models.Results: Six independent predicted indicators, age, race, log odds of positive lymph nodes(LODDS), T stage, M stage and tumor size, were associated with OS rate. Nevertheless, only five independent predicted indicators were associated with CSS except race. The developed nomograms based on those independent predicted factors showed reliable discrimination. C-index of our nomogram for OS and CSS was 0.760 and 0.763, which were higher than American Joint Committee on Cancer(AJCC) 8 th edition tumor-node-metastasis(TNM) staging system(0.734 and 0.741, respectively). C-index of validation cohort for OS was 0.757 and for CSS was 0.773. The calibration curves also performed good consistency. IDI, NRI and DCA showed the nomograms for both OS and CSS had a comparable clinical utility than the TNM staging system.Conclusions: The novel nomogram models based on LODDS provided satisfying predictive ability of SRC both in OS and CSS than AJCC 8 th edition TNM staging system alone.

Log odds of positive lymph nodes is a better prognostic factor for oesophageal signet ring cell carcinoma than N stage

BACKGROUND Signet ring cell carcinoma is a rare type of oesophageal cancer,and we hypothesized that log odds of positive lymph nodes(LODDS)is a better prognostic factor for oesophageal signet ring cell carcinoma.AIM To explore a novel prognostic factor for oesophageal signet ring cell carcinoma by comparing two lymph node-related prognostic factors,log odds of positive LODDS and N stage.METHODS A total of 259 cases of oesophageal signet ring cell carcinoma after oesophagectomy were obtained from the Surveillance,Epidemiology,and End Results database between 2006 and 2016.The prognostic value of LODDS and N stage for oesophageal signet ring cell carcinoma was evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses.The Akaike information criterion and Harrell’s C-index were used to assess the value of two prediction models based on lymph nodes.External validation was performed to further confirm the conclusion.RESULTS The 5-year cancer-specific survival(CSS)and 5-year overall survival(OS)rates of all the cases were 41.3%and 27.0%,respectively.The Kaplan-Meier method showed that LODDS had a higher score of log rank chi-squared(OS:46.162,CSS:41.178)than N stage(OS:36.215,CSS:31.583).Univariate analyses showed that insurance,race,T stage,M stage,TNM stage,radiation therapy,N stage,and LODDS were potential prognostic factors for OS(P<0.1).The multivariate Cox regression model showed that LODDS was an significant independent prognostic factor for oesophageal signet ring carcinoma patients after surgical resection(P<0.05),while N stage was not considered to be a significant prognostic factor(P=0.122).Model 2(LODDS)had a higher degree of discrimination and fit than Model 1(N stage)(LODDS vs N stage,Harell’s C-index 0.673 vs 0.656,P<0.001;Akaike information criterion 1688.824 vs 1697.519,P<0.001).The results of external validation were consistent with those in the study cohort.CONCLUSION LODDS is a superior prognostic factor to N stage for patients with oesophageal signet ring cell carcinoma after oesophagectomy.

Relationship between subgroups of central and lateral lymph nodemetastasis in clinically node-negative papillary thyroid carcinoma

BACKGROUND Lymph node metastasis(LNM) of papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC) has a certain regularity and occurs first to the central lymph node and then to the lateral lymph node. The pathway of PTC LNM can guide surgical prophylactic lymph node dissection(LND) for clinical surgeons.AIM To investigate the relationship between subgroups of central LNM and lateral LNM in unilateral clinically node-negative PTC(cN0-PTC).METHODS Data were collected for 1089 PTC patients who underwent surgical treatment at the Department of Endocrine and Breast Surgery of the First Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from January 2016 to December 2017. A total of 388 unilateral cN0-PTC patients met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled in this study. The clinical and pathological data for these 388 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy + central LND + lateral LND were retrospectively analyzed. The relationship between the central LNM and lateral LNM subgroups was investigated.RESULTS The coincidence rate of cN0-PTC was only 30.0%.Optimal scaling regression analysis showed that sex(57.1% vs 42.9%, P = 0.026), primary tumor size(68.8% vs 31.2%, P = 0.008), tumor location(59.7% vs 40.3%, P = 0.007), extrathyroid extension(ETE)(50.6% vs 49.9%, P = 0.046), and prelaryngeal LNM(57.1% vs 42.9%, P = 0.004) were significantly associated with ipsilateral level-II LNM. Their importance levels were 0.122, 0.213, 0.172, 0.110, and 0.227, respectively. Primary tumor size(74.6% vs 30.2%, P = 0.016), pretracheal LNM(67.5% vs 32.5%, P < 0.001), and paratracheal LNM(71.4% vs 28.6%, P < 0.001) were significantly associated with ipsilateral level-Ⅲ LNM. Their importance levels were 0.120, 0.408, and 0.351, respectively. Primary tumor size(72.1% vs 27.9%, P = 0.003), ETE(70.4% vs 29.6%, P = 0.016), pretracheal LNM(68.3% vs 31.7%, P=0.001), and paratracheal LNM(80.8% vs 19.2%, P < 0.001) were significantly associated with ipsilateral level-IV LNM. Their importance levels were 0.164, 0.146, 0.216, and 0.472, respectively.CONCLUSION The LNM pathway of thyroid cancer has a certain regularity. For unilateral cN0-PTC patients with a tumor diameter > 2 cm and pretracheal or ipsilateral paratracheal LNM, LND at ipsilateral level Ⅲ and level IV must be considered. When there is a tumor in the upper third of the thyroid with prelaryngeal LNM, LND at level II, level Ⅲ and level IV must be considered.

Effects of postmastectomy radiotherapy on prognosis in different tumor stages of breast cancer patients with positive axillary lymph nodes

Objective: To explore the effects of postmastectomy radiotherapy(PMRT) on the locoregional failure-free survival(LRFFS) and overall survival(OS) of breast cancer patients under different tumor stages and with one to three positive axillary lymph nodes(ALNs). Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 527 patients with one to three positive lymph nodes who underwent modified radical or partial mastectomy and axillary dissection from January 2000 to December 2002. The patients were divided into the T1-T2 N1 and T3-T4 N1 groups. The effects of PMRT on the LRFFS and OS of these two patient groups were analyzed using SPSS 19.0, Pearson's χ2-test, Kaplan-Meier method, and Cox proportional hazard model. Results: For T1-T2 N1 patients, no statistical significance was observed in the effects of PMRT on LRFFS [hazard ratio(HR)=0.726; 95% confidence interval(CI): 0.233-2.265; P=0.582] and OS(HR=0.914; 95% CI: 0.478-1.745; P=0.784) of the general patients. Extracapsular extension(ECE) and high histological grade were the risk factors for LRFFS and OS with statistical significance in multivariate analysis. Stratification analysis showed that PMRT statistically improved the clinical outcomes in high-risk patients [ECE(+), LRFFS: P=0.026, OS: P=0.007; histological grade III, LRFFS: P<0.001, OS: P=0.007] but not in low-risk patients [ECE(–), LRFFS: P=0.987, OS: P=0.502; histological grade I-II, LRFFS: P=0.816, OS: P=0.296]. For T3-T4 N1 patients, PMRT effectively improved the local control(HR=0.089; 95% CI: 0.210-0.378; P=0.001) of the general patients, whereas no statistical effect was observed on OS(HR=1.251; 95% CI: 0.597-2.622; P=0.552). Absence of estrogen receptors and progesterone receptors(ER/PR)(–) was an independent risk factor. Further stratification analysis indicated a statistical difference in LRFFS and OS between the high-risk patients with ER/PR(–) receiving PMRT and not receiving PMRT [ER/PR(–), LRFFS: P=0.046, OS: P=0.039]. However, PMRT had a beneficial effect on the reduction of locoregional recurrence(LRR) but not in total mortality [ER/PR(+), LRFFS: P<0.001, OS: P= 0.695] in T3-T4 N1 patients with ER/PR(+) who received endocrine therapy. Conclusion: PMRT could reduce ECE(+), histological grade III-related LRR, and total mortality of T1-T2 N1 patients. T3-T4 N1 patients with ER/PR(–) could benefit from PMRT by improving LRFFS and OS. However, PMRT could only reduce LRR but failed to improve OS for T3-T4 N1 patients with ER/PR(+) who received endocrine therapy.

Macrometastasis at selective lymph node biopsy:A practical goingfor-the-one clinical scoring system to personalize decision making

BACKGROUND Axillary sentinel lymph node biopsy(SLNB)is standard treatment for patients with clinically and pathological negative lymph nodes.However,the role of completion axillary lymph node dissection(cALND)following positive sentinel lymph node biopsy(SLNB)is debated.AIM To identify a subgroup of women with high axillary tumor burden undergoing SLNB in whom cALND can be safely omitted in order to reduce the risk of longterm complications and create a Preoperative Clinical Risk Index(PCRI)that helps us in our clinical practice to optimize the selection of these patients.METHODS Patients with positive SLNB who underwent a cALND were included in this study.Univariate and multivariate analysis of prognostic and predictive factors were used to create a PCRI for safely omitting cALND.RESULTS From May 2007 to April 2014,we performed 1140 SLN biopsies,of which 125 were positive for tumor and justified to practice a posterior cALND.Pathologic findings at SLNB were micrometastases(mic)in 29 cases(23.4%)and macrometastasis(MAC)in 95 cases(76.6%).On univariate analysis of the 95 patients with MAC,statistically significant factors included:age,grade,phenotype,histology,lymphovascular invasion,lymph-node tumor size,and number of positive SLN.On multivariate analysis,only lymph-node tumor size(≤20 mm)and number of positive SLN(>1)retained significance.A numerical tool was created giving each of the parameters a value to predict preoperatively which patients would not benefit from cALND.Patients with a PCRI≤15 has low probability(<10%)of having additional lymph node involvement,a PRCI between 15-17.6 has a probability of 43%,and the probability increases to 69%in patients with a PCRI>17.6.CONCLUSION The PCRI seems to be a useful tool to prospectively estimate the risk of nodal involvement after positive SLN and to identify those patients who could omit cALND.Further prospective studies are necessary to validate PCRI clinical generalization.

Benefit of adjuvant chemoradiotherapy in patients with pathologically lymph node-positive and locally advanced gastric cancer

Objective This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of adjuvant chemoradiotherapy(CRT)and adjuvant chemotherapy(ChT)for T3–4/N+gastric cancer(GC)following D2/R0 dissection,and identify the specific subgroups that could benefit from adjuvant CRT.Methods All eligible patients were divided into the CRT group and ChT group.We assessed the survival outcomes and patterns of recurrence for each group,and determined the prognostic factors for survival by performing Cox proportional risk regression analyses.Results A total of 192 gastric cancer patients were included in the study.The estimated 3-year and 5-year disease-free survival(DFS)probabilities in the CRT and ChT groups were 52.9%vs.36.7%(P=0.024)and 41.2%vs.31.1%(P=0.148),respectively,and the estimated 3-year and 5-year overall survival(OS)probabilities were 82.4%vs.70.0%(P=0.044)and 52.0%vs.35.6%(P=0.022).Patients in the CRT group had a lower risk of locoregional recurrence than those in the ChT group(20.6%vs.34.4%;P=0.031).The subset analyses revealed that patients with stage N1–2 disease were more likely to benefit from adjuvant CRT than from adjuvant ChT(DFS:53.1%vs.36.4%;P=0.039;OS:53.1%vs.38.6%;P=0.036).Conclusion For locally advanced gastric cancer patients with LN+,adjuvant CRT showed superior survival benefits compared with adjuvant ChT alone.Patients with N1–2 achieved better survival from adjuvant CRT.

A clinical analysis of risk factor with lymph node metastatic recurrence in patients with N0 esophageal cancer after Ivor-Lewis Esophagectomy

Objective To investigate the risk factors with lymph node metastatic recurrence in patients with N0 esophageal cancer after Ivor-Lewis Esophagectomy. Methods The subjects were 82 patients with pN0 esophagea cancer who underwent Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy from January 2001 to January 2005. By using RT-PCR,VEGF C mRNA was detected in tumor issues,and Mucin (MUC1) mRNA was detected in lymph nodes. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the survival

Clinical significance and characteristics of recurrent laryngeal nerve lymph node metastasis of thoracic esophageal cancer

Objective To investigate the clinical significance and characteristics of recurrent laryngeal nerve lymph node metastasis of thoracic esophageal cancer. Methods One hundred and twenty-four patients who had undergone thoracic esophageal resection with recurrent laryngealnerve lymph node dissection in our hospital from March 2007 to February 2010. All clinical data were retrospectively analysed. Results Recurrent laryngeal

Deep learning model based on primary tumor to predict lymph node status in clinical stage IA lung adenocarcinoma:a multicenter study

Objective:To develop a deep learning model to predict lymph node(LN)status in clinical stage IA lung adeno-carcinoma patients.Methods:This diagnostic study included 1,009 patients with pathologically confirmed clinical stage T1N0M0 lung adenocarcinoma from two independent datasets(699 from Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and 310 from PLA General Hospital)between January 2005 and December 2019.The Cancer Hospital dataset was randomly split into a training cohort(559 patients)and a validation cohort(140 patients)to train and tune a deep learning model based on a deep residual network(ResNet).The PLA Hospital dataset was used as a testing cohort to evaluate the generalization ability of the model.Thoracic radiologists manually segmented tumors and interpreted high-resolution computed tomography(HRCT)features for the model.The predictive performance was assessed by area under the curves(AUCs),accuracy,precision,recall,and F1 score.Subgroup analysis was performed to evaluate the potential bias of the study population.Results:A total of 1,009 patients were included in this study;409(40.5%)were male and 600(59.5%)were female.The median age was 57.0 years(inter-quartile range,IQR:50.0-64.0).The deep learning model achieved AUCs of 0.906(95%CI:0.873-0.938)and 0.893(95%CI:0.857-0.930)for predicting pN0 disease in the testing cohort and a non-pure ground glass nodule(non-pGGN)testing cohort,respectively.No significant difference was detected between the testing cohort and the non-pGGN testing cohort(P=0.622).The precisions of this model for predicting pN0 disease were 0.979(95%CI:0.963-0.995)and 0.983(95%CI:0.967-0.998)in the testing cohort and the non-pGGN testing cohort,respectively.The deep learning model achieved AUCs of 0.848(95%CI:0.798-0.898)and 0.831(95%CI:0.776-0.887)for predicting pN2 disease in the testing cohort and the non-pGGN testing cohort,respectively.No significant difference was detected between the testing cohort and the non-pGGN testing cohort(P=0.657).The recalls of this model for predicting pN2 disease were 0.903(95%CI:0.870-0.936)and 0.931(95%CI:0.901-0.961)in the testing cohort and the non-pGGN testing cohort,respectively.Conclusions:The superior performance of the deep learning model will help to target the extension of lymph node dissection and reduce the ineffective lymph node dissection in early-stage lung adenocarcinoma patients.

Vascularizing lymph node dissection for advanced gastric cancer: A single-institution experience

AIM: To compare the short- and long-term outcomes of vascularizing lymph node dissection (VLND) and non-vascularizing lymph node dissection (NVLND) from a single institution.METHODS: Data of 315 patients with advanced gastric cancer who underwent standard D2 lymphadenectomy with curative intent was collected between January 1994 and December 2006. One hundred and fifty-two patients received VLND while 163 patients received NVLND. Short- and long-term clinical outcomes were compared between the two groups.RESULTS: The median followed-up time was 82 mo. The rate of postoperative complications in the VLND group was 13.2%, while that in the NVLND group was 11.7% (P = 0.686). The overall 5-year survival rate was 64% in the VLND group and 59% in the NVLND group (P = 0.047). When subgroup analyses were performed according to Bormann type, type of differentiation and lymph node status, survival benefit was demonstrated in patients with Bormann type III or IV (59% vs 50%, P = 0.032), undifferentiated type (63% vs 49%, P = 0.021) or presence of lymph node metastasis (53% vs 38%, P = 0.010) in the VLND group.CONCLUSION: D2 VLND in advanced gastric cancer treatment allows survival benefit with acceptable morbidity and mortality. VLND for patients with potentially curable advanced gastric cancer is feasible and safe when performed by a well-trained surgical team.