On the road to standardization of D2 lymph node dissection in a European population of patients with gastric cancer

The amount of lymph node dissection(LD) required during surgical treatment of gastric cancer surgery has been quite controversial.In the 1970 s and 1980 s,Japanese surgeons developed a doctrine of aggressive preventive gastric cancer surgery that was based on extended(D2) LD volumes.The West has relatively lower incidence rates of gastric cancer,and in Europe and the United States the most common LD volume was D0-1.This eventually caused a scientific conflict between the Eastern and Western schools of surgical thought.:Japanese surgeons determinedly used D2 LD in surgical practice,whereas European surgeons insisted on repetitive clinical trials in the European patient population.Today,however,one can observe the results of this complex evolution of views.The D2 LD is regarded as an unambiguous standard of gastric cancer surgical treatment in specialized European centers.Such a consensus of the Eastern and Western surgical schools became possible due to the longstanding scientific and practical search for methods that would help improve the results of gastric cancer surgeries using evidence-based medicine.Today,we can claim that D2 LD could improve the prognosis in European populations of patients with gastric cancer,but only when the surgical quality of LD execution is adequate.

Neck dissection for recurrent and persistent lymph nodes of nasopharyngeal carcinoma after radiotherapy： effect and choice

Objective： To investigate the best surgical mode for the patients of nasopharyngeal carcinoma with recurrent and persistent lymph nodes after radiotherapy. Methods： The clinical data of 88 patients of nasopharyngeal carcinoma with recurrent and persistent lymph nodes after radiotherapy were analyzed retrospectively. The levels of involved lymph nodes and the relationship among the levels were analyzed; the survival rate and recurrent rate of the surgical modes including radical neck dissection （RND）, modified radical neck dissection （MRND）, selective neck dissection （SND）, and lymph node resection （LNR） were analyzed; the role of postoperative radiotherapy was evaluated. Results： （1） The recurrent and persistent lymph nodes mainly located in level Ⅱ（55.6% and 58.6%, respectively）, next was level Ⅲ and rarely in level Ⅳ, Ⅴ, and Ⅰ, but the number of levels Ⅳ Ⅴ, and Ⅰ with cancer-bearing lymph nodes was relatively more than that of clinical measurement. （2） Patients with lymph nodes involved in level Ⅲ and Ⅳ, usually, have other levels involved simultaneously; the percentages were 63.6% and 88.9%, respectively. However, the lymph nodes in level Ⅱ and Ⅴ were mainly isolated. （3） The 5-year survival rate and recurrent rate of the whole group were 42.77% and 22.7%, respectively. （4） The 5-year survival rates of RND, MRND, SND, and LMR groups were 39.75%, 60.00%, 37.87%, and 44.10%, respectively; the differences were insignificant （Log-rank = 1.0, P = 0.8011）; the recurrent rate between the extensive and local surgery groups were insignificant （X^2 = 0.470, P = 0.493）. （5） The 5-year survival rates of the patients with and without postoperative radiotherapy were 39.06% and 45.26%, respectively; the difference was insignificant （Log-rank = 0.06, P = 0.8138）. Conclusion： The extensive surgery was recommended when the recurrent and persistent lymph nodes were more than one level involved or very large or immovable, otherwise, the SND should be performed and postoperative radiotherapy was important compensation if necessary.

Role of carbon nanotracers in lymph node dissection of advanced gastric cancer and the selection of preoperative labeling time

BACKGROUND The incidence of gastric cancer is high.The number of dissected lymph nodes was an independent factor affecting prognosis.Although preoperative labeling is helpful in lymph nodes resection,there are no guidelines for when to perform preoperative labeling.AIM To investigate the role of nanocarbon in lymph node dissection during gastrectomy,and to discuss the relationship between the timing of preoperative injection of carbon nanoparticles and the extent of lymph node dissection.METHODS A prospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 307 patients with advanced gastric cancer who underwent laparoscopic surgery in the General Surgery Department of Weifang People’s Hospital between June 2018 and February 2021.The patients were randomly divided into experimental group and control group based on whether they received preoperative nanocarbon injection or not.The experimental group was divided into different groups according to the preoperative labeling time.The number of dissected lymph nodes and the number of lymph nodes with black staining were compared in each group after surgery,and the role of nanocarbon in the number of dissected lymph nodes,pathological staging,and the relationship with prognosis were discussed.RESULTS The average number of dissected lymph nodes in the experimental group was higher than that in the control group.In the experimental group,the number of lymph node dissections and number of black-staining lymph nodes in the nanocarbon-labeling group at 2 d and 1 d before surgery were higher than in the labeling group on the day before surgery(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Preoperative nanocarbon labeling can safely and effectively guide lymph node dissection.To improve the detection rate of lymph nodes is conducive to subsequent comprehensive anti-tumor therapy.

Stomach Cancer: Surgical Management and Impact of Lymph Node Dissection in Survival at the Surgery “A” Department of the National Hospital of Point “G” (Mali)

Introduction: Although its incidence has tended to decrease for several years, stomach cancer remains one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers worldwide. Globally, gastric cancer is the 4th most common cancer in men, the 5th in women, and the third leading cause of cancer death in men, the 5th in women. Patients and Methods: This was an analytical, prospective and descriptive study. Study Framework: Our study took place in the “A” surgery department of the Point “G” Hospital in Bamako. Study Period: August 1, 2003 to August 31, 2005. The design and preparation phase of the fact sheet lasted 1 month. The data collection phase lasted 18 months. All the patients who consulted for gastric tumor had a record. The follow-up phase of the patients lasted 6 months during which the patients were followed by appointment, by contact person or seen at home. Data entry and analysis were conducted with Epi-Info software (version 6.0). Inclusion Criteria: All patients hospitalized for gastric cancer in the “A” surgery department of the Point “G” Hospital. Result: The distribution of patients according to the evolutionary stage TNM was: Stage IV (50 cases, or 64.94%);Stage III (21 cases, or 27.27%);Stage II (6 cases, or 7.79%). In our series the average age was 59 with extremes of 20 to 85 years. The most represented age group was 46 - 65 years. Men were 60 cases (77.90%) 17 cases for women (22.10%). The sex ratio was 3.53 in favor of men. All 77 patients were recruited during the outpatient clinic, including 55 patients referred by a physician and 20 patients who came by themselves. Esogastroduodenal fibroscopy was performed in all of our patients. The tumor was localized: to the cardia in 10 cases;cardiac fundus in 2 cases;antrum in 24 cases;antro-pyloric in 28 cases;Pylorus in 1 case;great curvature in 5 cases;small curvature in 2 cases. Postoperative complications were: parietal infection in 12 cases or 17.40%;digestive fistula in 3 cases and evisceration is 1.40%. The overall three-month survival rate was 51.90% and at 6 months was 48.10%. Conclusion: Stomach cancer is the most common digestive cancer in Mali. In Africa the diagnosis is usually late and the R1 lymph node dissections remain the basic technique, despite the results obtained in the Japanese series. The results of several major series argue for their effectiveness in improving patient survival.

Clinical significance of the negative lymph node count after the axillary dissection of breast cancer patients

Objective： The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the negative lymph node （LN） count on the survival of the breast cancer patients in early stage after the axillary dissection. Methods： The breast cancer patients with T1-2N0-1M0 stage between January 2001 and December 2005 in Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, who underwent the axillary LNs dissection, were enrolled in this study. We analyzed the data of these patients including information of follow-up and postop- erative pathological results. All patients were divided into two groups according to the axillary LN status and each group was divided into four subgroups according to the negative LN count. Cox regression analysis was performed to screen the patho- logical factor including the negative LN count on the survival and to compare the different negative LN count on the survival. Results： COX proportional hazard regression model showed that the survival of the breast cancer was significantly associ- ated with the negative LN count. In T1 2N0 group, when the negative LN count was 3 or less, 4 to 5, 6 to 9 and 10 or more, the median survival time was （82.6 ±4.1） months, （101.5 ± 1.3） months, （104.7 ±1.0） months, and （110.5 ±0.9） months respectively （P 〈 0.05）. In T1-2N0 group, when the negative LN count was 6 or less, 7 to 8, 9 to 10 and 11 or more, the median survival time was （95.4 ± 1.9） months, （101.8 ± 1.1） months, （104.9 ± 1.0） months, and （106.5 ± 0.9） months respectively （P 〈 0.05）. Conclusion： The negative LN count can reflect the adequacy of the axillary dissection. Increasing negative LN count is independently associated with improved survival in pT1-2N0M0 or pT1-2N0M0 staging breast cancer patients. The negative LN count should be considered for incorporation into staging for breast cancer with the axillary LN dissection.

The Number of Lymph Nodes and Relationship with Presence of Thyroiditis and Thymic Tissue in the Central Neck Dissection Materials for Thyroid Papillary Carcinoma: Pathologic Analysis

Background: Central lymph node dissection (CLND) for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) allows correct pathologic staging of lymph nodes and planning of postoperative management. The purpose of this study was to determine the number of the lymph nodes in the CLND and the relationship to presence of chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis (CLT) and thymic tissue (TT). Methods: Total thyroidectomy and CLND materials from 153 patients with PTC were included in this study. Two histopathologic features (presence of CLT and TT) were evaluated for their value in adequacy of CLND. Results: Histopathologic examination revealed CLT and TT in CLND materials in 70 (46%) and 63 (41%) patients, respectively. Total number of lymph nodes in CLND materials was significantly higher in CLT (+) and TT (+) groups (p Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that presence of CLT in thyroid gland has been associated with higher number of central lymph nodes mainly due to increased number of benign hyperplastic lymph nodes. It may be possible to conclude that upper limit of lymph nodes for satisfactory CLND would be higher to correctly evaluate central lymph node status in existing staging systems if specimens have CLT. Results of this study also show that the presence of TT in surgical materials may represent the adequacy of CLND.

Newly developed histological tray for the application of identifying exact lymph node dissections in uro-logical surgical oncology

In any urologic cancer surgery, lymph node dissection and its processing play a significant role in staging and management of the patients. Accordingly, precise handling of the dissected lymph nodes is important for histopathological work-up. The authors have developed a lymph node plastic tray shaping the abdomen and pelvis in which the dissected lymph nodes are placed in its determined location. This can be applied for any urologic cancer surgery. The research was designed to test the usage of a new histological tray. The objective was to assess how helpful it was for the surgical team and in the pathological process. The newly developed lymph node tray has been applied in 150 urological cancer surgeries and its efficacy and outcome have been evaluated in all these cases by involved doctors and assistants. This new tray simplifies lymph node removing and identification (staging), making it safer and quicker in any uro-oncological surgery. It facilitates the work of the pathologist and the flow of reliable information along the surgeon—pathologist-oncologist team. With usage of the tray, lymph node dissections are more structured by methodical means compared to any of the present methods.

A new device for the identification of lymph nodes removed during different types of neck dissection

Meticulous mapping of the lymph node status is a general principle in present-day head and neck surgery. The removal of a certain number of lymphatic levels during neck dissection may well be therapeutic in intent, but it is also mandatory for correct tumour staging. We pre- sent a precise lymph node mapping during dif- ferent types of neck dissection in the course of major head and neck surgery by a sterile plastic tray moulded in the shape of the neck. This de- vice makes lymph node mapping simpler, safer, quicker and methodically more structured than any of the present methods. It facilitates the work of the pathologist and the flow of reliable information along the surgeon-pathologist- oncologist chain. With this device, a more stru- ctured, methodical means of lymph node removal has become possible.

Feasibility and limitations of combined treatment for lateral pelvic lymph node metastases in rectal cancer

Colorectal cancer ranks among the most commonly diagnosed cancers globally,and is associated with a high rate of pelvic recurrence after surgery.In efforts to mitigate recurrence,pelvic lymph node dissection(PLND)is commonly advocated as an adjunct to radical surgery.Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy(NACRT)is a therapeutic approach employed in managing locally advanced rectal cancer,and has been found to increase the survival rates.Chua et al have proposed a combination of NACRT with selective PLND for addressing lateral pelvic lymph node metastases in rectal cancer patients,with the aim of reducing recurrence and improving survival outcomes.Nevertheless,certain studies have indicated that the addition of PLND to NACRT and total mesorectal excision did not yield a significant reduction in local recurrence rates or improvement in survival.Consequently,meticulous patient selection and perioperative chemotherapy may prove indispensable in ensuring the efficacy of PLND.

Fifty-five cases of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis combined with lymph node metastasis:A retrospective study

BACKGROUND Lymph node metastasis is a specific type of metastasis in hepatic alveolar echinococcosis(AE).Currently,there is a scarcity of describing the clinical characteristics and lymph node metastasis rules of patients with hepatic AE combined with lymph node metastasis and its mechanism and management are still controversial.Radical hepatectomy combined with regional lymph node dissection is a better treatment.AIM To analyse the clinical features of hepatic AE combined with lymph node metastasis to explore its treatment and efficacy.METHODS A total of 623 patients with hepatic AE admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from 1 January 2012 to 1 January 2022 were retrospectively analysed.Fifty-five patients with combined lymph node metastasis were analysed for their clinical data,diagnosis and treatment methods,follow-up efficacy,and characteristics of lymph node metastasis.Finally,we comparatively analysed the lymph node metastasis rates at different sites.Categorical variables are expressed as frequencies and percentages,and the analysis of difference was performed using theχ2 test.The Bonferroni method was used for pairwise comparisons when statistical differences existed between multiple categorical variables.RESULTS A lymph node metastasis rate of 8.8%(55/623)was reported in patients with hepatic AE,with a female predilection(69.1%)and a statistically significant sex difference(χ2=8.018,P=0.005).Of the 55 patients with lymph node metastasis,72.7%had a parasite lesion,neighbouring organ invasion,and metastasis stage of P3N1M0 and above,of which 67.3%,78.2%,and 34.5%of hepatic AE lesions invaded the bile ducts,blood vessels,and distant metastases,respectively.Detection rates of lymph node metastasis of 16.4%,21.7%,and 34.2%were reported for a preoperative abdominal ultrasound,magnetic resonance imaging,and computed tomography examinations.All patients were intraoperatively suspected with enlarged lymph nodes and underwent radical hepatectomy combined with regional lymph node dissection.After surgery,a routine pathological examination was conducted on the resected lymph nodes.A total of 106 positive lymph nodes were detected in six groups at various sites,including 51 single-group metastasis cases and four multi-group metastasis cases.When the metastasis rates at different sites were statistically analysed,we observed that the metastasis rate in the para-hepatoduodenal ligament lymph nodes was significantly higher than that of the other sites(χ^(2)=128.089,P=0.000<0.05).No statistical difference was observed in the metastasis rate between the five other groups.Clavien-Dindo grade IIIa complication occurred in 14 cases,which improved after administering symptomatic treatment.Additionally,lymph node dissection-related complications were not observed.Recurrence after 2 years was observed in one patient.CONCLUSION Lymph node metastasis is a rare form of metastasis in hepatic AE,which is more frequent in women.Parahepatoduodenal ligament lymph nodes are commonly observed.Radical hepatectomy combined with regional lymph node dissection is a safe,effective,and feasible treatment for liver AE combined with lymph node metastasis.

Robotic-assisted retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for stage II testicular cancer

Objective:To evaluate the perioperative as well as early oncological outcomes of patients undergoing robotic retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for treatment of testicular cancer.Methods:We conducted a prospective consecutive case series of patients undergoing robotic assisted retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for metastatic testicular cancer between May 2018 and July 2021 at our institution.Data were collected on patient and tumour characteristics,intraoperative and postoperative parameters,and functional and oncological outcomes.Descriptive statistics are presented.Results:Nineteen patients were identified;18(94.7%)completed the procedure robotically and one was converted to open surgery;78.9%of patients had stage≥IIB and 12(63.2%)patients had undergone prior chemotherapy.The median operative time was 300(interquartile range[IQR]240-315)min.Median blood loss was 100(IQR 50-175)mL.Median length of stay was 2(range 1-11)days.All robotically completed patients commenced diet and passed flatus on Day 1 and were discharged by Day 3.The median lymph node yield was 40.5(IQR 38-51)nodes.All patients undergoing nerve-sparing procedures recovered antegrade ejaculatory function.One patient had a Clavien-Dindo III complication(chylous ascites requiring drainage).At a median follow-up of 22.3(IQR 16.3-24.9)months,one patient developed retroperitoneal recurrence,which was successfully treated with second-line chemotherapy;no other patients have had recurrences.Conclusion:Robotic retroperitoneal lymph node dissection is a safe and feasible alternative to open surgery in appropriately selected patients,offering low morbidity.Early oncological outcomes are promising.Larger cohorts and longer follow-ups are required to validate our institution's findings.

Management of lateral pelvic lymph nodes in rectal cancer:Is it time to reach an Agreement?

In this editorial,we proceed to comment on the article by Chua et al,addressing the management of metastatic lateral pelvic lymph nodes(mLLN)in stage II/III rectal cancer patients below the peritoneal reflection.The treatment of this nodal area sparks significant controversy due to the strategic differences followed by Eastern and Western physicians,albeit with a higher degree of convergence in recent years.The dissection of lateral pelvic lymph nodes without neoadjuvant therapy is a standard practice in Eastern countries.In contrast,in the West,preference leans towards opting for neoadjuvant therapy with chemoradiotherapy or radiotherapy,that would cover the treatment of this area without the need to add the dissection of these nodes to the total mesorectal excision.In the presence of high-risk nodal characteristics for mLLN related to radiological imaging and lack of response to neoadjuvant therapy,the risk of lateral local recurrence increases,suggesting the appropriate selection of strategies to reduce the risk of recurrence in each patient profile.Despite the heterogeneous and retrospective nature of studies addressing this area,an international consensus is necessary to approach this clinical scenario uniformly.

Routine lymph node dissection may be not suitable for all intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma patients: Results of a monocentric series

AIM:To investigate the indications for lymph node dissection(LND)in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma patients.METHODS:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 124 intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma(ICC)patients who had undergone surgical resection of ICC from January 2006 to December 2007.Curative resection was attempted for all patients unless there were metastases to lymph nodes(LNs)beyond the hepatoduodenal ligament.Prophylactic LND was performed in patients in whom any enlarged LNs had been suspicious for metastases.The patients were classified according to the LND and LN metastases.Clinicopathologic,operative,and long-term survival data were collected retrospectively.The impact on survival of LND during primary resection was analyzed.RESULTS:Of 53 patients who had undergone hepatic resection with curative intent combined with regional LND,11 had lymph nodes metastases.Whether or not patients without lymph node involvement had undergone LND made no significant difference to their survival(P=0.822).Five patients with multiple tumors and involvement of lymph nodes underwent hepatic resection with LND;their survival curve did not differ significantly from that of the palliative resection group(P=0.744).However,there were significant differences in survival between patients with lymph node involvement and a solitary tumor who underwent hepatic resection with LND and the palliative resection group(median survival time 12 mo vs 6.0 mo,P=0.013).CONCLUSION:ICC patients without lymph node involvement and patients with multiple tumors and lymph node metastases may not benefit from aggressive lymphadenectomy.Routine LND should be considered with discretion.

Gastric cancer: Current status of lymph node dissection

D2 procedure has been accepted in Far East as the standard treatment for both early(EGC) and advanced gastric cancer(AGC) for many decades. Recently EGC has been successfully treated with endoscopy by endoscopic mucosal resection or endoscopic submucosal dissection, when restricted or extended Gotoda's criteria can be applied and D1+ surgery is offered only to patients not fitted for less invasive treatment. Furthermore, two randomised controlled trials(RCTs) have been demonstrating the non inferiority of minimally invasive technique as compared to standard open surgery for the treatment of early cases and recently the feasibility of adequate D1+ dissection has been demonstrated also for the robot assisted technique. In case of AGC the debate on the extent of nodal dissection has been open for many decades. While D2 gastrectomy was performed as the standard procedure in eastern countries, mostly based on observational and retrospective studies, in the west the Medical Research Council(MRC), Dutch and Italian RCTs have been conducted to show a survival benefit of D2 over D1 with evidence based medicine. Unfortunately both the MRC and the Dutch trials failed to show a survival benefit after the D2 procedure, mostly due to the significant increase of postoperative morbidity and mortality, which was referred to splenopancreatectomy. Only 15 years after the conclusion of its accrual, the Dutch trial could report a significant decrease of recur-rence after D2 procedure. Recently the long term survival analysis of the Italian RCT could demonstrate a benefit for patients with positive nodes treated with D2 gastrectomy without splenopancreatectomy. As nowadays also in western countries D2 procedure can be done safely with pancreas preserving technique and without preventive splenectomy, it has been suggested in several national guidelines as the recommended procedure for patients with AGC.

Positive impact of adding No.14v lymph node to D2 dissection on survival for distal gastric cancer patients after surgery with curative intent

Background： D2 lymphadenectomy has been increasingly regarded as standard surgical procedure for advanced gastric cancer （GC）, while the necessity of No.14v lymph node （14v） dissection for distal GC is still controversial. Methods： A total of 920 distal GC patients receiving at least a D2 lymph node dissection in Department of Gastric Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital were enrolled in this study, of whom, 243 patients also had the 14v dissected. Other 677 patients without 14v dissection were used for comparison. Results： Forty-five （18.5%） patients had 14v metastasis. There was no significant difference in 3-year overall survival （OS） rate between patients with and without 14v dissection. Following stratified analysis, in TNM stages I, II, IIIa and IV, 14v dissection did not affect 3-year OS; in contrast, patients with 14v dissection had a significant higher 3-year OS than those without in TNM stages IIIb and IIIc. In multivariate analysis, 14v dissection was found to be an independent prognostic factor for GC patients with TNM stage IIIb/IIIc disease [hazard ratio （HR）, 1.568; 95% confidence interval （CI）： 1.186-2.072; P=0.002]. GC patients with 14v dissection had a significant lower locoregional, especially lymph node, recurrence rate than those without 14v dissection （11.7 % vs. 21.1%, P=0.035）. Conclusions： Adding 14v to D2 lymphadenectomy may be associated with improved 3-year OS for distal GC staged TNM IIIb/IIIc.

Application of indocyanine green-enhanced near-infrared fluorescence-guided imaging in laparoscopic lateral pelvic lymph node dissection for middle-low rectal cancer

BACKGROUND As one effective treatment for lateral pelvic lymph node(LPLN)metastasis(LPNM),laparoscopic LPLN dissection(LPND)is limited due to the complicated anatomy of the pelvic sidewall and various complications after surgery.With regard to improving the accuracy and completeness of LPND as well as safety,we tried an innovative method using indocyanine green(ICG)visualized with a near-infrared(NIR)camera system to guide the detection of LPLNs in patients with middle-low rectal cancer.AIM To investigate whether ICG-enhanced NIR fluorescence-guided imaging is a better technique for LPND in patients with rectal cancer.METHODS A total of 42 middle-low rectal cancer patients with clinical LPNM who underwent total mesorectal excision(TME)and LPND between October 2017 and March 2019 at our institution were assessed and divided into an ICG group and a non-ICG group.Clinical characteristics,operative outcomes,pathological outcomes,and postoperative complication information were compared and analysed between the two groups.RESULTS Compared to the non-ICG group,the ICG group had significantly lower intraoperative blood loss(55.8±37.5 mL vs 108.0±52.7 mL,P=0.003)and a significantly larger number of LPLNs harvested(11.5±5.9 vs 7.1±4.8,P=0.017).The LPLNs of two patients in the non-IVG group were residual during LPND.In addition,no significant difference was found in terms of LPND,LPNM,operative time,conversion to laparotomy,preoperative complication,or hospital stay(P>0.05).CONCLUSION ICG-enhanced NIR fluorescence-guided imaging could be a feasible and convenient technique to guide LPND because it could bring specific advantages regarding the accuracy and completeness of surgery as well as safety.

Comments to young surgeons concerning laparoscopic spleenpreserving D2 lymph node dissection for advanced gastric cancer on the upper body

Qualified radical gastrectomy with lymph node dissection is very important to the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer. Now D2 lymph node dissection is standard procedure for gastric cancer surgery, and spleen hilar lymph node dissection is mandatory for gastric cancer in upper body. Because the anatomy of vessels in this area is very complicated, D2 lymph node dissection is technical challenging not only for open gastrectomy but also for laparoscopic one. Adapting a new technique is important to all surgeons, but we surgeons should always consider a patient＇s safety as the most important factor during surgery and that efforts should be based on scientific rationale with oncologic principles. I hope that the recent report by Huang et al. about laparoscopic spleen preserving hilar lymph node dissection would be helpful to young surgeons who will perform laparoscpic total gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

Role of 3DCT in laparoscopic total gastrectomy with spleen-preserving splenic lymph node dissection

AIM: To investigate whether computed tomography with 3D imaging (3DCT) can reduce the risks associated with laparoscopic surgery.

Selective lateral lymph node dissection after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in rectal cancer

BACKGROUND Lateral lymph node metastasis is one of the leading causes of local recurrence in patients with advanced mid or low rectal cancer.Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy(NCRT)can effectively reduce the postoperative recurrence rate;thus,NCRT with total mesorectal excision(TME)is the most widely accepted standard of care for rectal cancer.The addition of lateral lymph node dissection(LLND)after NCRT remains a controversial topic.AIM To investigate the surgical outcomes of TME plus LLND,and the possible risk factors for lateral lymph node metastasis after NCRT.METHODS This retrospective study reviewed 89 consecutive patients with clinical stage II-III mid or low rectal cancer who underwent TME and LLND from June 2016 to October 2018.In the NCRT group,TME plus LLND was performed in patients with short axis(SA)of the lateral lymph node greater than 5 mm.In the non-NCRT group,TME plus LLND was performed in patients with SA of the lateral lymph node greater than 10 mm.Data regarding patient demographics,clinical workup,surgical procedure,complications,and outcomes were collected.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the possible risk factors for lateral lymph node metastasis in NCRT patients.RESULTS LLN metastasis was pathologically confirmed in 35 patients(39.3%):26(41.3%)in the NCRT group and 9(34.6%)in the non-NCRT group.The most common site of metastasis was around the obturator nerve(21/35)followed by the internal iliac artery region(12/35).In the NCRT patients,46%of patients with SA of LLN greater than 7 mm were positive.The postoperative 30-d mortality rate was 0%.Two(2.2%)patients suffered from lateral local recurrence in the 2-year follow up.Multivariate analysis showed that cT4 stage(odds ratio[OR]=5.124,95%confidence interval[CI]:1.419-18.508;P=0.013),poor differentiation type(OR=4.014,95%CI:1.038-15.520;P=0.044),and SA≥7 mm(OR=7.539,95%CI:1.487-38.214;P=0.015)were statistically significant risk factors associated with LLN metastasis.CONCLUSION NCRT is not sufficient as a stand-alone therapy to eradicate LLN metastasis in lower rectal cancer patients and surgeons should consider performing selective LLND in patients with greater LLN SA diameter,poorer histological differentiation,or advanced T stage.Selective LLND for NCRT patients can have a favorable oncological outcome.

Preoperative assessment of vascular anatomy of inferior mesenteric artery by volume-rendered 3D-CT for laparoscopic lymph node dissection with left colic artery preservation in lower sigmoid and rectal cancer

AIM： To determine the distance between the branching point of the left colic artery （LCA） and the inferior mesenteric artery （IMA） by computed tomography （CT） scanning, for preoperative evaluation before laparoscopic colorectal operation. METHODS： From February 2004 to May 2005, 100 patients （63 men, 37 women） underwent angiography performed with a 16-scanner multi-detector row CT unit （Toshiba, Aquilion 16）. All images were analyzed on a workstation （AZE Ltd, Virtual Place Advance 300）. The distance from the root of the IMA to the bifurcation of the LCA was measured by curved multi-planar reconstruction on a workstation. RESULTS： The IMA could be visualized in all the cases, but the LCA was missing in two patients. The mean distance from the root of the IMA to the root of the LCA was 42.0 mm （range, 23.2-75.0 mm）. There were no differences in gender, arterial branching types, body weight, height, and body mass index. CONCLUSION： Volume-rendered 3D-CT is helpful to assess the vascular branching anatomy for laparoscopic surgery.