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Cancer volume of lymph node metastasis predicts progression in prostate cancer.

Clinical outcome is variable in prostate cancer patients with regional lymph node metastasis. We studied 269 patients who had regional lymph node metastasis at the time of radical retropubic prostatectomy and bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy at the Mayo Clinic between January 1987 and December 1992. Two hundred fifty-three (94%) patients received androgen deprivation therapy within 90 days of radical prostatectomy. Patients ranged in age from 47 to 79 years (median, 67 years). Median follow-up was 6.1 years (range, 0.3-10.5 years). Nodal cancer volume (size) was measured by the grid-counting method. Cox proportional hazards models were used to determine the impact of numerous clinical and pathologic findings on systemic progression-free survival. Systemic progression was defined as the presence of distant metastasis documented by biopsies or radiographic examinations (abdominal computerized tomography, plain radiographs, or bone scan). Five-year progression-free survival was 90%. In predicting systemic progression using Cox multivariate analysis, only nodal cancer volume added significantly to the model containing the primary cancer variables (Gleason score, cancer volume, and DNA ploidy). The relative hazard rate for a doubling in nodal cancer volume was 1.6 (95% confidence interval, 1.3 to 2.0; p < 0.0001). Spearman rank analysis showed a correlation between nodal cancer volume and Gleason score of the primary cancer, the number of positive nodes, the aggregate length of metastases, and the largest nodal cancer diameter (correlation efficient = 0.37, 0.63, 0.96, and 0.95, respectively). Our data indicate that nodal cancer volume was the most significant nodal determinant of progression to distant metastasis in lymph node-positive prostate cancer patients. We recommend that the diameter of the largest metastasis be evaluated in patients with metastases, because this is a more powerful predictor of patient outcome than current methods, which recommend mere counting of the number of positive nodes.

Aged↗

[Prediction of occult cervical lymph node metastasis in patients with stage I -II squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity].

The presence of lymph node metastasis is the most important prognostic factor in oral cancer. The purpose of this study was to find useful markers for predicting occult cervical lymph node metastasis in patients with stage I or II squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity. We investigated 6 clinicopathologic factors and 2 genetic markers to predict late or occult cervical metastasis in 33 patients with stage I and II oral squamous cell carcinoma who underwent partial glossectomy through the mouth without elective neck dissection. In this study, we performed fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with specimens obtained by fine-needle aspiration biopsies (FNA biopsies) of primary oral cancer material, to investigate numerical aberration of the gene. Late cervical lymph node metastasis occurred in 16 of the 33 patients (48.5%) during follow-up after treatment of the primary tumor. Factors significantly associated with the development of cervical metastasis were the mode of invasion (p = 0.009), cyclin D1 (p = 0.003) and EGFR numerical aberration (p = 0.024). The rate of disease-free survival from metastatic disease was significantly lower in patients with mode of invasion 4 C-4 D than in those with 1-3, and was significantly lower in patients with cyclin D 1 or EGFR gene numerical aberrations than in those without such aberrations (log rank test, p = 0.0064, p = 0.0016 or p = 0.0150). Our results indicate that patients with stage I - II squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity with the mode of invasion 4 C or 4 D, cyclin D 1 and EGFR gene numerical aberration should be considered a high-risk group for late cervical lymph node metastasis.

Adult↗

Chest CT and serum vascular endothelial growth factor-C level to diagnose lymph node metastasis in patients with primary non-small cell lung cancer.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Accurate tumor staging is essential for choosing the appropriate treatment strategy for lung cancer. CT of the chest is the most commonly used noninvasive staging method of the lymph node metastasis, but it is far from satisfying. We evaluated whether circulating vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C could give additional information for diagnosing lymph node metastasis in patients with lung cancer. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Serum samples were obtained from 116 patients with primary non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). All patients underwent preoperative CT of the thorax. Clinical T and N stages were compared to the final T and N stages obtained from pathologic findings. Serum VEGF-C concentration was assayed by commercially available sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We evaluated the utility of serum VEGF-C level as a marker for nodal metastasis comparing the utility of CT. RESULTS: Preoperative and final T categories completely agreed in 82.8%. Regarding nodal metastasis, the accuracy of CT was 68.1%. Patients with lymph node metastasis showed higher serum VEGF-C concentrations than those without lymph node metastasis (p = 0.0007). Serum VEGF-C reached the highest sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing lymph node metastasis when a cut-off value of 1,850.6 pg/mL was applied (sensitivity, 70.0%; specificity, 77.3%). Serum VEGF-C visually correlated with CT scan in the detection of lymph node metastasis (sensitivity, 74.0%; specificity, 80.3%; positive predictive value, 74.0%; negative predictive value, 80.3%; accuracy, 77.6%). When the cases were limited to adenocarcinoma, better results could be obtained. CONCLUSIONS: Serum VEGF-C is a reliable marker for lymph node metastasis in NSCLC. Serum VEGF-C evaluation and CT examination are complementary to each other for accurate lymph node staging in NSCLC.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Loss of standard type of CD44 expression in invaded area as a good indicator of lymph-node metastasis in colorectal carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Recent advances have made possible the treatment of small invasive colorectal cancer by means of polypectomy or endoscopic mucosal resection. CD44 expression in cancer cells was identified as an indicator of lymph-node metastasis, which could be evaluated in specimens removed by colonoscopy. METHODS: The correlation between lymph-node metastasis and the expression of standard-type CD44 in cancer cells was examined immunohistologically using the invaded cancer cells of 61 tissue samples of superficially invasive colorectal cancer. We defined the above as invasive cancer restricted within the colorectal wall. Of the 61 samples, 31 had submucosal invasion and 30 had muscular invasion. RESULTS: Standard-type CD44 expression in the area of invasion in cases with lymph-node metastasis was remarkably down-regulated. In 43 cases with no lymph-node metastasis, 36 (83.7 percent) of patients had CD44 expression in invaded cells, whereas only two of 18 cases (11.1 percent) with lymph-node metastasis had expression of standard-type CD44 in the same area (P < 0.0001). A total of 69.6 percent (16/23) of patients with loss of standard-type CD44 expression in invaded sites were found to have positive metastasis in the lymph nodes. These results suggest that standard-type CD44 in invasive colon cancer cells could suppress metastasis to the regional lymph nodes. CONCLUSION: In cases of invasive colorectal cancer, the loss of standard-type CD44 expression in the invaded area is a sensitive marker for metastasis to the lymph nodes. Further investigation with larger patient groups is required to clarify the reliability of loss of standard-type CD44 expression as an indicator for additional surgery after endoscopic resection of submucosal invasive colorectal carcinoma.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

Evaluation of histopathologic parameters in predicting cervical lymph node metastasis of oral and oropharyngeal carcinomas.

A retrospective study of 53 patients with squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity and oropharynx was undertaken to evaluate histopathologic parameters in predicting cervical lymph node metastasis. Biopsy and surgical specimens were examined for degree of differentiation, pattern and depth of stromal invasion, lymphatic-vascular invasion, and lymphoplasmacytic response in relation to metastasis. The incidence of lymph node metastasis in tumors showing grade III type diffuse invasion (71.4%) and with stromal invasion of more than 8 mm in depth (83.3%) was significantly higher than that of tumors with well-demarcated boundaries (44.4% to 5.2%) and superficial invasion (35.3% to 8.3%). Lymph node metastasis also increased in the presence of lymphatic-vascular invasion by tumor cells, whereas the degree of differentiation and lymphoplasmacytic response was not related to metastasis. Thus, the pattern and the depth of stromal invasion and the presence of lymphatic-vascular invasion were important indicators in prediction of cervical lymph node metastasis. Prophylactic neck dissection is advocated when grade III type diffuse invasion, invasion exceeding 8 mm in depth, or grade II type invasion accompanied by a 4 mm to 8 mm depth of invasion is observed in a biopsy specimen.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗

[Relation of steroid hormone receptors to axillary lymph node metastasis in breast carcinoma].

In 337 patients with primary cancer of the breast, the oestrogen and progesterone receptor concentration was correlated to the metastasis of axillary lymph nodes taking into account the age of the patients and the size of the primary tumour. The frequency of axillary lymph node involvement increases significantly with size, although not quite steadily but rather stepwise within the T classification. Whereas the tumour diameter influences the receptor status only slightly, the age of the patients plays a major rôle in the oestrogen receptor concentration. In the age group up to 50 years the oestrogen receptor concentration is significantly lower than in the age group over 50 years. There is no comparable influence of age on progesterone receptor concentration. With all 337 breast cancers, no difference in axillary lymph node metastasis is found either between oestrogen receptor positive and oestrogen receptor negative cancers, or between progesterone receptor positive and progesterone receptor negative cancers. In the age group up to 50 years, if looked upon separately, the oestrogen receptor positive cancers do show significantly more often an axillary lymph node involvement, than do oestrogen receptor negative cancers. As this difference exists in the age group up to 50 years only, it is assumed that endogenous oestradiol favours the axillary spread in oestrogen receptor positive cancers. With oestrogen receptor negative cancers the axillary lymph node involvement increases from the younger to the older age group, explaining why in unselected series the oestrogen receptor negative cancers show a more unfavourable course.

Adult↗

Prediction of lymph node metastasis with use of artificial neural networks based on gene expression profiles in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was (1) to detect candidate genes involved in lymph node metastasis in esophageal cancers and (2) to investigate whether we can estimate and predict occurrence of lymph node metastasis by analyzing artificial neural networks (ANNs) using these gene subsets. METHODS: Twenty-eight primary esophageal squamous cell carcinomas were used. Gene expression profiles of all primary tumors were obtained by cDNA microarray. Lymph node metastasis-related genes were extracted with use of Significance Analysis of Microarrays (SAM). Predictive accuracy for lymph node metastasis was calculated by evaluation of 28 cases by ANNs with leave-one-out cross-n. The results were compared with those of other analyses such as clustering or predictive scoring (LMS). RESULTS: Our ANN model could predict lymph node metastasis most accurately with 60 clones. The highest predictive accuracy for lymph node metastasis by ANN was 10 of 13 (77%) in newly added cases that were not used for gene selection by SAM and 24 of 28 (86%) in all cases (sensitivity: 15/17, 88%; specificity: 9/11, 82%). Predictive accuracy of LMS was 9 of 13 (69%) in newly added cases and 24 of 28 (86%) in all cases (sensitivity: 17/17, 100%; specificity: 7/11, 67%). It was difficult to extract useful information for the prediction of lymph node metastasis by clustering analysis. CONCLUSIONS: ANN had superior potential in comparison with other methods of analysis for the prediction of lymph node metastasis. This systematic analysis combining SAM with ANN was very useful for the prediction of lymph node metastasis in esophageal cancers and could be applied clinically in the near future.

Adult↗

High rate of lymph-node metastasis in submucosal esophageal squamous-cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: The application of endoscopic mucosectomy in early esophageal cancer is limited by the presence of lymph-node metastasis. The aim of this prospective study was to analyze the rate of lymph-node involvement relative to the depth of mucosal or submucosal tumor penetration, comparing squamous-cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 60 patients with pT1 esophageal cancer--24 with squamous-cell carcinomas (SCCs) and 36 with adenocarcinomas--were treated with transthoracic en-bloc esophagectomy with two-field lymphadenectomy (n = 50) or transhiatal esophageal resection (n = 10). An average of 30 lymph nodes were examined, and the following characteristics were evaluated: histology, mucosal infiltration, depth of submucosal wall infiltration in three thirds (sm1, sm2, sm3), grading, resection category, ratio of metastatic to resected lymph nodes, and locations of metastatic nodes. RESULTS: The rates of lymph-node metastasis were 0% for the 16 mucosal carcinomas and 45% for the 44 submucosal carcinomas (P < 0.01). There were no significant differences in the extent of lymph-node involvement between submucosal adenocarcinomas (41%) and submucosal SCCs (50%). Sm1 carcinomas were associated with a lower rate of lymph-node metastasis (SCCs 33%, adenocarcinomas 22%) than sm3 carcinomas (SCCs 69%, adenocarcinomas 78%). Two patients (9%) with submucosal SCCs and five patients (23%) with submucosal adenocarcinomas were classified as having stage pM1 lymph. The average lymph-node ratio in patients with pN1 was 0.13 for adenocarcinomas and 0.1 for SCCs (difference not significant). In the multivariate analysis, the parameters mucosal vs. submucosal (P < 0.01) and G1/G2 vs. G3 (P < 0.05) showed a significant impact in relation to metastatic lymph nodes. CONCLUSIONS: The most important factor for predicting lymph-node metastasis in early esophageal cancer is the presence of submucosal infiltration. Early adenocarcinomas and SCCs do not differ with regard to their rate of lymphatic involvement. The rate of lymph-node metastasis increases with the depth of submucosal infiltration, but metastases can already occur in sm1 lesions. Submucosal infiltration is a contraindication for endoscopic mucosectomy. Limited surgical procedures without adequate lymphadenectomy do not appear to be appropriate in the treatment of patients with submucosal esophageal carcinomas.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[Patterns and prognostic factors of cervical lymph node metastasis in supraglottic laryngeal carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the risk factors in the prediction of cervical lymph node metastases and the cervical lymph node prognostic factors in supraglottic laryngeal carcinoma. METHOD: A retrospective study was carried out to review the histopathological data from 55 supraglottic laryngeal carcinoma patients. The relationship between histopathological parameters and cervical lymph node metastases were evaluated by means of a univariate chi2 test and multivariate stepwise logistic regression model. And the Cox regression model was used to define possible pathological parameters of cervical lymph node affecting survival including N staging, presence of cervical lymph node metastases and extracapsular nodal spread, size and number of positive neck nodes, and levels of positive neck nodes. RESULT: In a univariate analysis, it was confirmed that the following variables correlated to cervical lymph node metastases, i.e., depth of primary tumor infiltration, size and histological grade of primary tumor. In a multivariate analysis, the most significant risk factors for cervical lymph node metastases were the size and histological grade of primary tumor. The overall 5-year survival rate of patients with supraglottic laryngeal carcinoma was 52.7%. In a Cox regression analysis, N staging, size of positive neck nodes, presence of cervical lymph node metastasis and extracapsular nodal spread were found to be related to the prognosis of supraglottic laryngeal carcinoma. CONCLUSION: Cervical lymph node metastasis is one of the most significant prognostic factors of supraglottic laryngeal carcinoma. The identification of patients at risk for cervical lymph node metastasis and the management of the neck by coping with pathological factors of neck node affecting survival are crucial steps to improve the effect of supraglottic laryngeal carcinoma treatment.

Adult↗

Lymph node metastasis is associated with allelic loss on chromosome 13q12-13 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Allelotype analysis of whole chromosomes showed that loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on 13q was exclusively associated with lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESC). To identify a locus responsible for lymph node metastasis, we performed fine deletion mapping on 13q by analyzing 60 ESCs with 18 polymorphic markers. Allelic loss was observed with at least one marker in 34 tumors (56.7%), and lymph node metastasis was significantly correlated with LOH (P = 0.0053). We found frequent loss at D13S260 (43.7%), D13S171 (38.6%), and D13S267 (43.6%) on 13q12-13. Among these markers, LOH at D13S171 showed a significant correlation with lymph node metastasis (P = 0.0441). Because these markers flank the BRCA2 gene, we intensively examined a mutation of the gene through all coding exons and exon-intron junctions by PCR-single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis under two different assays. We found only seven nucleotide substitutions as normal polymorphic changes; tumor-specific mutations were not detected, and loss of expression was not observed, indicating that the BRCA2 gene might not be a target of allelic loss in this region. Relatively frequent LOH was also found at the RB1 locus (34.7%), but a significant correlation with lymph node metastasis was not observed (P = 0.7430). Protein expression of RB1 was examined in 31 ESC cell lines, and loss of expression was infrequent (6.5%), indicating that inactivation of the RB1 gene might not be responsible for lymph node metastasis. Taken together, allelic loss at 13q12-13 of the primary ESC was closely associated with lymph node metastasis, and unidentified tumor suppressor gene(s) in this region might be involved.

Alleles↗

Lymph node metastasis from soft tissue sarcoma in adults. Analysis of data from a prospective database of 1772 sarcoma patients.

To examine the natural history of lymph node metastasis from sarcomas and the utility of therapeutic lymphadenectomy, clinical histories of all adult patients identified by a prospective sarcoma database for the 10-year period July 1982 to July 1991 were examined. Of the 1772 sarcoma patients, 46 (2.6%) were identified with lymph node metastasis. Median follow-up of all patients from diagnosis of lymph node metastasis was 12.9 months (range, 0 to 100 months). Median survival for nonsurvivors was 12.7 months (range, 0 to 40.7). The tumor types with the highest incidence of lymph node metastasis are angiosarcoma (5/37 total cases; 13.5%), embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS) (12/88 total cases; 13.6%), and epithelioid sarcoma (2/12 total cases; 16.7%). Lymph node metastasis from visceral primary (p = 0.004) and malignant fibrous histiocytomas (p = 0.006) were associated with particularly poor prognosis. Thirty-one patients underwent radical, therapeutic lymphadenectomy with curative intent, whereas 15 patients had less than curative procedures, in most cases biopsy only. Patients not treated with radical lymphadenectomy had a median survival of 4.3 months (range, 1 to 32) whereas radical lymphadenectomy was associated with a 16.3 month median survival and the only long-term survivors (46% 5-year survival by Kaplan-Meier). The authors conclude that lymph node metastases from sarcoma are rare in adults, but vigilance is warranted, especially in angiosarcoma, ERMS, and epithelioid subtypes. Radical lymphadenectomy is appropriate treatment for isolated metastasis to regional lymph nodes and may provide long-term survival.

Adolescent↗

Lymph node metastasis in ovarian cancer: difference between serous and non-serous primary tumors.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the lymph node sites most susceptible to involvement relative to primary tumor histology in ovarian cancer. METHODS: The locations of metastatic lymph nodes were investigated in 208 patients with primary ovarian cancer who underwent systemic lymphadenectomy covering both the pelvic and para-aortic regions. RESULTS: Lymph node metastasis was present in 12.8% (20/156) of patients with stage I (pT1M0), 48.6% (18/37) with stage II (pT2M0), and 60% (9/15) with stage III (pT3M0) disease, thus in 22.6% (47/208) of all study patients. Isolated para-aortic nodal involvement was present in 23.3% (14/60) of patients with serous tumor and 4.1% (6/148) of those with non-serous tumor (P = 0.00002). In an analysis of 35 positive nodes from 25 patients with up to 3 positive nodes, 86.4% (19/22) of metastatic lymph nodes from patients with serous tumor were found in the para-aortic region, with 14 positive nodes located above the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) and 5 below it, whereas metastasis to para-aortic lymph nodes accounted for 53.8% (7/13) of metastatic lymph nodes from patients with non-serous tumor (P = 0.0334). CONCLUSIONS: The locations of metastatic lymph nodes in ovarian cancer depend upon the histologic type of the primary cancer. In cases of serous tumor, the para-aortic region, particularly above the IMA, is the prime site for the earliest lymph node metastasis. However, the likelihood of pelvic node involvement is almost equal to that of para-aortic node involvement in cases of non-serous tumor.

Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell↗

Lymph node metastasis in small peripheral adenocarcinoma of the lung.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim in this study is to clarify the clinical and pathologic features of small peripheral adenocarcinoma of the lung with special emphasis on intraoperative identification of lymph node metastasis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1980 and 1996, 157 patients underwent lobectomy and complete hilar/mediastinal lymphadenectomy for small (1.1 to 2.0 cm in diameter) peripheral adenocarcinoma of the lung. The intraoperative assessment, the distribution of metastatic lymph nodes, and the association between the tumor's histopathologic characteristics and lymph node metastasis were retrospectively investigated in this study. RESULTS: Postoperative examination revealed lymph node metastasis in 27 (17%) patients. Lymph node metastases were not noticed during the operation in 19 of these 27 patients. Metastases were localized in single lymph nodes in 10 patients; the metastases were distributed over a segmental, a lobar, an interlobar, and a mediastinal lymph node. The prevalence of lymph node metastasis was as follows: Of 92 patients with well-differentiated adenocarcinoma, seven (8%) had lymph node metastases; of the 65 patients with other types of tumors, 20 (31%) had lymph node metastases. Of 120 patients without pleural involvement, 13 (11%) had lymph node metastases; of the 37 with pleural involvement, 14 (38%) had lymph node metastases. Five-year survivals were estimated at 91% +/- 6% (mean +/- 95% confidence interval) for 130 patients with N0 tumor and 30% +/- 22% for 27 patients with N1 or N2 tumor. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative assessment is not reliable for identifying lymph node metastasis. Lobectomy and complete hilar/ mediastinal lymphadenectomy are necessary to determine N stage rigidly. Histologic degree of differentiation and pleural involvement are significantly associated with lymph node metastasis.

Adenocarcinoma↗

The risk of lymph node metastasis in T1 colorectal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk of lymph node metastasis in patients with T1 colorectal carcinoma based on a uniform histopathology system, and to accomplish guidelines for additional surgery for endoscopically or locally removed T1 colorectal carcinoma. METHODOLOGY: A review was performed of 301 patients who underwent curative resection for T1 colorectal carcinoma between January 1970 and March 2001. The following clinicopathologic variables were evaluated using univariate and multivariate analysis: sex, age, location, size of tumor, macroscopic appearance, depth of submucosal invasion, lymphovascular invasion, and histologic grade. Lesions were subdivided according to the depth of submucosal invasion: sm1, submucosal invasion up to 500 microm from the muscularis mucosa; sm2, submucosal invasion between 500 and 1000 microm; sm3, submucosal invasion beyond 1000 microm. RESULTS: The overall lymph node metastasis rate was 6.3 per cent (19 of 301). Depth of submucosal invasion (sm3) and presence of lymphovascular invasion were significant risk factors for lymph node metastasis both univariately and multivariately. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the current study demonstrated that significant risk factors for lymph node metastasis were level of submucosal invasion (sm3) and the presence of lymphovascular invasion. Surgery is indicated for patients with adverse factors.

Aged↗

Predictive value of cathepsin-D for cervical lymph node metastasis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Prognosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is strongly associated with cervical lymph node metastasis. Cathepsin-D is a lysosomal protease expressed in all cells. Its role in extracellular matrix degradation is postulated to promote tumor invasion and metastasis. Increased cathepsin-D has been demonstrated in cervical lymph node metastasis in HNSCC. METHODS: Formalin fixed tumor biopsy samples from 34 patients with HNSCC of the oral cavity, oropharynx, or hypopharynx were analyzed for the presence of cathepsin-D by immunohistochemistry (1:8000, Calbiochem, Cambridge, MA). Tumors were considered positive if >50% of cells showed strong cytoplasmic staining. RESULTS: All patients had T1 or T2 lesions ranging in size from 1-4 cm and 19 (56%) had cervical metastasis. Eight (24%) were well differentiated and 26 (76%) were moderately or poorly differentiated. Thirteen tumors (38%) had high cathepsin-D expression that was strongly associated with cervical lymph node metastasis (p = 0.008). When adjusted for tumor stage and grade, cathepsin-D positivity was nearly twice as likely to be associated with node metastasis (p = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated cathepsin-D expression in biopsies from a subset of patients with HNSCC and a strong association between this protease and cervical lymph node metastases. Cathepsin-D is a potential independent predictor of cervical lymph node metastasis in HNSCC and merits additional study.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

[Comparison between PET/CT and MRI in diagnosing lymph node metastasis and N staging of nasopharyngeal carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical significance of PET/CT and MRI in diagnosing lymph node metastasis and N staging of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). METHODS: 116 NPC patients had undergone PET/CT and MRI before therapy. The findings of PET/CT and MRI in diagnosing lymph node metastasis and N staging were compared according to the results of follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 614 lymph nodes in 116 patients were analyzed. 340 positive nodes and 274 negative nodes interpreted by image findings were verified during follow-up. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of PET/CT in diagnosing node metastasis was 93.2%, 98.2% and 95.4%, while that of MRI was 88.8%, 91.2% and 89.9%, respectively, with statistically significant difference in each between PET/CT and MRI (P < 0.05). Based on Fuzhou Staging System, 109 patients (94.0%) were correctly staged by PET/CT, and 103 patients (88.8%) by MRI, while according to UICC Staging System, 108 patients (93.1%) were correctly staged by PET/CT, and 100 patients (86.2%) by MRI. CONCLUSION: PET/CT is superior to MRI in diagnosing lymph node metastasis and N staging of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The false-positive and false-negative assessment based on PET-CT scan findings may be caused by: (1) inflammatory hyperplastic node; (2) node with large areas of necrosis; (3) node in diameter less than spatial resolution limitation of PET.

Adolescent↗

[Lymph node metastasis in bladder cancer].

Forty patients who had transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder with positive pelvic lymph node metastasis, treated at Chiba University Hospital between April 1975 and March 1991 were investigated to evaluate the significance of pelvic lymph node dissection. The frequency of the patients with positive lymph node was 9.1% in all patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder, 4.0% in the clinical T1, 3.4% in T2, 35.7% in T3a, 32.1% in T3b, 46.2% in T4, and none in Tis and Ta. Of the 40 patients, 16 underwent cystectomy pelvic lymph node dissection, 19 had biopsy of suspicious lymph nodes which turned out to be positive for metastasis, and 5 were defined by computed tomography. Pelvic lymph node dissection was performed at the common iliac, presacral, external iliac, internal iliac, and obturator nodes. In the 16 patients who underwent cystectomy with pelvic lymph node dissection, the frequency of metastasis in each nodal group was 38% in common iliac, 31% in external iliac and obturator, and 25% in presacral and internal iliac. Out of the 16 patients, eight had regional lymphatic metastasis, three had only extra regional lymph node metastasis, and five had both regional and extra regional metastasis. Three of nine patients who had single positive node had common iliac or presacral positive node without regional lymph node metastasis.

Adult↗

Regional lymph node metastasis in carcinoma of the hamster tongue.

The incidence of regional lymph node metastasis in the hamster tongue carcinoma induced by DMBA was studied. Metastasis to the regional lymph node was confirmed by histologic examination in 25 (22.1%) of the 113 experimental animals. Of a total of 238 lymph nodes examined, metastatic deposits were found in 35 (14.6%) lymph nodes. Systemic administration of cortisone increased the rate of metastasis from 16.7% to 26.1%, but the difference was not statistically significant. The necessity of extending the tumor-bearing period and the addition of mechanical trauma to the primary carcinoma to increase the rate of metastasis are stressed.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗