ObjectiveTo explore the factors associated with non-sentinel lymph node (NSLN) metastasis in early breast cancer patients with 1-2 positive sentinel lymph nodes (SLN), seeking the basis for exempting some SLN-positive patients from axillary lymph node dissection. MethodsA total of 299 early breast cancer patients who were diagnosed with positive sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy and underwent axillary lymph node dissection at the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University from January 2019 to April 2023 were selected. Univariate analysis was performed on the clinical and pathological data of patients, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors related to axillary non-sentinel lymph node (NSLN) metastasis of patients with SLN positive in early breast cancer. GraphPad Prim 9.0 was used to draw receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and the area under curve (AUC) of ROC was calculated to quantify the predictive value of risk factors. ResultsAmong the 299 breast cancer patients with 1-2 SLN positive, 101 cases (33.78%) were NSLN positive and 198 cases (66.22%) were NSLN negative. Univariate analysis showed that the number of positive SLN, clinical T staging and lymphovascular invasion were related to the metastasis of NSLN (P<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that having 2 positive SLN [OR=3.601, 95%CI (2.005, 6.470), P<0.001], clinical T2 staging [OR=4.681, 95%CI (2.633, 8.323), P<0.001], and presence lymphovascular invasion [OR=3.781, 95%CI (2.124, 6.730), P<0.001] were risk factors affecting axillary NSLN metastasis. The AUCs of the three risk factors were 0.623 3, 0.702 7 and 0.682 5, respectively, and the AUCs all were greater than 0.6, suggesting that the three risk factors had good predictive ability for NSLN metastasis. ConclusionThe number of positive SLN, clinical T staging, and lymphovascular invasion are related factors affecting NSLN metastasis in early breast cancer patients with positive SLN, and these factors have guiding significance for whether to exempt axillary lymph node dissection.
As a standard of care, lymph node dissection is an indispensible step in lung cancer surgery. The quality of dissection determines completeness of surgery and the accuracy of N staging. Hereby, we suggest labeling all surgically resected nodes according to the new lymph node map in the 8th TNM classification for lung cancer. As systematic lymph node dissection remains the gold standard of lymphadenectomy, at least three mediastinal stations and ten nodes should be removed in an en-bloc fashion, if possible. For patients with stage Ⅰ lung cancer, lymph node dissection via video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) or open thoracotomy may has similar oncological outcome. Besides, limited lymph node sampling in selected patients with early staged lung cancer to minimize unnecessary surgical damage still need further investigation.
ObjectiveTo investigate the predictive value of recurrent laryngeal nerve lymph nodes (RLN) status for supraclavicular lymph node (SLN) metastasis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 83 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent McKeown three-field lymphadenectomy from January 2017 to April 2018 in our hospital, including 53 males and 30 females with an average age of 64.07±7.05 years.ResultsThe SLN metastasis rate of the patients was 24.1%. The rate in the thoracic and abdominal metastases positive (N1-3) group and negative (N0) group was 37.8% and 13.0%, respectively, with a statistical difference (P<0.05). The rate of SLN metastasis was significantly different between the RLN metastasis positive (RLN+) and negative (RLN–) groups (39.1% vs. 18.3%, P<0.05). One side of RLN metastasis could lead to SLN metastasis on the opposite side. No correlation between the SLN metastasis and age, gender, location, differentiation degree, maximum tumor diameter, T-staging or histologic type was observed (P>0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that lymph node metastasis in chest or abdomen was an independent predictor of SLN metastasis.ConclusionRLN+ is not the independent predictor for SLN metastasis. SLN should be dissected in N1-3 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma without considering tumor location and T-staging. Bilateral SLN dissection should be recommended even if RLN metastasis is only unilateral.
Along with the popularity of low-dose computed tomography lung cancer screening, an increasing number of early-stage lung cancers are detected. Radical lobectomy with systematic nodal dissection (SND) remains the standard-of-care for operable lung cancer patients. However, whether SND should be performed on non-metastatic lymph nodes remains controversy. Unnecessary lymph node dissection can increase the difficulty of surgery while also causing additional surgical damage. In addition, non-metastatic lymph nodes have been recently reported to play a key role in immunotherapy. How to reduce the surgical damage of mediastinal lymph node dissection for early-stage lung cancer patients is pivotal for modern concept of "minimally invasive surgery for lung cancer 3.0". The selective mediastinal lymph node dissection strategy aims to dissect lymph nodes with tumor metastasis while preserving normal mediastinal lymph nodes. Previous studies have shown that combination of specific tumor segment site, radiology and intraoperative frozen pathology characteristics can accurately predict the pattern of mediastinal lymph node metastasis. The personalized selective mediastinal lymph node dissection strategy formed from this has been successfully validated in a recent prospective clinical trial, providing an important basis for early-stage lung cancer patients to receive more personalized selective lymph node dissection with "precision surgery" strategies.
ObjectiveTo investigate the metastatic status and risk factors of axillary non-sentinel lymph node (NSLN) in breast cancer patients with 1–2 positive sentinel lymph nodes (SLN), and to provide theoretical basis for exemption of axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in these patients. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 54 patients diagnosed with breast cancer who underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and confirmed to have 1–2 positive sentinel lymph nodes (SLNS) and received ALND in the Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery of Tongling People’s Hospital from January 2018 to April 2023. The patients were divided into NSLN metastatic group (17 cases) and NSLN non-metastatic group (37 cases) according to whether there was metastasis. Chi-square test was used to compare the basic information and clinicpathological features of the two groups. The independent risk factors for axillary NSLN metastasis were screened out by multivariate binary logistic regression model. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the predictive value of independent risk factors combined with axillary NSLN metastasis. Results There were 54 cases with 1–2 metastasis of SLN, 17 cases with axillary NSLN metastasis (31.5%). The incidence of axillary NSLN metastasis in patients with tumor at T1 stage (maximum diameter ≤2 cm) was only 14.3% (4/28), however, the metastatic rate of axillary NSLN in patients with tumor in T2–T3 stage (maximum diameter >2 cm) was as high as 50.0% (13/26). The axillary NSLN metastasis rate was only 21.2% (7/33) with 1 SLN metastasis, while the axillary NSLN metastasis rate was 47.6% (10/21) with 2 SLN metastasis. Univariate analysis showed that T stage (tumor diameter >2 cm), 2 SLN metastases, number of SLN >5 and tumor with vascular embolus were more likely to develop axillary NSLN metastases (P<0.05). Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis showed that T stage (tumor diameter >2 cm) and 2 SLN metastases were independent risk factors for axillary NSLN metastasis in breast cancer patients, the area under ROC curve of combined prediction of axillary NSLN metastasis by the two was 0.747, 95%CI was (0.657, 0.917), sensitivity was 0.765 and specificity was 0.649. Conclusions The combination of tumor T stage and the number of SLN metastases can better predict axillary NSLN metastasis in breast cancer patients. ALND is recommended for breast cancer patients with T stage (tumor diameter >2 cm) and 2 SLN metastases to reduce the risk of residual axillary NSLN metastasis.
ObjectiveTo analyze the clinical and pathological features of multifocal papillary thyroid carcinoma, and to assess the value and safety of total thyroidectomy plus prophylactic central lymph node dissection in the treatment of multifocal papillary thyroid carcinoma. MethodsClinical data of 103 patients with multifocal papillary thyroid carcinoma, who underwent total thyroidectomy plus prophylactic central lymph node dissection in Affliated Dongfeng Hospital from June 2011 to February 2015 were collected retrospectively. Preoperative ultrasound showed that all patients didn't suffered from cervical lymph node metastasis. ResultsAmong 103 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy plus central lymph node dissection, the unilateral multiple lesions were found in 55 patients (53.40%), and the bilateral multiple lesions were found in 48 patients (46.60%). A total of 31 patients (30.10%) were confirmed to have central lymph node metastasis after operation, central lymph node metastasis only located in the same side of multifocal papillary thyroid carcinoma in 16 patients (29.10%), but of 15 patients (31.25%) with 2-side of multifocal papillary thyroid carcinoma, 7 patients suffered from 2-side central lymph node metastasis and 8 patients suffered from 1-side central lymph node metastasis. Thirty patients (12.62%) suffered from transient postoperative hypocalcemia after operation, and returned to normal for longest of 2 weeks; 1 patient (0.97%) suffered from parathyroid permanent damage; 18 patients (17.48%) suffered from transient recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy, no one suffered from permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve injury; 3 patients (2.91%) suffered from postoperative transient drinking cough. All of 103 patients were followed up for 5 months to 4 years, and the postoperative follow-up rate was 100%. During the follow-up period, 3 patients (2.91%) suffered from cervical lymph node metastasis in side region of neck. ConclusionTotal thyroidectomy plus prophylactic central lymph node dissection plays an important role in the treatment of multifocal papillary thyroid carcinoma.
ObjectiveTo explore the feasibility and the practical value of conserving upper limb lymph nodes in axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) for early breast cancer. MethodsFrom August 2007 to January 2010, 124 patients with early breast cancer were studied and divided into two phases: phase one, from August 2007 to July 2008; phase two, from August 2008 to January 2010. Five milliliter of methylene blue was injected subcutaneously in ipsilateral forearm in all the patients before operation to locate the upper limb lymph nodes. Routine ALND was performed in 22 patients of phase one. The level Ⅱ lymph nodes and the upper limb lymph nodes were separated from the axillary lymph nodes, respectively. The lymph nodes of level Ⅱ were investigated by combining touch cytology with frozen section during operation. The lymph nodes of level Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, and the upper limb lymph nodes were investigated postoperatively by routine pathological examination to evaluate the feasibility of conserving the upper limb lymph nodes. One hundred and two patients in phase two were divided randomly by lottery into control group (30 cases), and conserving group (72 cases) in which upper limb lymph nodes were selectively conserved. The surgical procedure for control group was same as the phase one blue stained upper limb lymph nodes, in the conserving group were conserved selectively when the lymph nodes metastasis of level Ⅱ were not detected by combining touch cytology with frozen section during operation. The data were collected and analysed on pathological results of all patients and arm circumference was compared between control group and conserving group. Results Total 119 of 124 patients (96.0%) were found with blue stained upper limb lymph nodes. The concordance rate was 99.2% (123/124) between the intraoperative combining pathological method and the postoperative routine pathological examination. No upper limb lymph node metastasis was found in the phase one and the control group of phase two with level Ⅱ group negative. The incidence of arm lymphedema in the control group and the conserving group with level Ⅰ and Ⅱ lymph nodes dissection was 18.2% （4/22） and 20% （1/51）, respectively on 6 months after operation. The difference was statistically significant （χ 2=6,34， Plt;0.05）. ConclusionsMethylene blue being injected subcutaneously in ipsilateral upper limb can be used to show validly lymph nodes of upper limb in the axillary region. ALND with selectively conserving upper limb lymph nodes when level Ⅱ lymph nodes negative in metastasis, can prevent postoperative arm lymphedema.
ObjectiveTo summarize the research progress of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in the surgery of thyroid carcinoma in recent years. MethodsLiteratures about the recent studies on categories of SLNB and the neck lymph node dissection conducted by SLNB in the surgery of thyroid carcinoma were reviewed following the results searched from PubMed and CNKI data base. ResultsSLNB has a high detection rate and it is of great significance to detect the occult metastatic lymph nodes and guide the neck lymph node dissection during operation. ConclusionThe SLNB, with its high accuracy rate on the detection of occult metastatic lymph nodes, guides neck lymph node dissection during operation in order that it can maximize the benefits of patients.
ObjectiveTo analyze the predictive factors for central lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC), and explore the treatment method for the patients with PTMC. MethodThe literatures were reviewed according to the results searched from PubMed in recent years. ResultsCentral lymph node metastases were common in the patients with PTMC. It was important for prophylactic central lymph node dissection so it might reduce the local recurrence and comfirm the clinical staging, further more provide the strategies for the postoperative therapy. ConclusionsLymphadenectomy is necessary for patients with lymph node metastasis. Prophylactic central lymph node dissection should be performed for patients without lymph node metastasis but with one risk factor or more.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of lymph node dissection in central region on the prognosis of cN0 papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC).MethodsAccording to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 300 patients with cN0 PTMC underwent operation in the Second Department of General Surgery of Zhongshan People’s Hospital from January 1, 2007 to May 31, 2016 were retrospectively collected, then who were divided into the central lymph node non-dissection (147 cases) and dissection (153 cases) groups according to whether central lymph node dissection or not. The differences in the incidence of postoperative complications, recurrence rate, and metastasis rate between the two groups were analyzed. The risk factors of central lymph node metastasis of cN0 PTMC were analyzed.ResultsAll patients had no postoperative lymphatic leakage and death. Fifty-nine (38.6%) cases had the lymph node metastasis in the patients with central lymph node dissection. The patients were followed up for (83.0±20.7) months and (79.5±26.2) months (t=1.283, P=0.203) of the non-dissection group (147 cases) and dissection group (153 cases), respectively. During the follow-up period, there was no distant metastasis such as bone metastasis and lung metastasis in both groups; 5 cases recurred in the non-dissection group, 1 case recurred in the dissection group, and there was no significant difference in the recurrence rate between the two groups (χ2=3.008, P=0.089). There was no permanent complications between the two groups. There was no significant difference in the disease-free survival curve (χ2=2.565, P=0.109) between the two groups. The incidence of capsule invasion (P=0.026), calcification (P<0.001), hoarseness (P=0.013), numbness of limbs (P<0.001) in the dissection group were significantly higher than those in the non-dissection group. The results of multivariate analysis showed that the multifocal (OR=24.57, P<0.001), tumor diameter >5 mm (OR=5.46, P=0.019), and capsule invasion (OR=9.42, P=0.002) were the independent risk factors for the lymph node metastasis in the central region.ConclusionsFrom the results of the study, thyroidectomy alone is safe for cN0 PTMC, but the changes of lymph nodes in the central region still need more long-term follow-up. cN0 PTMC patients with tumor diameter >5 mm, multifocal, and capsule invasion are more likely to have lymph node metastasis in the central region. Comprehensive evaluation can be made according to the patient’s condition, and individualized and precise treatment can be carried out.