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How should we stage and tailor treatment strategy in locally advanced cervical cancer? Imaging versus para-aortic surgical staging.
Martinez, A, Angeles, MA, Querleu, D, Ferron, G, Pomel, C
International journal of gynecological cancer : official journal of the International Gynecological Cancer Society. 2020;(9):1434-1443
Abstract
Para-aortic lymph node status at initial assessment is the most important prognostic factor and a key point for the therapeutic strategy in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer. Undiagnosed lymph node metastasis is a major clinical problem as the finding of positive para-aortic lymph nodes leads to treatment modification, with a possible impact on disease free survival. When aortic lymph node disease is discovered, radiotherapy is extended to the para-aortic area, and other treatment modalities may be considered. Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) is the most accurate imaging examination to assess para-aortic extension in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer. The gold standard to identify para-aortic extension remains histologic evaluation of the lymph nodes. Indeed, PET/CT fails to detect approximately 10-15% of patients with negative PET/CT aortic nodes who have lymph node metastasis on pathologic staging. Patients with positive pelvic lymph nodes have para-aortic extension in 25-30% of cases, and surgical staging will lead to treatment modification and probably to improved para-aortic and distant control. Surgical staging also avoids unnecessary toxicity associated with extended field radiation in approximately 75% of patients with pelvic lymph node metastasis. The best modality to identify para-aortic extension is histological evaluation of the lymph nodes, but the survival benefit of surgical staging remains controversial. On the other hand, current studies include a majority of patients without pelvic lymph node spread, who are likely to be those who will benefit the least from surgical staging.
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Lanthanum deposition in the gastrointestinal mucosa and regional lymph nodes in dialysis patients: Analysis of surgically excised specimens and review of the literature.
Yabuki, K, Shiba, E, Harada, H, Uchihashi, K, Matsuyama, A, Haratake, J, Hisaoka, M
Pathology, research and practice. 2016;(10):919-926
Abstract
Lanthanum carbonate (LC) is one of the most potent phosphate binders currently used to reduce serum phosphate levels in dialysis patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). LC forms insoluble complexes with dietary phosphate that pass through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract with little absorption. GI lesions due to lanthanum deposition in biopsy specimens or those in endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in dialysis patients have been recently identified. Here, we describe more detailed histopathological findings in the gastroduodenal mucosa and regional lymph nodes in three patients with gastric cancer. Three patients with ESRD, two elderly women and one man, underwent dialysis and were treated with LC for 3-36 months. The patients underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy and lymph node dissection due to gastric cancer. Many subepithelial histiocyte aggregates or small foreign body granulomas, which contained gray or brown pigments or crystal-like structures, were mostly present in non-neoplastic areas of the upper GI. Lanthanum accumulation was noted in the duodenal mucosa and the antral and body mucosae of the gastric lesser curvature. Lanthanum was also deposited in the regional lymph nodes of the three patients. Electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy confirmed lanthanum and phosphorus deposits in histiocytes. Long-term prognosis of patients and the excretion or the metabolic pathway of accumulated lanthanum remain unclear.
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Laparoscopic Versus Open Surgery for Mid-Low Rectal Cancer: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on Short- and Long-Term Outcomes.
Jiang, JB, Jiang, K, Dai, Y, Wang, RX, Wu, WZ, Wang, JJ, Xie, FB, Li, XM
Journal of gastrointestinal surgery : official journal of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract. 2015;(8):1497-512
Abstract
BACKGROUND The safety of laparoscopic surgery for mid-low rectal cancer treatment has remained controversial, especially regarding the long-term outcomes. The aim of this study was to demonstrate whether the laparoscopic technique is feasible. METHODS We searched all of studies that compared the short- or long-term outcomes regarding laparoscopic and open rectal cancer surgeries (the tumour distance from anal verge within 10 cm). The data sources included PubMed, EMBASE, OVID, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library databases. The combined outcome of the dichotomous variables was expressed as an estimation of the odds ratios and continuous variables were presented in the form of weighted mean differences with 95% credible intervals. Subgroup, publication bias and sensitivity analyses were performed. RESULTS Thirteen studies met the final inclusion criteria (total n = 3,678). The pooled analyses showed, despite longer operation times, that there were significantly less blood loss, fewer transfusions, shorter times to bowel function recovery, resumed diet and hospital durations, and lower overall complication and wound infection rates. The compared results of the lymph node harvest number, distal resection margin, circumferential resection margin involvement, local and distant recurrences, disease-free survival and overall survival were similar between both groups. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that the safety and feasibility of laparoscopic surgery appear to be equivalent to open surgery for treatment of mid- low rectal cancer, with the more favourable short-term benefits, fewer complications, comparable pathological outcomes and long-term outcomes.
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Conventional ultrasound for lymph node evaluation, update 2013.
Cui, XW, Hocke, M, Jenssen, C, Ignee, A, Klein, S, Schreiber-Dietrich, D, Dietrich, CF
Zeitschrift fur Gastroenterologie. 2014;(2):212-21
Abstract
Conventional ultrasound is regarded as the first method of choice to evaluate lymph node disease due to its high resolution. The combination of various features obtained from the patients history including age, acute or chronic onset, symptoms, and a knowledge of underlying systemic diseases as well as imaging criteria, most importantly B-mode (gray-scale) and colour Doppler imaging (CDI) are the basis for the differential diagnosis of lymphadenopathy. New ultrasound techniques such as elastography and contrast-enhanced ultrasound may provide further information. In addition, ultrasound evaluation of lymph nodes is an essential adjunct to the clinical investigation in staging of malignant neoplasia and lymphoma. In this paper the current literature is reviewed regarding conventional B-mode and Doppler ultrasound for the evaluation of lymphadenopathy. The ultrasound criteria for the differential diagnosis of enlarged and structurally altered lymph nodes are summarized and also limitations are described.
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Malignant perivascular epithelioid cell tumor of mesentery with lymph node involvement: a case report and review of literature.
Fu, X, Jiang, JH, Gu, X, Li, Z
Diagnostic pathology. 2013;:60
Abstract
UNLABELLED Perivascular epithelioid cell tumor (PEComa) is a rare but distinct mesenchymal neoplasm composed of histologically and immunohistochemically unique perivascular epithelioid cells. Due to its relative rarity, little is known about the histogenesis and prognostic factors of this tumor. We describe a case of unusual mesenteric PEComa in a 38-year-old female patient with regional lymph node involvement. Histologically, the tumor was composed of sheet of epithelioid cells with abundant clear or eosinophillic cytoplasms. Extensive coagulative necrosis and a few mitotic figures (2/50 high power field) could be found in tumor. The epithelioid tumor cells were diffusely positive for HMB-45, Melan-A, and focally positive for calponin. One of enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes was observed to be involved by tumor. A diagnosis of malignant mesenteric PEComa with lymph node involvement was made. The patient received chemotherapy after total resection of tumor and segmental resection of involved jejunum. There was no sign of recurrence of tumor found in period of 6-month regular follow-up after chemotherapy. To our knowledge, this is the first case of malignant PEComa in mesentery accompanied with regional lymph node involvement. The literature on this rare tumor is reviewed and diagnostic criteria of malignant PEComa are discussed. VIRTUAL SLIDES The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/1309992178882788.
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Atherosclerosis and transit of HDL through the lymphatic vasculature.
Martel, C, Randolph, GJ
Current atherosclerosis reports. 2013;(9):354
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Abstract
Key components of atherosclerotic plaque known to drive disease progression are macrophages and cholesterol. It has been widely understood, and bolstered by recent evidence, that the efflux of cholesterol from macrophage foam cells quells disease progression or even to promote regression. Following macrophage cholesterol efflux, cholesterol loaded onto HDL must be removed from the plaque environment. Here, we focus on recent evidence that the lymphatic vasculature is critical for the removal of cholesterol, likely as a component of HDL, from tissues including skin and the artery wall. We discuss the possibility that progression of atherosclerosis might in part be linked to sluggish removal of cholesterol from the plaque.
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Retroperitoneal schwannoma mimicking metastatic seminoma: case report and literature review.
Zhang, SQ, Wu, S, Yao, K, Dong, P, Li, YH, Zhang, ZL, Li, XX, Zhou, FJ
Chinese journal of cancer. 2013;(3):149-52
Abstract
If a testicular cancer patient has a mass in the retroperitoneum, a metastasis is often the first suspicion, probably leading to improper diagnosis and overtreatment. Here we report a case of retroperitoneal schwannoma mimicking metastatic seminoma. A 29-year-old man, who had a history of seminoma, presented with a single retroperitoneal mass suspected to be a metastasis. Because the patient refused radiotherapy, 3 cycles of cisplatin, etoposide, and bleomycin were offered. Post-chemotherapy computed tomography scan revealed persistence of the retroperitoneal mass, with no change in tumor size or characteristics. Subsequently, retroperitoneal lymph node dissection was performed. The dissected tissue contained negative lymph nodes but a single mass in the attached fat. Pathology revealed retroperitoneal schwannoma, which was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Thus, clinicians should be aware of retroperitoneal schwannoma and its distinction from metastatic seminoma to avoid misdiagnosis and ensure proper treatment.
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Utility of choline positron emission tomography/computed tomography for lymph node involvement identification in intermediate- to high-risk prostate cancer: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis.
Evangelista, L, Guttilla, A, Zattoni, F, Muzzio, PC, Zattoni, F
European urology. 2013;(6):1040-8
Abstract
CONTEXT Determination of tumour involvement of regional lymph nodes in patients with prostate cancer (PCa) is of key importance for the proper planning of treatment. OBJECTIVES To provide a critical overview of published reports and to perform a meta-analysis about the diagnostic performance of 18F-choline and 11C-choline positron emission tomography (PET) or PET/computed tomography (CT) in the lymph node staging of PCa. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION A Medline, Web of Knowledge, and Google Scholar search was carried out to select English-language articles published before January 2012 that discussed the diagnostic performance of choline PET to individualise lymph node disease at initial staging in PCa patients. Articles were included only if absolute numbers of true-positive, true-negative, false-positive, and false-negative test results were available or derivable from the text and focused on lymph node metastases. Reviews, clinical reports, and editorial articles were excluded. All complete studies were reviewed; thus qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS From the year 2000 to January 2012, we found 18 complete articles that critically evaluated the role of choline PET and PCa at initial staging. The meta-analysis was carried out and consisted of 10 selected studies with a total of 441 patients. The meta-analysis provided the following results: pooled sensitivity 49.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 39.9-58.4) and pooled specificity 95% (95% CI, 92-97.1). The area under the curve was 0.9446 (p<0.05). The heterogeneity ranged between 22.7% and 78.4%. The diagnostic odds ratio was 18.999 (95% CI, 7.109-50.773). CONCLUSIONS Choline PET and PET/CT provide low sensitivity in the detection of lymph node metastases prior to surgery in PCa patients. A high specificity has been reported from the overall studies. Studies carried out on a larger scale with a homogeneous patient population together with the evaluation of cost effectiveness are warranted.
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Contemporary imaging analyses of pelvic lymph nodes in the prostate cancer patient.
Mattei, A, Danuser, H
Current opinion in urology. 2011;(3):211-8
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To review contemporary imaging of pelvic lymph nodes in patients with prostate cancer as well as to analyze its significance and usefulness in clinical practice. RECENT FINDINGS Because of poor sensitivity and specificity of computed tomography (CT) and MRI, new imaging modalities of lymph nodes in prostate cancer patients would be desirable. Three-dimensional reconstruction by fusion imaging between single-photon emission computed tomography after injection of Tc-99m colloid particles into the prostate and CT or MRI, has permitted a precise mapping of the primary lymphatic landing sites, or sentinel lymph nodes of the prostate. Intraoperative search for sentinel lymph nodes by γ-probe in open and laparoscopic surgery is possible. Routine use of choline PET/CT for initial staging of prostate cancer is not yet recommended. MRI combined with ultrasmall particles of iron oxide (USPIO) permits differentiation with a very high sensitivity between benign and malignant lymph nodes, independently of their size. Diffusion-weighted MRI combined with USPIO is a promising method for detecting lymph nodes metastases even in normal sized nodes. Both improved MRI methods are not yet introduced in routine clinical practice. SUMMARY USPIO-MRI or/with diffusion-weighted MRI seems to be a promising noninvasive imaging modality for accurate imaging of lymph nodes in patients with prostate cancer.
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Magnetic resonance for assessment of axillary lymph node status in early breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Harnan, SE, Cooper, KL, Meng, Y, Ward, SE, Fitzgerald, P, Papaioannou, D, Ingram, C, Lorenz, E, Wilkinson, ID, Wyld, L
European journal of surgical oncology : the journal of the European Society of Surgical Oncology and the British Association of Surgical Oncology. 2011;(11):928-36
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Current methods of identifying axillary node metastases in breast cancer patients are highly accurate, but are associated with several adverse events. This review evaluates the diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques for identification of axillary metastases in early stage newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. METHODS Comprehensive searches were conducted in April 2009. Study quality was assessed. Sensitivity and specificity were meta-analysed using a bivariate random effects approach, utilising pathological diagnosis via node biopsy as the comparative gold standard. RESULTS Based on the highest sensitivity and specificity reported in each of the nine studies evaluating MRI (n = 307 patients), mean sensitivity was 90% (95% CI: 78-96%; range 65-100%) and mean specificity 90% (95% CI: 75-96%; range 54-100%). Across five studies evaluating ultrasmall super-paramagnetic iron oxide (USPIO)-enhanced MRI (n = 93), mean sensitivity was 98% (95% CI: 61-100%) and mean specificity 96% (95% CI: 72-100%). Across three studies of gadolinium-enhanced MRI (n = 187), mean sensitivity was 88% (95% CI: 78-94%) and mean specificity 73% (95% CI: 63-81%). In the single study of in-vivo proton MR spectroscopy (n = 27), sensitivity was 65% (95% CI: 38-86%) and specificity 100% (95% CI: 69-100%). CONCLUSIONS USPIO-enhanced MRI showed a trend towards higher sensitivity and specificity and may make a useful addition to the current diagnostic pathway. Additional larger studies with standardised methods and standardised criteria for classifying a node as positive are needed. Current estimates of sensitivity and specificity do not support replacement of SLNB with any current MRI technology in this patient group.