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Despite evidence that early-stage male breast cancer (MBC) can be treated the same as in females, we hypothesized that men undergo more extensive surgery.Patients with clinical T1-2 breast cancer were identified in the National Cancer Database 2004-2016. Trends in surgery type and overall survival were compared between sexes.Of 9,782 males and 1,078,105 females, most were cN0 with AJCC stage I/II disease. Unilateral mastectomy was most common in men (67.1% vs. 24.1%, p 0.001) and partial mastectomy in women (64.7% vs. 26.4%, p 0.001), with no significant change over time. Over 1/3 of men received ALND in 2016. While overall survival was superior in females (HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.73-0.94, p = 0.003), partial mastectomy was associated with a 42% reduction in mortality risk for males (HR 0.58, 95% CI 0.4-0.8, p = 0.003).De-escalation of surgery could be considered for MBC to improve survival and align with current standards of care.

Background Inguinal lymph node dissection (ILND) is an essential step in both treatment and staging of several malignancies including penile and vulvar cancers. Various open, video endoscopic, and robotic-assisted techniques have been utilized so far. In this review, we aim to describe available minimally invasive surgical approaches for ILND, and review their outcomes and complications. Methods The PubMed, Wiley Online Library, and Science Direct databases were reviewed in February 2020 to find relevant studies published in English within 2000–2020. Findings There are different minimally invasive platforms available to accomplish dissection of inguinal nodes without jeopardizing oncological results while minimizing postoperative complications. Video Endoscopic Inguinal Lymphadenectomy and Robotic Video Endoscopic Inguinal Lymphadenectomy are safe and achieve the same nodal yield, a surrogate metric for oncological adequacy. When compared to open technique, Video Endoscopic Inguinal Lymphadenectomy and Robotic Video Endoscopic Inguinal Lymphadenectomy may offer faster postoperative recovery and fewer postoperative complications including wound dehiscence, necrosis, and infection. The relatively high rate and severity of postoperative complications hinders utilization of recommended ILND for oncologic indications. Minimally invasive approaches, using laparoscopic or robotic-assisted platforms, show some promise in reducing the morbidity of this procedure while achieving adequate short and intermediate term oncological outcomes.

Axillary and inguinal lymph node dissection (LND) are performed in metastatic skin tumors with several local complications, such as lymphorrhea, lymphoceles, and lymphedema. The purpose of this study is to determine whether negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) applied as a preventive measure could improve outcomes.A monocentric study included patients who underwent axillary or inguinal LND from May 2010 to March 2020, with a retrospective evaluation of prospectively collected data. Patients were divided into two groups: the conventional wound care (CWC) and the NPWT groups. Patients were systematically reviewed at D7, D30, and at 1 year postoperative, and data regarding lymphorrhea, lymphoceles, and lymphedema were collected.A total of 109 axillary and inguinal LND were performed. NPWT was applied on 68 LND and CWC on 41 LND. The variables, diabetes, smoking, gender, associated treatments, and primary pathology (melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, or Merkel tumors) were similar in both groups. Analyses have shown a significant difference in the rate of scar disunion during the first month between the two groups (p=0.045 between D1 and D7; p=0.011 between D8 and D30), as well as the presence of lymphorrhea (p=0.000 between D1 and D7; p=0.002 between D8 and D30). The rate of lymphoedema was significantly reduced in the NPWT group versus CWC (p=0.000 between D8 and D30; p=0.034 between D31 and 1 year).NPWT reduces local complications (scar disunion, lymphorrhea, and lymphedema) during the first year following LND in the management of node metastatic skin tumors.

Sentinel Node Biopsy (SNB) is the choice procedure for axillary staging in Breast Cancer. Following the ACOSOG Z11 trial, axillary dissection is advised only in patients with more than 2 positive SNs. We aimed at exploring palpation-guided, intraoperative fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the SN as a replacement for whole SN excision in node-negative BC patients to minimize side-effects.We included 80 patients with BC undergoing SNB between December 2020 and May 2022. After identification of the SN, the breast surgeon performed SN-FNAB. Results were compared with definitive pathological assessment. ResultsDiagnostic yield was 80%, including a "learning curve." 58 of 64 patients with suitable samples tested negative. In this group, the Negative Predictive Value was 77.6% (IC 64.7%-87.5 %). If micro metastasis is disregarded, the NPV would increase to 86.2% (IC 74.6%-93.9%). If we accept the Z11 criterion for axillary dissection, the NPV would rise to 100%. Six patients had a positive SN-FNAB. They were all confirmed as having macro metastatic-positive SNs at the final pathological assessment, and 3 of them also displayed extra nodal extension (ENE).We believe that intraoperative SN-FNAB is highly accurate for swiftly depicting both low axillary tumor burden/negative cases, in whom axillary dissection is to be omitted, as well as high axillary tumor burden cases.

Our objective was to analyze the prevalence of lymph node metastasis in early-stage ovarian carcinoma after systematic lymph node dissection and its impact on indication of adjuvant chemotherapy.We evaluated a series of 765 patients diagnosed with ovarian carcinoma who underwent surgical treatment from February 2007 to December 2019. Patients with peritoneal disease and incomplete surgical staging were excluded. All cases underwent systematic pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy up to the renal vessels.A total of 142 cases were analyzed. Median pelvic and para-aortic lymph node dissected were 30 (range, 6-81) and 21 (range, 3-86), respectively. Twelve (8.4%) patients had metastatic lymph nodes - high-grade serous, 10.4% (5/48); clear cell, 17.2% (5/29) and endometrioid, 5.7% (2/35). Any other histology (low grade serous, mucinous, carcinosarcoma or mixed) had lymph node metastasis. Notably, 50% of patients with positive lymph nodes had preoperative suspicious lymph nodes in imaging. The median hospital stay length was 6 days (range, 2-33) and 4.2% cases had grade ≥ 3 complications. A total of 110 (77.6%) patients underwent adjuvant chemotherapy and all cases had indication of adjuvant chemotherapy after histological type, despite the lymph node status. After a median follow-up of 52.5 months, we noted 24 (16.9%) recurrences. The 5-year recurrence-free survival and overall survival were 86.4% and 98.1%, respectively. High grade histology was the only variable that negatively impacted disease-free survival in univariate analysis [HR 4.70 (95%CI: 1.09-20); p = 0.037].We found a positive lymph node rate of less than 10% after lymphadenectomy in presumed early-stage ovarian carcinoma. Lymph node status was not determinant for adjuvant chemotherapy.

Lymph node metastasis is one of the most important prognostic factors in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. However, the optimal extent of lymph node dissection is still under debate. We specifically address several controversies regarding lymph node dissection, for example, recurrent laryngeal node lymphadenectomy, cervical lymphadenectomy, and thoracic duct resection, in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. We also describe new concepts in surgical anatomy of the upper mediastinum and technologies, for example, near-infrared image-guided lymphatic mapping and intraoperative neural monitoring that facilitate recurrent laryngeal node lymphadenectomy.

Half of the local regional recurrences from rectal cancer are nowadays located in the lateral compartments, most likely due to lateral lymph node (LLN) metastases. There is evidence that a lateral lymph node dissection (LLND) can lower the lateral local recurrence rate. An LLND without neoadjuvant (chemo)radiotherapy in patients with or without suspected LLN metastases has been the standard of care in the East, while Western surgeons believed LLN metastases to be cured by neoadjuvant treatment and total mesorectal excision (TME) only. An LLND in patients without enlarged LLNs might result in overtreatment with low rates of pathological LLNs, but in patients with enlarged LLNs who are treated with (C)RT and TME only, the risk of a lateral local recurrence significantly increases to 20%. Certain Eastern and Western centers are increasingly performing a selective LLND after neoadjuvant treatment in the presence of suspicious LLNs due to new scientific insights, but (inter)national consensus on the indication and surgical approach of LLND is lacking. An LLND is an anatomically challenging procedure with intraoperative risks such as bleeding and postoperative morbidity. It is therefore essential to carefully select the patients who will benefit from this procedure and where possible to perform the LLND in a minimally invasive manner to limit these risks. This review gives an overview of the current evidence of the assessment of LLNs, the indications for LLND, the surgical technique, pitfalls in performing this procedure and the future studies are discussed, aiming to contribute to more (inter)national consensus.

Pathologic review of at least 12 lymph nodes is recommended by the American Joint Committee on Cancer following surgical resection of rectal cancer. However, implications of lymph node yield on prognosis are unclear. This study evaluates the impact of lymph node yield on survival among pathologic node-negative patients who received appropriate neoadjuvant chemoradiation.The National Cancer Database from 2010 to 2016 was queried for clinical stage II and III rectal adenocarcinoma with neoadjuvant chemoradiation, resection of the primary tumor, negative surgical margins, and pN0M0 pathologic stage. Data were analyzed with χInadequate lymph node yield (1-11 nodes on pathology) led to a 29% increased risk of mortality compared to adequate lymph node yield (≥12 nodes on pathology). Among patients with an incomplete pathologic complete response to neoadjuvant therapy, 5-year survival was estimated to be 73% for inadequate lymph node yield and 78% for adequate lymph node yield (P = .002). Among patients with a complete pathologic response, 5-year survival estimated to be 82% for inadequate lymph node yield and 90% for adequate lymph node yield (P = .006). Among patients with inadequate lymph node yield and complete pathologic response, 5-year survival improved with the use of adjuvant chemotherapy (90.4%), compared to those without adjuvant chemotherapy (78.5%, P.001).These findings suggest an inadequate lymph node yield can negatively impact survival, despite negative nodal status and a pathologic complete response to neoadjuvant therapy.

Background In this study, we aimed to evaluate the R(un) category proposed by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with NSCLC who underwent segmentectomy or lobectomy between 2014 and 2015 at our institution. Residual tumor (R) status was reclassified from the Union for International Cancer Control designation to the IASLC-proposed R classification [R0 and R(un)]. The underlying reasons for the R(un) reclassification were analyzed according to pathological stage, lymph node status, and resected lobe. A Cox proportional hazard model was used to evaluate the impacts of R(un) categorization on overall survival. Results Of 355 cases, 44.5% were reclassified as R(un). The most common reason for the reclassification was insufficient number of harvested lymph nodes or no station 7 lymph nodes. When stratified by tumor location, the absence of station 7 lymph nodes was especially prominent in both the right and left upper lung resections. In the multivariate Cox regression model, IASLC R classification was associated with poor overall survival in node-positive cases (hazard ratio: 2.657; P =.016). Conclusions Various factors resulted in reclassification to R(un) because the R(un) group was highly heterogeneous. Careful consideration is required to determine whether R(un) classification can be used as an indicator of lymph node dissection quality. For advanced cases, the R(un) definition may be useful in predicting poor prognosis.

To develop and validate nomograms for preoperative prediction of precision lymph node (LN) dissection in lung cancer.The prediction models of each group LNs (LNx) were developed in a primary cohort that consisted of 1380 patients with clinicopathologically confirmed lung cancer. Clinical characteristics and CT reports were extracted. Patients with LNx dissection were divided into training cohort and testing cohort. Nomograms were built through univariate and multivariate regression analysis in the training cohort and internally verified in the testing cohort. The accuracy of the models was verified by constructing survival analysis in patients without LNx dissection.Due to the lack of sufficient patients for LN1, 8, 13, a total of 10 nomograms were constructed in this study, including LN-2 ∼ 7, 9 ∼ 12. According to the nomogram of each group LN, the most common independent risk factors predicting LN status were CT-reported lymphadenectasis, tumor diameter and location, and the others include age, gender, and whether there were multiple nodules, etc. All models showed good discrimination, with the average C-index of 0.738 in the training cohort and 0.707 in the testing cohort. Survival analysis in patients without LNx dissection all showed the high accuracy of each nomogram to predict LN metastasis status and TNM staging.We constructed nomograms to predict the metastasis status of each group of lymph nodes based on clinical characteristics and CT reports. Surgeons can accurately determine the extent of lymph node dissection in patients with lung cancer based on our nomogram models before surgery.

Approval of adjuvant anti-programmed cell death protein 1 therapy for pathologic stage IIB/C cutaneous melanoma has led some to question the role of sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy in the clinical stage IIB/C disease.To determine the prognostic significance of SLN staging on disease-specific survival (DSS) for clinical stage IIB/C primary cutaneous melanoma in the preimmunotherapy era.A retrospective cohort study was performed evaluating patients who underwent excision of clinical stage IIB/C cutaneous melanoma using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (2004-2011). Patients who did and did not undergo SLN biopsy were compared using propensity matching, and among those who underwent SLN biopsy, matched patients were further stratified by SLN status (SLN positive [SLN+] or SLN negative [SLN-]).Of the 8562 patients evaluated, 6021 (70.3%) underwent SLN biopsy. SLN positivity was associated with significantly reduced 5-year DSS among matched patients who underwent SLN biopsy (47.1% SLN+ vs 75.5% SLN-; P .001). Five-year DSS remained significantly different across matched T-stages: T3b (54.2% SLN+ vs 64.8% SLN-; P = .004), T4a (55.5% SLN+ vs 71.6% SLN-; P = .001), and T4b (38.6% SLN+ vs 60.9% SLN-; P .001).Retrospective study.For patients with clinical stage IIB/C cutaneous melanoma, SLN status provides essential prognostic information.

Lymphatic dissemination is thought to be a rare event in breast sarcomas. The decision to perform axillary clearance is challenging. In our prospective cohort, we aimed to evaluate the frequency and factors determining lymph node (LN) involvement in breast sarcomas, with the aim of proposing a decision tree/algorithm for the realization of LN clearance in breast sarcomas.Fourty-five women were surgically treated for breast sarcomas from 1982 to 2020. Angiosarcomas and other sarcomas were compared in terms of LN involvement, recurrence, and mortality.Twenty-three patients underwent axillary lymphadenectomy. Initial LN involvement was diagnosed in one case of D2-40 positive, primary angiosarcoma for which preoperative imaging detected a suspicious LN confirmed by preoperative histology. Among the 22 patients who had no initial axillary lymphadenectomy, two patients with D2-40 positive angiosarcoma had recurrent cancer in LN (internal mammary group in 1 and homolateral axilla in 1). The average follow-up in the overall population was 6.2 years (±8.3). The cohort's overall recurrence rate was 33% (15/45) and the time of recurrence after initial surgery was on average 2.4 years (±3.1). For the three patients with LN metastases, time to recurrence after surgery was 3.7 years (±4.5). There was no significant difference in the overall recurrence rate depending on whether or not lymphadenectomy was initially performed (respectively 26% vs 41% OR=1.11, P=0.29).Systematic axillary clearance leads to overtreatment in breast sarcomas. A decision tree, including radiological examination of the axilla, histological type of sarcoma, and D2-40 positivity, could be a decision aid in the choice of axillary clearance.

The videoendoscopic approach to inguinal lymph node dissection (VEIL) has been suggested as an excellent alternative carrying lower morbidity but equivalent oncological control. One of its most difficult steps is the development of an appropriate plane of dissection. A suprafascial approach would allow for better exposure. The objective of this study is to determine the feasibility, in terms of safety and oncological control, of a technical modification to the classical VEIL technique using a suprafascial plane of dissection in an initial series of patients.A single institution retrospective review of patients undergoing VEIL technique using our modified suprafascial approach was conducted. A step-by-step surgical description is provided. Data collected included demographics; comorbid conditions; disease characteristics; intraoperative factors; and postoperative factors.A total of 7 patients (12 procedures) were included. Average age was 64.42 years old, and 71.42% of the patients were male. The procedure was performed bilaterally in 71.4% of the cases. Median estimated blood loss was 10 mL (range 10-25). Mean operative time was 185 min (range 120-170). Median number of nodes removed was 10.25 nodes (range 7-11). Only one of the patients (8.3%) experienced a Clavien-Dindo grade IIIa complication requiring delayed percutaneous drainage replacement. Median time until drainage removal was 13 days (range 10-16). Median length of stay was 48 hours but ranged from 24-96 hours within the series.The modified VEIL technique using a suprafascial plane of the dissection, allows a bilateral ILND in highly competitive operative times and with limited morbidity, without compromising its oncological efficacy.

To describe our modified technique of performing video endoscopic inguinal lymphadenectomy (VEIL) with the proposed benefits of a shallow learning curve and better ergonomics.We describe our modified VEIL technique: the deep first approach, in a squamous cell carcinoma penis patient with a pathological T3 disease and bilateral palpable, mobile inguinal lymph nodes post penectomy.The surface markings and the port incision sites for the procedure were conventional. However, in contrast to the standard superficial dissection plane development below the Scarpa's fascia at the initial camera port site, our technique commenced with a deep dissection plane just above the fascia lata. The dissection limits were directly identified: the sartorius muscle laterally, the inguinal ligament superiorly, and the adductor longus muscle medially. The saphenous vein was identified early and close to the saphenofemoral junction, allowing undemanding dissection. The superficial flap dissection was done entirely under direct vision, with better ergonomics owing to a continuous counter-traction by the pressure of insufflated gas. Deep inguinal nodal dissection then concluded the procedure.The described technique is surmised to be easier to perform, given the lack of ambiguity in the correct initial dissection plane, direct visualization of surgical landmarks early in the procedure, and early identification of the saphenous vein close to the SFJ. It may improve the learning curve allowing for a wider acceptance of VEIL.

Malignant melanoma is rare in the pediatric population and management is largely extrapolated from adult guidelines. Adult data have shown that immediate completion lymph node dissection (CLND) does not improve overall survival in selected patients with clinically node negative, sentinel lymph node-positive disease. Current nodal management in children is unknown.The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was queried for patients with melanoma from 2012-2017 and patients categorized as pediatric (≤18 years, n=962) or adult (n=327,987). Factors associated with CLND in children with positive SLNB were evaluated in multivariable analysis. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed.Compared to adults, children present with thicker primary tumors (T3 or T4 26.5% vs 15.5%, p0.001), resulting in higher rates of nodal assessment with SLN biopsy or LND (60.2% vs 36.6%, p0.001) and higher rates of regional nodal disease (35.1% vs 23.4%, p0.001). Children underwent higher rates of CLND after SLN biopsy (10.4% vs 4.1%) and upfront lymph node dissection (15.2% vs 8.7%). A decreased rate of CLND was noted in 2017 compared to 2012 (odds ratio (OR) 0.16 (p=0.005). CLND was performed more often on multivariable analysis for older pediatric age (12 years, OR=1.6, p=0.037) and lower extremity primary (OR=0.29, p0.001). Children with regional nodal disease have improved 3-year overall survival compared to adults (96.5% vs 71.0%, p0.001).Children with melanoma have higher rates of nodal disease but better survival than adults. As in adults, there has been a recent increase in close nodal observation rather than CLND for patients with positive SLN. Further study of nodal surveillance for pediatric patients is warranted.

INTRODUCTION: Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is associated with poor outcomes. We compared surgical outcomes between children and adult; and identified factors independently associated with survival. METHODS: Using the National Cancer Database, children and adults with ACC who underwent surgery between 2004 and 2016 were identified. We compared outcomes and survival between groups. Cox regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of survival. RESULTS: Of 2553 patients, 2.8% were children. A higher proportion of children were Hispanic (19.1%vs.6.6%) and covered by government insurance (45.1%vs.35.8%) than adults. More pediatric patients received lymphadenectomy and chemotherapy than adults. Pediatric patients had better survival at 1 -(91.4%; 95%CI: 81.2%– 96.0% vs.79.6%; 95%CI: 77.9%–81.1%) and 5-years (60.6%; 95%CI:47.5%–71.3% vs.44.9%; 95%CI 42.7%−47.0) (p = 0.0016). Age≥18 (HR: 2.21(1.50–3.27)), metastatic disease at diagnosis (HR: 3.51(3.04–4.04)), and receipt of lymphadenectomy (HR: 1.30(1.14–1.48)) were independently associated with worse survival. CONCLUSIONS: Children with ACC had better survival than adults. Factors independently associated with worse survival included older age, metastatic disease, and receipt of lymph node surgery.

Growing evidence supports the lymph node ratio (LNR) as a prognostic factor for survival in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). However, there is a lack of data regarding its association with recurrence outcomes. Data on 163 patients with OSCC who underwent primary surgical treatment at a tertiary centre between January 2009 and December 2015 were collected retrospectively and analysed. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to determine optimal cut-off values for the survival analyses. Survival endpoints were disease progression/relapse for disease-free time (DFT), freedom from loco-regional recurrence (FLR), and freedom from distant metastasis (FDM), and as death from any cause for overall survival (OS). Patients with a lower LNR were found to have significantly superior DFT (LNR < 14%, P < 0.001), FLR (LNR

A potentially fatal disease of breast angiosarcoma (AS) can occur after breast cancer treatments, and previous studies have revealed that lymphedema is a risk factor of AS development. However, little is known, and there is no systematic review focusing on the relationship between lymphedema and breast AS. This systematic review aimed to evaluate all publications on breast AS after primary breast cancer surgery to identify prognostic factors and evaluate treatment modalities.Databases were searched for articles with published individual patient data on prognostic factors, treatment, and follow-up of patients with breast AS after primary breast cancer surgery. Statistical analysis was performed to test the prognostic values of age, gender, location, tumor-node-metastasis classification of primary breast cancer (tumor and node), stage of primary breast cancer, treatment for primary breast cancer, breast cancer recurrence, post-operative lymphedema, latent period from primary breast cancer to AS, treatment for AS, AS recurrence, and time until death or last follow-up.Twenty articles were included, representing data on 41 patients. In these articles, 15 patients were referred to post-operative lymphedema. Eleven patients of them had post-operative lymphedema. As for this research, post-operative lymphedema was not a significant prognostic factor. AS recurrence was significant as a prognostic factor (P-value0.001) in univariate analysis for follow-up status; patients who had AS recurrence had a shorter time until death.In this systematic review, AS recurrence was of prognostic value for breast AS patients after primary breast cancer surgery. There are only a few articles that refer post-operative breast lymphedema.

Past studies have shown mixed results of postoperative radiation (PORT) for pN2 NSCLC patients. We hypothesize that PORT can improve overall survival (OS) in pN2 NSCLC patients with high lymph node ratio (LNR).The National Cancer Database was queried for non-metastatic pN2 NSCLC patients with R0 surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy from 2004 to 2016. Cox models were used to assess the impact of PORT and LNR on OS adjusted for patient characteristics and treatment information.Among 4,050 patients, 1,728 (42.7%) had PORT. There was increased use of IMRT in the more recent period (53.8% in 2010-2016 vs 24.0% in 2004-2009). PORT was associated with better OS in the overall cohort. For patients with inadequate lymph node dissection (LND), PORT marginally improved OS (HR = 0.91, p = 0.058). Among patients with adequate LND, PORT did not improve OS for patients with LNR15% (HR = 1.11, p = 0.21), or LNR 15-29% (HR = 1.03, p = 0.73), but it significantly improved OS for patients with LNR ≥30% (HR = 0.83, p = 0.006). In patients with LNR≥30%, IMRT significantly improved OS when compared to no PORT (HR = 0.75, p0.05) while 3D RT did not (HR = 0.89, p = 0.32).PORT was associated with better survival for pN2 NSCLC patients after R0 resection, adequate LND with high LNR, after accounting for multiple confounders. Among the whole cohort, most of the OS benefits of PORT were driven by patients with inadequate LND, high LNR or use of IMRT.

The objective of this study was to compare the rate of groin recurrence among women undergoing superficial or deep inguinal lymph node dissections in suspected early-stage vulvar carcinoma. Secondary objectives included comparison of overall survival and post-operative morbidity between the study groups.A retrospective cohort of 233 patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the vulva who underwent an inguinal lymph node dissection at two major academic institutions from 1999 to 2017 were analyzed. Demographic, surgical, recurrence, survival, and post-operative morbidity data were collected for 233 patients, resulting in a total of 400 groin node dissections analyzed.Rates of overall primary recurrence of disease between superficial and deep inguinal LND (42.5 vs. 39.8%, p = 0.70) and rates of inguinal recurrence (3.4 vs. 8.3%, p = 0.16) were similar. Overall rates of postoperative morbidity were significantly higher in the cohort undergoing deep LND (70.3% vs 44.3%, p0.01). Rates of lymphedema (42.4 vs 15.9%, p0.01), readmission (26.3 vs 6.8%, p0.01), and infection (40.7 vs 14.8%, p0.01) were all significantly higher among patients undergoing deep LND. There was no significant difference noted in overall survival between the study groups when adjusting for stage and age (HR 1.08, p = 0.84).Superficial inguinal LND had no significant difference in rate of recurrence or overall survival when compared to deep inguinal LND in patients with vulvar SCC. Those who received a deep LND had a significant increase in overall morbidity, including lymphedema, readmission, and infection. For patients who cannot undergo or fail sentinel lymph node mapping, a superficial inguinal lymph node dissection may have similar outcomes in recurrence and overall survival with a reduction in overall morbidity as compared to a complete, or deep, lymph node dissection.

The treatment paradigm for patients with anorectal melanoma eligible for sphincter-sparing excision has evolved over time. This study examines outcomes across a 30-year era in this rare disease with poor prognosis.This retrospective cohort study included all patients with pelvis-confined anorectal melanoma undergoing sphincter-sparing local excision and adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) at our institution between 1989 and 2020. Patterns of care and predictors of outcome were evaluated.Of the 108 patients included, 92 (85%) presented with clinically uninvolved nodes. For clinically node-negative patients, the sentinel lymph node biopsy rate increased from 18/43 (42%) before 2008 to 38/49 (78%) subsequently and the use of inguinal nodal RT decreased from 33/35 (94%) before 2003 to 1/57 (2%) subsequently. All clinically node-positive patients treated before 2003 received inguinal nodal RT, whereas no node-positive patient treated subsequently received this treatment. Patients treated before 2016 mostly received biochemotherapy, and those treated since 2017 mostly received immune checkpoint inhibitors. With median follow-up of 32 months, 77 patients (71%) recurred. Three-year actuarial outcomes were 84% local control, 64% nodal control, 38% distant metastasis-free survival, 30% disease-free survival, and 51% melanoma-specific survival. Ostomy-free survival at last follow-up was 95%. Factors contributing to outcome were identified. Outcomes for patients treated in the contemporary era (2017+) were not significantly better than those treated earlier.Sphincter-sparing surgery followed by adjuvant RT results in excellent local control and ostomy-free survival for locally resectable anorectal melanoma. Overall oncologic outcomes continue to be poor, reinforcing the need to identify more effective therapies.

Resection of bulky lymph nodes in gynecologic oncology is a challenging procedure. Considering the risk of intraoperative vascular injury, a technique to avoid severe complications is mandatory. In this study, we aimed to analyze the feasibility of laparoscopic ultraradical lymph node debulking using Yasargil clamps in patients with gynecologic cancer with bulky lymph node metastases.Multicenter retrospective case series (ClinicalTrialg.gov ID: NCT05318170), between September 2010 and April 2020.Units of Gynecologic Oncology.Patients with gynecologic cancer with bulky lymph node metastases.Laparoscopic ultraradical lymph node debulking using Yasargil clamps.Forty-three patients with gynecologic cancer with bulky pelvic and/or aortic lymph nodes metastases undergoing laparoscopic lymph node debulking surgery using Yasargil clamps were included. Median surgical time was 300 minutes (range, 120-550 minutes); median estimated blood loss was 170 mL (range, 0-700 mL). Median size of lymph nodes was 50 mm (range, 25-100). R0 resection was achieved in all cases. Four intraoperative complications (9.3%) occurred. No conversion to open surgery was required. There were 8 postoperative complications, classified grade 2 or worse. There were no cases with intra- or postoperative mortality.In our experience, in carefully selected patients with gynecologic cancer with bulky lymph nodes, laparoscopic lymph node debulking using Yasargil clamps could be considered a valid option to avoid potential severe vascular intraoperative complications.

Surgery for T1b gastric cancer requires suprapancreatic nodes (SPA nodes) and perigastric nodes (PG nodes), however, SPA nodal dissection can cause pancreatic complications. If endoscopic treatment followed by additional surgery is planned, it may be possible to predict SPA nodal metastasis by analyzing the pathological information of the primary tumor in addition to the clinical findings.Patients who underwent D1+ or D2 and who were pathologically diagnosed with pT1b were retrospectively analyzed. The stations were divided into the nodes located at the perigastric area (PG nodes; #1-7) and the nodes located at the suprapancreatic area (SPA nodes; #8a-12a). The patients were classified into those with and without metastasis to the SPA nodes. Clinicopathological factors were investigated for their possible association with metastasis to the SPA nodes.A total of 2017 patients were examined in this study. Metastasis to the SPA nodes was observed in 80 patients (4%). In a multivariate analysis, undifferentiated histology, lower third, and lymphovascular invasion were independent risk factors for metastasis to the SPA nodes. The risk of metastasis to the SPA nodes waslt;2% in upper/middle tumors of differentiated type with no lymphovascular invasion and in lower tumors of undifferentiated type with no lymphovascular invasion. On the other hand, the risk of metastasis to the SPA nodes wasgt;10% in lower tumors of undifferentiated type with lymphovascular invasion.SPA nodal metastasis can be predicted when endoscopic treatment is initially planned. SPA nodal dissection should not be uniformly selected for T1b gastric cancer.

The extent of lymphadenectomy in colon cancer (CC) is a matter of debate. One argument of extensive surgery is that it may prevent lymph node recurrence (LNR). However, the incidence of LNR after surgery for CC is unknown. Here, we performed a systematic review of the incidence of LNR after either standard (D2) surgery or extensive resection (complete mesocolic excision, CME, D3).PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and CENTRAL were searched for studies reporting on patients with primary stage I-III CC who developed locoregional or distant LNR. Methodological quality was scored using the QualSyst tool. The difference in overall and lymph node (LN) recurrence rate between CME/D3 and standard/D2 resection was statistically evaluated using non-parametric tests. Registered with PROPERO as CRD42020203288.From an initial 12.744 records, 24 studies were included, representing 13.521 CC patients. A majority of patients had right CC (64%), stage III disease (51%), and received adjuvant chemotherapy (57%). The mean number of examined nodes ranged from 14 to 30. The median overall recurrence rate was 14% in the CME/D3 group, and 19% in the standard/D2 group (P = 0.638). The median proportion of patients with any LNR was 1.7% in the CME/D3 group, and 1.2% in the standard/D2 group (P = 0.677). The median incidence of locoregional, potentially preventable LNR was 0% in the CME/D3 group and 0.4% in the standard/D2 group (P = 0.274).The incidence of locoregional, potentially preventable LNR after surgery for CC is low (lt;1%), and is not affected by the extent of lymphadenectomy.

The radiologists' role in axillary imaging in the setting of a suspicious breast mass is evolving in light of the Z0011 trial leading to expected practice variation. The purpose of our project was to generate a standardized algorithm guiding the utilization of axillary ultrasound in the setting of a highly suggestive or highly suspicious breast mass (BI-RADS 4C or 5) without a known cancer diagnosis. The algorithm was created with Z0011 practices in mind while reflecting the clinical preferences of our radiology and surgical teams. The four breast surgeons at our academic institution were individually queried regarding their preferred axillary imaging and biopsy approach. The best practices for axillary imaging were then developed in a breast imaging intradepartmental meeting. There was agreement among the surgical group that the presence of suspicious axillary lymph node (s) on ultrasound could be used for treatment planning and patient discussion but would not be used for surgical planning in most cases. They also agreed that an ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy of a suspicious axillary lymph node should be deferred until after surgical consultation. Discussion among our breast radiologists resulted in the consensus that axillary ultrasound in the setting of a BIRADS 4 or 5 mass should be deferred at its initial presentation unless there is palpable lymphadenopathy, suspicious lymph node on mammography, or a tumor is at least stage T3, presumably excluding them from Z0011 criteria. The decision was also made to defer biopsies of suspicious axillary lymph nodes without prior surgical consultation/discussion.

Lymph node metastasis in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is a poor prognostic factor after radical surgery. However, unlike other biliary tract malignancies, the nodal stage of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma only reflects the presence of metastatic lymph nodes, not the number of metastatic lymph nodes. This study aimed to identify the prognostic impact of the metastatic lymph node number in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.The data from 87 patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma who had undergone hepatectomy with 5 or more harvested lymph nodes and covering stations 12 and 8 based on the previous criteria from January 2006 to December 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. The hazard ratio according to the increasing metastatic lymph node number was calculated with other known prognostic factors for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. The patients were then divided into 3 groups according to the metastatic lymph node number (N0 [n = 45]: no metastatic lymph nodes; NThe metastatic lymph node number was a prognostic factor of oncologic survival (disease-free survival: hazard ratio = 1.18 [1.05-1.32], P = .005; overall survival: hazard ratio = 1.21 [1.06-1.37], P = .004). Survival analysis revealed significantly poorer outcomes with an increasing metastatic lymph node number (disease-free survival: N0 vs NWith proper lymph node dissection, the number of metastatic lymph nodes is a prognostic factor of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Patients with breast cancer and ipsilateral axillary and internal mammary (IM) lymph node involvement (cN3b) often forgo IM node resection. Therefore, radiation is important for curative therapy. However, prognosis is not well described in the era of modern systemic therapy, and limited data exist to guide optimal locoregional treatment recommendations.We retrospectively reviewed 117 patients with nonmetastatic cN3b breast cancer treated at our institution between 2014 and 2019. Staging included ultrasound evaluation of all regional nodal basins. All patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy, resection of the breast primary, and axillary nodal dissection, followed by adjuvant radiation to the breast/chest wall and regional nodes. Institutional guidelines recommend a 10-Gy boost to radiographically resolved nodes, and a 16-Gy boost to unresolved nodes. Overall survival, recurrence-free survival (RFS), locoregional RFS, internal mammary RFS, and distant metastasis-free survival were evaluated with Kaplan-Meier analysis. A multivariable model for RFS was constructed.Median follow-up for 117 patients was 3.82 years. Median age at diagnosis was 46 years and 56 patients (48%) were receptor group ER+/HER2-. Mastectomy was performed in 96 patients (82%), 38 (32%) had biopsy-confirmed IMC involvement, and 8 (7%) had IM node dissection. The median initial radiation dose was 50 Gy (range, 50-55 Gy) and IMC boost 10 Gy (range, 0-16 Gy). The 5-year overall survival, IM RFS, locoregional RFS, distant metastasis-free survival, and RFS were 74%, 98%, 89%, 68%, and 67%, respectively. On multivariable analysis, a clinical complete response of the IM nodes or ypN0 (pathologic complete response of nodes) status had improved 5-year RFS with hazard ratios of 0.24 (P = .006) and 0.27 (P = .05), respectively. Extranodal extension or lymphovascular invasion were associated with worse 5-year RFS with hazard ratios of 4.13 (P = .001) and 2.25 (P = .04), respectively.Multimodality therapy provides excellent locoregional control of 89% at 5 years for patients with cN3b breast cancer. Adjuvant radiation yields a 5-year IM RFS of 98%. Clinical and pathologic response of IM nodes are independently prognostic for RFS.

Identification of early stage gallbladder cancer (GBC) is difficult with simple cholecystectomy being considered curative for T1a GBC but T1b requires radical cholecystectomy due to chances of lymph node metastasis. However there is no consensus regarding the optimal treatment strategy for T1b disease.A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database of GBC patients operated at our institute from March 2010 to March 2021 was conducted. Only patients with proven gallbladder adenocarcinoma on final histopathology report were included.A total of 1245 patients of suspected GBC who underwent surgery during this period with 76 patients of T1b stage were analysed. We divided the group into a node positive cohort (n = 16, 9 received neoadjuvant treatment due to uptake in periportal nodes and 7 patients were pN1) and a node negative cohort (n = 60). The median nodal harvest was 8 nodes (2-24 nodes). Considering the radiological and pathological parameters, the rate of lymph node positivity was 21% (16/76). The overall major morbidity was 5.2% and there was no mortality. After a median follow up of 47.5 months, 3-year OS and DFS of the node negative and positive cohort was 96.7%, 91.7% and 75% and 62.5% (p = 0.058). The node positive cohort had 43% recurrences whereas the node negative cohort had 8.3% with all recurrences limited to periportal lymph nodes, distant nodes or liver metastasis.Nodal positivity for T1b gall bladder cancer ranges around 21% and radical surgery with complete peri -portal lymphadenectomy should be considered as standard of care.

BACKGROUND: Melanoma clinical trials demonstrated that completion lymph node dissection (CLND) is low value for most sentinel lymph node (SLN)-positive patients. Contemporaneous trials of adjuvant systemic immunotherapy and BRAF/MEK targeted therapy showed improved recurrence-free survival in high-risk SLN-positive patients. To better understand how oncologic evidence is incorporated into practice (implementation), we evaluated factors associated with discontinuation of CLND and adoption of systemic treatment at United States (US) Commission on Cancer-accredited centers. METHODS: In a retrospective cohort study of adults with SLN-positive melanoma treated from 2012-2017 using the National Cancer Database (NCDB), we evaluated use of CLND and adjuvant systemic treatment using mixed effects logistic regression, reporting results as odds ratios (OR) with 95% Confidence Intervals (CI). RESULTS: Among 10,240 SLN-positive melanoma patients, performance of CLND declined from 60% to 27%. Adjuvant systemic treatment increased from 29% to 43% (37% in Stage IIIA patients, 46% in IIIB-C). CLND was less common with lower extremity tumors (OR=0.53, 95%CI=0.44-0.64) and more common with multiple positive SLNs (OR=2.36, 95%CI=2.08-2.67), treatment at a high- or moderate-volume center (OR(high)=1.49, 95%CI=1.05-2.12; OR(moderate)=1.32, 95%CI=1.05-1.64), and receipt of systemic therapy (OR=1.44, 95%CI=1.27-1.63). The increased likelihood of CLND in patients receiving adjuvant systemic treatment persisted in the most recent study years and in patients with a single positive SLN. CONCLUSIONS: At a population level, CLND declined, and adjuvant systemic treatment increased, reflecting evidence-responsive care. Variation in persistent use of CLND and in provision of adjuvant treatment for lower risk patients highlights residual gaps in both evidence and implementation.

To investigate recurrence and survival in non-endometrioid endometrial cancer in a population-based cohort and evaluate the implementation of the first national guidelines (NGEC) recommending pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy for surgical staging and tailored adjuvant therapy.A population-based cohort study that used the Swedish quality registry for gynaecological cancer for the identification of all women with early-stage non-endometrioid endometrial cancer between 2010 and 2017. Five-year overall (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to evaluate the effect of age, FIGO stage, primary treatment and lymph node dissection on DFS.There were 228 patients included in the study cohort and 67 (29%) patients had a recurrence within five years. In the recurrence cohort, the OS was 13.4% (95%CI:7.3-24.7) compared to 88.5% (95%CI:83.4-93.9) if no recurrence occurred (log-rank p 0.001). The DFS for the complete cohort was 61.9% (95%CI:55.7-68.7). The OS before implementation of NGEC was 57.3% (95%CI:48.2-68.1) and the DFS was 52.1% (95%CI:43.0-63.1) compared to an OS of 72.0% (95%CI:64.2-80.7; log-rank p = 0.018) and a DFS of 70.1% (95%CI:62.4-78.7; log-rank p = 0.008) after implementing NGEC. Patients received adjuvant radiotherapy in 92.7% before and 42.4% after NGEC implementation (p 0.001). In the multivariable regression analysis, age, FIGO stage and lymph node dissection were found to be significant prognostic factors, where having a lymph node dissection decreased the risk of recurrence or death with a HR of 0.58 (95%CI:0.33-1.00).In this population-based cohort of preoperative early-stage non-endometrioid EC, a significant improvement in survival was seen after NGEC implementation where lymph node staging for tailoring adjuvant therapy was introduced and less pelvic radiotherapy was given.

Intensive local treatment comprising total mesorectal excision (TME) with selective lateral pelvic lymph node dissection (LPND) after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) has received attention among clinicians treating rectal cancer. It remains unclear whether adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) after intensive local treatment is beneficial for these patients. We evaluated the oncologic benefit of ACT for patients with LARC who received intensive local treatment.This international multicentre retrospective cohort study included 737 patients treated in Japan and Korea between 2010 and 2017. The effectiveness of ACT on recurrence-free survival (RFS) was evaluated using univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models, with subgroup analyses to identify subpopulations potentially benefiting from ACT.The median follow-up was 49 months; the 5-year RFS and local recurrence rates for the entire cohort were 72.1% and 4.9%, respectively; 514 patients (69.7%) received adjuvant chemotherapy, without an oncologic benefit (hazard ratio, 1.14; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.79-1.68) demonstrated in the multivariable Cox regression analysis. In subgroup analyses, the distributions of the 95% CI in patients aged ≥70 years and those with ypStage 0 tended to place a disproportionate emphasis that favoured the non-ACT treatment strategy.Despite achieving good local control with intensive local treatment strategy, the effectiveness of ACT for the LARC patients with CRT followed by TME with selective LPND was not proved. Elderly patients and those with ypStage0 may not receive benefit from ACT after CRT and TME ± LPND.

Failure to identify anatomical variations may contribute to surgical errors or perioperative complications during abdominal and oncological surgery. We report the case of an anatomical variation of the inferior vena cava revealed during para-aortic lymphadenectomy for advanced ovarian cancer. Due to renal insufficiency, preoperative CT-scan was performed without contrast injection and the variation was not clearly detected. Our clinical case underlines the importance of the preoperative diagnosis of anatomical variations and highlights the need to provide young surgeons with adequate technical training in para-aortic lymphadenectomy.

Introduction: Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy algorithm has been routinely applied in all endometrial endometrioid tumors, however, no studies analyzed the feasibility of SLN mapping in endometrioid variants (EV), which included villoglandular, secretory, ciliated cell, mucinous, and squamous differentiation. This study aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of SLN biopsy in EV of EC. Materials and methods: All patients undergoing minimally invasive surgical treatment for early-stage EC were included in the study. Patients were divided into 2 study groups: Group 1 which included patients with EV, and Group 2 which included patients with typical endometrioid histology. A propensity match analysis was performed according to age (≥65 years vs. no), BMI (≥30 kg/m2 vs. no), and LVSI (present vs. absent). Results: After a 1:5 propensity-matched analysis, a total of 458 patients were identified (Group 1 n = 77, Group 2 n = 381). Overall detection rate was not statistically significant between the EV and the typical endometrioid group (94.8% vs. 92.4%, p = 0.319). Furthermore, neither bilateral nor unilateral detection rate was different between the two groups (70.1% vs. 74.8%, p = 0.267, and 23.4% vs. 17.8%, p = 0.120). BMI ≥30 kg/m2 was the only factor influencing SLN failure (p = 0.013). SLN technique showed excellent sensitivity in both the EV (100% sensitivity, p < 0.001) and the typical endometrioid unit (93.8% sensitivity, p < 0.001). Conclusion: SLN research/detection for EV of endometrial cancer is a feasible and highly sensitive technique. Obesity was confirmed to be a risk factor for SLN failure.

Intraoperative touch imprint cytology (ITIC) is used for intraoperative detection of sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastases with intention to spare the patients another surgery. However, ITIC prolongs surgery, and ads costs. It is less likely positive in breast cancer (BC) patients after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) due to low axillary tumor burden. We aimed to evaluate ITIC in patients after NAC and assess how often it changes the ongoing surgery.BC patients treated with NAC followed by surgery at the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Slovenia, from January 2008 to July 2020 with ITIC performed were selected for analysis. Sensitivity, specificity, and the proportion of positive ITIC were calculated for different subgroups.Overall, 144 patients were identified. 73 of 144 (50.7%) patients were N0 before NAC and 71 of 144 (49.3%) were initially N1 and downstaged to N0 after NAC. ITIC was positive in 30 of 144 (20.8%) of patients, 7 of 73 (9.6%) in N0 group and 23 of 71 (32.4%) in N1 group. In N0 group, ITIC was positive in 1 of 20 (5%) if the tumor size was ≤ 20 mm after NAC, and 2 of 39 (5.1%) if the tumor was triple negative (TN) or Her-2+. In the N1 group ITIC was positive in20% in all subgroups. The sensitivity and specificity of ITIC was 50.8% and 100%, respectively and did not differ between groups.ITIC after NAC is accurate with comparable sensitivity to ITIC in upfront surgery. We suggest omission of ITIC after NAC in initially N0 patients, particularly for tumors ≤ 20 mm after NAC, and in TN or Her-2+ subtypes.

Comparing the anatomical distribution of metastatic and non-metastatic pelvic sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) in cervical and endometrial cancer.Detailed SLN mapping results were prospectively retrieved in cervical (n = 145) or high-risk endometrial cancer (n = 201) patients undergoing a robotic staging procedure. Cervically injected Indocyanine Green (ICG), allowing for reinjection in case of inadequate mapping, was used as tracer. An anatomically based definition of SLNs was adhered to evaluating the upper (UPP) and lower (LPP) paracervical lymphatic pathways. The positions of SLNs were intraoperatively depicted on an anatomical chart. A completory pelvic lymphadenectomy was performed. Mapping rates and anatomical distribution of SLNs and the location of pelvic nodal metastases were compared between groups.The bilateral mapping rate was 97.9% and 95.0% for cervical and endometrial cancer respectively (p = .16). The proportion of typically positioned (interiliac and proximal obturator fossa) SLNs along the UPP was similar between groups (78.1% vs 82.1%, p = .09), and the rate of metastatic SLNs in the obturator fossa was 54.1% and 48.6% respectively (p = .45). All pelvic node positive women (cervical cancer n = 19, endometrial cancer n = 37) had at least one metastatic SLN. Anatomically typical positions could not be defined along the LPP.The anatomical location of SLNs and SLN metastases are similar in cervical and endometrial cancer suggesting that sensitivity results for an SLN concept in endometrial cancer and cervical cancer can be accumulated.

The applicability of modern prospective data on adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) fields in patients with micrometastases is limited because many trials occurred prior to routine measurement of nodal metastasis size and modern sentinel lymph node evaluation techniques. We aimed to determine prognostic factors for patients with micrometastases and evaluate the impact of adjuvant RT on disease outcomes.Patients diagnosed with pathologic T1-T3 N1mi breast cancers between 2004-2015 were identified. Cox proportional hazards methods were used to determine characteristics predictive of locoregional recurrence (LRR). Tumor and treatment-specific factors were further evaluated using log-rank statistics to compare rates of LRR-free survival.This analysis included 156 patients. On multivariable analysis, grade 3 histology (HR 10.84, 95% CI 2.72-43.21) and adjuvant RT (HR 0.22, 95% CI 0.06-0.81) were independent predictors of LRR. Among patients with grade 1-2 histology, 5-year LRR-free survival was 98.8% in patients who received adjuvant RT versus 100% in patients who did not receive adjuvant RT (P = .82). Among patients with grade 3 histology, 5-year LRR-free survival was 90.1% in patients who received adjuvant RT versus 53.0% in patients who did not receive adjuvant RT (P = .025), and 100% in patients receiving comprehensive nodal irradiation versus 76.7% in patients receiving whole breast irradiation or no RT (P = .045).Patients with grade 3 micrometastases are at substantial risk for LRR. Adjuvant RT, including comprehensive nodal irradiation, should be strongly considered in these women.

The current clinical practice guidelines for endometrial cancer specify sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy to be performed in apparent uterine-confined disease. However, a recent population-based analysis found that the utilization of SLN biopsy is increasing in extra-uterine disease such as T2 classification. The objective of this study was to examine trends and outcomes related to SLN biopsy for endometrial cancer with T3 classification, another extra-uterine disease.A population-based retrospective cohort study was conducted to examine 7004 women with T3 endometrial cancer who underwent primary surgery between 2010 and 2018, identified in the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program. Trends and characteristics related to SLN biopsy were assessed by multinomial regression analysis, and inverse probability of treatment weighting propensity score was used to assess overall survival related to SLN biopsy.Nodal evaluation type included lymphadenectomy (n = 5276, 75.3%), SLN biopsy (n = 287, 4.1%), and none (n = 1441, 20.6%). The utilization of SLN biopsy increased from 0.4% to 12.9% between 2010 and 2018 (P0.001) that this association remained independent in multivariable analysis (adjusted-odds ratio compared to 2010-2012, 2.63 [95% confidence interval 1.57-4.42] for 2013-2015 and 10.1 [95% confidence interval 6.30-16.2] for 2016-2018). When compared to the lymphadenectomy group, the SLN biopsy group was less likely to have T3b disease (adjusted-odds ratio 0.69, 95% confidence interval 0.51-0.94) but had similar postoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy (both, P0.05). In a weighted model, the 3-year overall survival rate was 66.3% for the SLN biopsy group and 64.7% for the lymphadenectomy group (hazard ratio 0.85, 95% confidence interval 0.69-1.05). Similar association was observed in subcohorts for young, old, endometrioid, non-endometrioid, T3a, T3b, and N0 cases.Utilization of SLN biopsy in T3 endometrial cancer is increasing in the United States.

The role of lymph node assessment/dissection (LND) in endometrial cancer (EC) has been debated for decades, with significant practice variation between centers. Molecular classification of EC provides prognostic information and can be accurately performed on preoperative endometrial biopsies. We assessed the association between molecular subtype and lymph node metastases (LNM) in order to determine if this tool could be used to stratify surgical decision making.All EC patients undergoing primary staging surgery with planned complete pelvic +/- para-aortic LND from a single institution in the 2015 calendar year were identified, with clinicopathological and outcome data assessed in the context of retrospectively assigned molecular classification.172 patients were included. Molecular classification of the total cohort showed 21 POLEmut (12.2%), 47 MMRd (27.3%), 74 NSMP (43.1%), and 30 p53abn (17.4%) ECs. Complete pelvic +/- para-aortic LND was performed in 171 of 172 patients, and LNM were found in 31/171 (18.1%). This included macrometastases (19/31), micrometastases (5/31), and isolated tumour cells (ITCs) (7/31). LNM were pelvic only in 83.9%, and pelvic plus para-aortic in 16.1%. There were no isolated para-aortic LNM. Molecular subtype was significantly associated with LNM (p = 0.004). There was a strong association between the presence of LNM and p53abn EC (nodal involvement in 44.8% of cases), with LNM detected in 14.2% of POLEmut, 14.9% of MMRd, and 10.8% of NSMP EC. On multivariate analysis, molecular subtype and preoperative CA 12525 were significantly associated with LNM (p = 0.021 and p = 0.022 respectively) but preoperative grade and histotype were not (p = 0.24).EC molecular subtype is significantly associated with the presence of LNM. As molecular classification can be obtained on preoperative diagnostic specimens, this information can be used to guide surgical treatment planning and may reduce the cost and morbidity of unnecessary lymph node staging in EC care.

Background Inferior mesenteric artery lymph node (station 253 node) metastasis occurs in approximately 0.3% to 13.9% of rectal cancer patients. This study examined whether carbon nanoparticles could aid in harvesting more station 253 nodes and evaluated the relationship between the number of station 253 nodes retrieved and station 253 node metastasis. Method A total of 480 consecutive rectal cancer patients were enrolled in this prospective cohort study between August 2014 and October 2018. Ninety-one patients (18.96%) received a preoperative submucosal injection of carbon nanoparticles (CN+ group), and 389 patients did not receive an injection (CN- group). The number of lymph node retrievals was analyzed, and the relevant risk factors for station 253 node metastasis were identified using univariate and multivariate analyses. Results The mean number of station 251, 252, and 253 lymph nodes and total lymph nodes retrieved in the CN+ group were higher than that retrieved in the CN- group. The percentage of patients with ≥4 station 253 nodes retrieved (54.0% vs 28.3%, P = .004) were higher in the CN+ group than in the CN- group. Retrieval of ≥4 station 253 nodes was an independent risk factor for station 253 node metastasis (OR: 2.40, 95% CI: 1.22–4.74, P = .012). Conclusion The preoperative submucosal injection of carbon nanoparticles was helpful for increasing the number of station 253 nodes harvested, and a minimum of 4 examined station 253 nodes was necessary for standard D3 lymph node dissection in rectal cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To assess survival among patients diagnosed with uterine carcinosarcoma (CS) who underwent sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy alone vs. systematic lymph node dissection (LND). METHODS: We identified newly diagnosed CS patients who underwent primary surgical management from January 1996–December 2019. The SLN cohort underwent SLN biopsy alone with bilateral SLNs identified. The systematic LND cohort did not undergo SLN biopsy. RESULTS: Ninety-nine patients underwent SLN biopsy, and 100 patients underwent systematic LND. There was no difference by age, stage, body mass index, myoinvasion (

This study aimed to compare the survival of patients with isolated inguinal lymph node metastases from rectal cancer to patients with inguinal and additional synchronous distant metastases from rectal cancer who treated with curative intent. A retrospective review of all consecutive adult patients with rectal adenocarcinoma and inguinal lymph node involvement who underwent curative therapy at our institution from 2002 to 2020 was conducted. Patients were classified as having synchronous inguinal lymph node metastasis (SILNM), or synchronous inguinal lymph node and distant organ metastasis (SILNDOM). Patients in the SILNM group had a median overall survival of 75 months compared to 17.6 months in the SILNDOM group;p-value = 0.09. The recurrence-free survival for patients with SILNM was 19.6 months compared to 2.4 months in the SILNDOM group;p-value = 0.053. In conclusion, SILNM appears to represent a distinct subgroup of patients with metastatic rectal cancer. These patients warrant consideration of treatment with curative intent. Further studies are needed.

Treatment of locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) involves pelvic chemoradiotherapy, using an extended field in the case of para-aortic involvement. 18-Fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography combined with computer tomography (PET-CT) is an accurate method for the detection of metastatic nodes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of PET-CT for lymph node staging of LACC.This bicentric retrospective study included patients with LACC who had a PET-CT scan followed by para-aortic lymphadenectomy between January 2015 and December 2019. Based on pathological findings, sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV), positive predictive value (PPV) and false-negative (FN) rates of PET-CT for para-aortic node involvement were evaluated.Seventy-one patients who had undergone laparoscopic lymphadenectomy were included in this study. The intraoperative complication rate was 2.8%. Sensitivity, specificity, NPV and PPV for PET-CT were 55% [95% confidence interval (CI) 44.6-67.1], 84% (95% CI 75-92), 93% (95% CI 87-99) and 33% (95% CI 22-44), respectively. FN rates in the case of negative or positive pelvic PET-CT were 5.7% and 9.5%, respectively.Para-aortic lymphadenectomy is recommended for lymph node staging in the case of negative para-aortic PET-CT. In view of the low FN rate of PET-CT, surgical staging should be discussed regardless of pelvic status if the patient presents high surgical risk, or if this delays the commencement of chemoradiotherapy.

Introduction The diagnostic role of lymph node (LN) assessment is established in endometrial cancer. Our study assesses whether surgical removal of metastatic LNs has oncologic benefit in high-grade endometrial cancer. Materials and methods High-grade endometrial cancer cases (2000–2010) were collected from two tertiary cancer centres. In patients with at least one positive LN, recurrence free survival (RFS) was compared by the number of LNs removed. Factors predicting nodal recurrence (NR) were explored. Univariate statistical analyses by log rank test and multivariable cox proportional hazards model were performed using SAS version 9.4. Results Of 570 patients identified, 334 patients underwent staging lymphadenectomy, 74 (22.2%) patients had at least one positive LN. The median RFS with at least one positive lymph node was 87.1 months (95% CI ≥ 14.3) when greater than 15 LNs were removed, compared to 16.9 months (95% CI, 13.6–35.6) and 17.3 months (95% CI, 8.5–39.8) when 5–15 and less than 5 LNs were removed, respectively (p = 0.02). In the cohort of 570 patients, there were 167 disease recurrences with location described on imaging, 98 (58.7%) had a NR and 69 (41.3%) recurred at other sites. Multivariable modeling identified that only positive LNs at surgical staging predicted NR (HR 3.8, 95% CI 1.4–10.2). Conclusion In high-grade endometrial cancer, positive LNs predict NR, and RFS is longer with a more extensive LN dissection in women with positive LNs. Future prospective studies should evaluate the oncologic benefit of surgical removal of metastatic LNs in high-grade endometrial cancer.

This study sought to assess whether the interval between diagnostic excision-biopsy of a primary melanoma and definitive wide excision with sentinel node biopsy (SNB) influenced the size of SN metastatic deposits, which might have implications for management and prognosis.Data were collected for (i) a Dutch population-based cohort of patients treated between 2004 and 2014 who underwent SNB within 100 days of complete excision of their primary melanoma and who were SN-positive with known SN metastasis diameter (n = 1027) and (ii) a cohort from a large Australian melanoma treatment centre (n = 541) who presented in the same time period. The effects of SNB timing on the size of SN metastatic deposits were analysed.Dutch patients whose SNB was performed in the second or third months after diagnosis had significantly larger SN metastasis diameters than patients who had their SNB in the first month (median increases of 17% (95%CI -14, 60%, p = 0.211) and 71% (95%CI 15, 119%, p = 0.004), respectively). No significant difference in tumour diameter for early and late SNB was found in the Australian cohort.SN metastasis diameter became progressively greater with SN biopsy in the second and third months after primary melanoma diagnosis in the larger, population-based patient cohort. An increase in metastasis diameter was not observed in the smaller, institutional cohort, possibly due to detection of larger SN metastases by routine pre-operative ultrasound, with fine-needle biopsy confirmation. These patients did not proceed to SNB and were therefore not included in the study.

Lower limb lymphedema (LLL) is a common postoperative complication among gynecological oncology patients following lymph node resection. In the absence of a screening strategy, LLL is frequently diagnosed only through patient's self-reported symptoms. This study investigated the prevalence of undiagnosed postoperative LLL among gynecological oncology patients and identified the associated risk factors.This was a cross-sectional postal questionnaire survey at a tertiary gynecological oncology center. Women with gynecological malignancies who underwent lymph node (inguinal/pelvic/para-aortic) resection between 2010 and 2017 were eligible. The Gynecological Cancer Lymphedema Questionnaire (GCLQ) was used and those with a score of ≥4 were referred to a lymphedema specialist for clinical confirmation.Among 376 eligible women, postoperative LLL was already diagnosed in 45/376 (12%) women. In the remaining women, 117/331 (35.3%) completed the GCLQ, of which 67/117 (57.3%) scored ≥4. Fifty-five women (55/67, 82.1%) were assessed by a lymphedema specialist and eight cases of postoperative LLL were confirmed. In the 12/67 who declined a clinical assessment, they reported no evidence of LLL. The prevalence of undiagnosed postoperative LLL in our study was 8/117 (6.8%, 95% C.I. 2.3-11.4). On univariate analysis, older women were more likely to have undiagnosed postoperative LLL.Undiagnosed postoperative LLL is not uncommon among gynecological oncology patients, especially in older patients. No vulvar cancer patient had undiagnosed LLL. Increased awareness and improved strategies for lymphedema screening are required after lymph node surgery in gynecological oncology.

Sentinel Lymph Node (SLN) mapping is increasingly used as an alternative to lymphadenectomy in endometrial cancer. There is, however, limited data regarding the clinical outcome and survival after SLN mapping. The aim of the study was to determine long-term outcome data in endometrial cancer patients undergoing robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery and SLN mapping.Retrospective cohort study of 108 patients with primary endometrial cancer who underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery and sentinel lymph node mapping using the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) algorithm with near-infrared fluorescence detection of indocyanine green for endometrial cancer, from November 20th 2012 to January 1st 2016 at St. Olav's Hospital in Norway. The primary endpoint was recurrence-free survival. Secondary endpoints were overall survival and treatment complications.Among 108 patients operated in accordance with the SLN algorithm, 17 (16%) had lymph node metastases. Adjuvant chemotherapy was administered on indication endometrial cancer to 36 (33%) of the patients. After a median follow up of 75 months (range 61-98), five (4.6%) patients had recurrence, and three patients had died from the disease. Four of the patients who had recurrence had lymph node metastasis at diagnosis. The 5-year recurrence-free survival was 95.4% (95% CI, 91.5 - 99.3). The 5-year disease-specific survival was 97.2% (95% CI, 94.1 - 100.3). The 5-year overall survival was 92.6% (95% CI, 87.7 - 97.5). Peripheral neuropathy after chemotherapy was the most common complication (9.3%), followed by lower limb lymphedema (2%) and postoperative hernia (2%).The present study demonstrated excellent oncologic outcome and low long-term treatment complication rate in patients treated according to the SLN algorithm more than five years after diagnosis.