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Node Count (node + count)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	100%

Selected Abstracts

Is lymph node count an ideal quality indicator for cancer care?

JOURNAL OF SURGICAL ONCOLOGY, Issue 4 2009
*Article first published online: 21 NOV 200, Nancy N. Baxter MD
Abstract Although lymph node count has substantial appeal as a quality indicator because of the ease of measurement, the presence of variation in the population, the association with survival for many cancers, and the previous success of quality intervention programs, improvements in patient outcome by increasing lymph node counts have not yet been demonstrated. This article discusses potential pitfalls in the use of lymph node count as a quality indicator. J. Surg. Oncol. 2009;99:265,268. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Lymph node counts, rates of positive lymph nodes, and patient survival for colon cancer surgery in Ontario, Canada: A population-based study,

JOURNAL OF SURGICAL ONCOLOGY, Issue 6 2006
Luke Bui MD
Abstract Background and Objectives This study assessed lymph node counts, lymph node status (positive or negative), and survival among patients undergoing colon cancer surgery in Ontario, Canada. Methods We obtained data from the Ontario Cancer Registry on 960 patients who underwent a major colon cancer resection in years 1991,1993. Patients and hospitals were ranked by lymph node count to correlate lymph node counts and lymph node status. For node-negative patients we assessed the influence of patient, hospital, and tumor factors on lymph node counts and survival. Results The rate of node-positive patients was similar among the lymph node count groups. For example, the odds ratio of a patient being node positive if the lymph node count was 10,36 versus 1,3 was 1.0 (CI 0.6,1.6, P,=,0.42). Among node-negative patients, survival was improved for patients with a high (10,36) versus low (1,3) lymph node count (HR 0.6, CI 0.4,1.0, P,=,0.03). No patient, hospital, or tumor factors predicted both a higher lymph node count and improved survival. Conclusions In this population-based study of patients undergoing colon cancer surgery, higher lymph node counts did not correlate with increased rates of node-positive status. J. Surg. Oncol. 2006;93:439,445. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Intraoperative radiotherapy during radical prostatectomy for intermediate-risk to locally advanced prostate cancer: treatment technique and evaluation of perioperative and functional outcome vs standard radical prostatectomy, in a matched-pair analysis

BJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 11 2009
Bernardo Rocco
OBJECTIVE To evaluate a novel approach with intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) administered in the surgical field, after pelvic lymphadenectomy (PL) and before radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP), evaluating acute and late toxicity, complications and biochemical progression-free survival (bPFS), as the adequate treatment of locally advanced prostate cancer is still a controversial issue. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between June 2005 and October 2007, 33 consecutive patients with intermediate-risk or locally advanced prostate cancer were selected for PL + IORT + RRP. IORT was delivered by a mobile linear accelerator in the operating room (electron beam, 12 Gy at 90% isodose). According to the pathological findings further adjuvant radio- or hormone therapy could be administered. The median follow-up was 16 months. This group was compared retrospectively with a historical group of 100 patients who had undergone RRP and further adjuvant therapy, selected with equivalent criteria. The comparison was conducted as a matched-pair analysis. The perioperative outcomes (surgical time, estimated blood loss, blood transfusions, days of catheterization, days of drainage, days of hospitalization), continence as the functional outcome, acute and late toxicity, rate of complications and bPFS were evaluated and compared. RESULTS The baseline characteristics of the two groups were equivalent but the node count and the number of positive lymph nodes was higher in the IORT group. The IORT group had longer surgery, and a shorter hospital stay and catheterization. There were no differences in continence rate, and no major complications in either group. The acute and late toxicity and bPFS were equivalent. A retrospective comparison and the short follow-up were the major limitations. CONCLUSIONS IORT administered before RRP seems a feasible approach, with little effect on the variables evaluated. [source]