Node Metastases (node + metastase)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Distribution within Medical Sciences

Kinds of Node Metastases

  • cervical lymph node metastase
  • lymph node metastase
  • regional lymph node metastase


  • Selected Abstracts


    Sentinel Lymph Node Excision and PET-CT in the Initial Stage of Malignant Melanoma: A Retrospective Analysis of 61 Patients with Malignant Melanoma in American Joint Committee on Cancer Stages I and II

    DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 4 2010
    JOACHIM KLODE MD
    BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Sentinel lymph node excision (SLNE) for the detection of regional nodal metastases and staging of malignant melanoma has resulted in some controversies in international discussions. Positron emission tomography with computerized tomography (PET-CT), a noninvasive imaging procedure for the detection of regional nodal metastases, has increasingly become of interest. Our study is a direct comparison of SLNE and PET-CT in patients with early-stage malignant melanoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively analyzed data from 61 patients with primary malignant melanoma with a Breslow index greater than 1.0 mm. RESULTS Metastatic SLNs were found in 14 patients (23%); 17 metastatic lymph nodes were detected overall, only one of which was identified preoperatively using PET-CT. Thus, PET-CT showed a sensitivity of 5.9% and a negative predictive value of 78%. CONCLUSION SLNE is much more sensitive than PET-CT in discovering small lymph node metastases. We consider PET-CT unsuitable for the evaluation of early regional lymphatic tumor dissemination in this patient population and recommend that it be limited to malignant melanomas of American Joint Committee on Cancer stages III and IV. We therefore recommend the routine use of SLNE for tumor staging and stratification for adjuvant therapy of patients with stage I and II malignant melanoma. The authors have indicated no significant interest with commercial supporters. [source]


    Fine-needle aspiration diagnosis of a metastatic adult sclerosing rhabdomyosarcoma in a lymph node

    DIAGNOSTIC CYTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 10 2010
    Richard L. Cantley M.D.
    Abstract Adult sclerosing rhabdomyosarcoma (ASRMS) is a rare variant of rhabdomyosarcoma with a characteristic histological appearance of small, round cells in a dense, hyalinized stroma. Although nodal metastases of soft-tissue sarcomas are considered uncommon, up to 5% overall are associated with lymph node metastases. Nonetheless, there is little literature on the cytologic characteristics of metastatic soft-tissue sarcomas in lymph nodes, and to our knowledge, there are no reports of nodal metastasis of ASRMS diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology. We report here a 55-year-old woman who presented with a right thigh mass and associated ipsilateral inguinal lymphadenopathy. Biopsy of the mass revealed a uniform population of small, round cells in a dense, sclerotic background. A diagnosis of ASRMS was rendered. Subsequently, the patient underwent FNA of an enlarged inguinal lymph node, which revealed an identical population of small, round cells in a dense, myxoid background. This case highlights the cytologic features of a rare form of rhabdomyosarcoma, and emphasizes the utility of FNA in the assessment of lymphadenopathy in the setting of a soft-tissue sarcoma. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2010;38:761,764. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


    Salivary duct carcinoma with neuroendocrine features: Report of a case with cytological and immunohistochemical study

    DIAGNOSTIC CYTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 3 2004
    Juan B. Laforga M.D.
    Abstract We report a salivary duct carcinoma (SDC) of parotid gland in a 75-year-old male. Initially, it was studied by fine-needle aspiration, which disclosed features of malignancy consistent with a high-grade carcinoma. Histologically, the tumor showed typical features of SDC, predominantly with a solid and apocrine pattern. The aggressive behavior of this tumor was documented by facial palsy and the presence of 12 regional lymph node metastases. Immunohistochemical study showed positivity for cytokeratins (AE1/AE3), cytokeratin 7, GCDFP-15, C-erbB-2, Mib-1, topoisomerase II ,, p53, and androgen receptors. Diffuse positivity with chromogranin-A, synaptophysin, and Grimelius stains was also observed, suggesting endocrine features. Phosphotungstic acid hematoxylin, antimitochondrial antigen, progesterone and estrogen receptors, cytokeratin 20, and S-100 stains were negative. To our knowledge, this is the first case reported of SDC exhibiting neuroendocrine differentiation. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2004;31:189,192. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


    INTRADUCTAL ULTRASONOGRAPHY FOR THE STAGING OF BILE DUCT CARCINOMA

    DIGESTIVE ENDOSCOPY, Issue 2005
    Kiichi Tamada
    Intraductal ultrasonography is useful in the staging of extrahepatic bile duct cancer including tumor depth infiltration, pancreatic parenchymal invasion, portal vein invasion, and right hepatic artery invasion. However, it has limitations in assessing lymph node metastases. The assessment of longitudinal cancer extension along the bile duct is a promising aspect of this area. However, a thickening of the bile duct wall may represent either inflammatory changes that may result from mechanical irritation by a biliary drainage catheter or other factors, or the longitudinal extension of the cancer. [source]


    Long-term survivors of advanced esophageal cancer without surgical treatment: a multicenter questionnaire survey in Kyushu, Japan

    DISEASES OF THE ESOPHAGUS, Issue 3 2003
    S. Natsugoe
    SUMMARY Since the introduction of recent improvements in adjuvant therapy for esophageal cancer, some patients have demonstrated good prognosis. In the present study, we analyzed 3- and 5-year survivors of advanced esophageal cancer who did not undergo any surgical treatment. Between 1990 and 1998, 831 patients were admitted to 14 university hospitals and one cancer center associated with the membership of the Kyushu study group for adjuvant therapy of esophageal cancer. Twelve (1.4%) of the patients were 3-year survivors and 13 (1.6%) were 5-year survivors. The reasons for non-operation were refusal (eight patients), tumor-related factors (11 patients), and host-related factors (six patients). With a single exception, all patients had locally advanced tumors. Almost all long-term survivors had fewer than five lymph node metastases, in regions limited to the neck and/or mediastinum. Radiation therapy was combined with chemotherapy for 16 of the 25 patients, and chemotherapy-based cisplatin was used for 15 of these 16 patients. Fifteen of the patients remain alive; 10 died seven of them from esophageal cancer. Chemoradiation therapy was effective for some patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer, particularly in the absence of or with few lymph node metastases. To improve the prognosis of patients with advanced esophageal cancer who, for various causes, cannot undergo surgical treatment, a new protocol for adjuvant therapy is required. [source]


    Early (mucosal) gastric cancer with synchronous osteosclerotic bone metastases: a case report

    EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CANCER CARE, Issue 4 2010
    G. ANAGNOSTOPOULOS md
    ANAGNOSTOPOULOS G., SAKORAFAS G.H., KOSTOPOULOS P., MARGANTINIS G., TSIAKOS S. & PAVLAKIS G. (2010) European Journal of Cancer Care Early (mucosal) gastric cancer with synchronous osteosclerotic bone metastases: a case report Early gastric cancer (EGC) is defined as an adenocarcinoma confined to the gastric mucosa or submucosa, regardless of the presence of lymph node metastases. Early gastric cancer carries an excellent prognosis, with a 5-year survival rate at least 85% in most series. However, there are rare cases where distant metastases exist. Bone metastases are rare in gastric cancer; osteoblastic bone metastases are even rarer. We report a patient with EGC (mucosal) and synchronous osteosclerotic bone metastasis. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of submucosal EGC with synchronous bone metastases. The patient was operated and he received adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. He died 18 months after gastric surgery from generalized disease. [source]


    Amplification and overexpression of prosaposin in prostate cancer

    GENES, CHROMOSOMES AND CANCER, Issue 4 2005
    Shahriar Koochekpour
    We identified prosaposin (PSAP) as a secreted protein expressed in androgen-independent (AI) prostate cancer cells by cloning/sequencing, after probing a PC-3 cDNA library expressed in the ,TriplEx phagemid expression vector with a polyclonal rabbit antibody generated against pooled human seminal plasma. PSAP is a neurotrophic molecule; its deficiency or inactivation has proved to be lethal in man and mice, and in mice, it leads to abnormal development and atrophy of the prostate gland, despite normal testosterone levels. We used Southern hybridization, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and/or single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array analysis, and we now report the genomic amplification of PSAP in the metastatic AI prostate cancer cell lines, PC-3, DU-145, MDA-PCa 2b, M-12, and NCI-H660. In addition, by using SNP arrays and a set of 25 punch biopsy samples of human prostate cancer xenografts (LAPC3, LuCaP 23.1, 35, 49, 58, 73, 77, 81, 86.2, 92.1, 93, 96, 105, and 115), lymph nodes, and visceral-organ metastases, we detected amplification of the PSAP locus (10q22.1) in LuCaP 58 and 96 xenografts and two lymph node metastases. In addition, AI metastatic prostate cancer cell lines C4-2B and IA8-ARCaP over-expressed PSAP mRNA without evidence of genomic amplification. Taken together with prior data that demonstrated the growth-, migration-, and invasion-promoting activities, the activation of multiple signal transduction pathways, and the antiapoptotic effect of PSAP (or one of its active domains, saposin C) in prostate cancer cells, our current observation of PSAP amplification or overexpression in prostate cancer suggests, for the first time, a role for this molecule in the process of carcinogenesis or cancer progression in the prostate. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


    Profile of differentially expressed genes after transfer of chromosome 17 into the breast cancer cell line CAl51

    GENES, CHROMOSOMES AND CANCER, Issue 3 2005
    Christiane Klebig
    Previous studies have shown that transfer of chromosome 17 suppresses the tumorigenic phenotype of the breast cancer cell line CAL51, suggesting the presence of putative tumor suppressor genes on this chromosome. Suppression subtractive hybridization and oligonucleotide microarray analyses were performed to identify differentially expressed genes in nontumorigenic microcell hybrids, CAL/17-1 and CAL/17-3, when compared with CAL51 cells. In total, 263 differentially expressed transcripts were associated with these phenotypes. Of these, a high percentage is involved in various biological processes associated with tumorigenesis, including DNA-dependent regulation of transcription, regulation of cell cycle, signal transduction, and cell proliferation. Microarray analysis of selected chromosome 17 genes in a series of 25 human primary breast tumors showed associations with clinicopathologic parameters of the tumors. Of these genes, TOB1 (transducer of ERBB2) was selected for further expression analysis. Using RT-PCR and immunohistochemical staining of tissue microarrays, we could reveal a differential mRNA and protein expression of TOB1 in the majority of breast tumors and lymph node metastases compared with normal breast tissues, indicating a potential role of this protein in breast tumorigenesis. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


    Primary salivary gland type carcinoma of the nasopharynx: Therapeutic outcomes and prognostic factors

    HEAD & NECK: JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES & SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK, Issue 4 2010
    Tian-Run Liu MD
    Abstract Background. Primary salivary gland type nasopharyngeal carcinoma (SNPC) is a rare malignancy with diverse clinical behavior and different prognoses. Previous studies have reported on limited patient populations, and few long-term studies have outlined outcomes and prognostic factors. Furthermore, controversy exists as to the treatment policy of SNPC. The aim of this study was to define management approaches, therapeutic outcomes, and prognostic factors of SNPC. Methods. The medical records of 67 patients with SNPC at 1 institution between 1977 and 2005 were reviewed. Patient records were analyzed for management approaches, outcomes, and prognostic factors. Results. SNPC is a rare malignancy accounting for only 0.29% of nasopharyngeal malignancies, and the lymphatic metastases and distant metastases rates were 28.4% and 23.9%, respectively. The 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 41.1% and 57.1%, respectively; no significant differences were found in DFS or OS between different histological subtypes. A significant difference was found in OS between surgical treatment and nonsurgical treatment in T1,T2 patients with well-differentiated tumors. Multivariate analyses indicated that lymph node metastases, stage, and distant metastases were independent factors for DFS, whereas cranial nerve invasion, tumor residue, and distant metastases were independent factors affecting OS. Conclusions. SNPC is a malignancy with generally favorable prognosis. In T1,T2 patients with well-differentiated tumors, SNPC should be treated by combined surgical operation and radiotherapy. Cranial nerve invasion, tumor residue, and distant metastases were independent factors affecting OS. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2010 [source]


    Is central neck dissection necessary for the treatment of lateral cervical nodal recurrence of papillary thyroid carcinoma?

    HEAD & NECK: JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES & SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK, Issue 10 2007
    Jong-Lyel Roh MD
    Abstract Background: Although the pattern of cervical lymph node metastases from papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) has been described, little is known about the pattern of lateral cervical nodal recurrence. The aim of this study was to establish the optimal strategy for neck dissection in patients who underwent reoperation for lateral cervical recurrence of PTC. Methods: We reviewed the records of 22 patients who underwent neck dissection for lateral nodal recurrence of thyroid cancer between 2002 and 2004. Eight patients had thyroid remnants or recurrent tumors in the bed and 6 had undergone lateral neck dissection prior to referral. Patients underwent comprehensive dissection of the posterolateral and ipsilateral (n = 10) or bilateral (n = 12) central neck. The pattern of nodal recurrence and postoperative morbidity were analyzed. Results: All patients had lateral compartment involvement, 91% at mid-lower, 45% at upper, and 18% at posterior sites. Central nodes were involved in 86% of patients: 82% at ipsilateral paratracheal, 32% at pretracheal, 27% at superior mediastinal, and 2 patients at contralateral sites. Skip lateral recurrence with no positive central nodes was rarely observed (14%). Postoperative vocal cord palsy (n = 1) and hypoparathyroidism (n = 5) developed only in patients undergoing bilateral central compartment dissection. Conclusions: The inclusion of comprehensive ipsilateral central and lateral neck dissection in the reoperation for patients with lateral neck recurrence of PTC is an optimal surgical strategy. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2007 [source]


    Retropharyngeal node metastasis from papillary thyroid carcinoma

    HEAD & NECK: JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES & SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK, Issue 5 2007
    Naoki Otsuki MD
    Abstract Background. Papillary thyroid carcinomas commonly metastasize to paratracheal and jugular lymph nodes. Metastasis to the retropharyngeal node is rare for this tumor. Methods. Five patients underwent surgical treatment for metastasis of thyroid papillary carcinoma to the retropharyngeal lymph nodes that presented as a parapharyngeal or retropharyngeal mass. All patients had a history of total or subtotal thyroidectomy as their initial treatment. Among them, 3 patients had undergone ipsilateral modified radical neck dissection at their initial treatment. The other 2 patients had a history of bilateral or ipsilateral modified neck dissection for their subsequent cervical lymph node metastases. Results. Metastatic retropharyngeal nodes were successfully resected via transcervical approach in all patients. Although aspiration and difficulty in swallowing were observed in 2 patients after surgical treatment for metastatic retropharyngeal nodes, these complications spontaneously resolved within a few months. Conclusions. This study suggests that neck dissection and/or metastatic cervical lymph nodes might alter the direction of lymphatic drainage to the retrograde fashion, resulting in the unusual metastasis to the retropharyngeal lymph nodes. Although the cases described here are rare, metastasis to the retropharyngeal node should be considered at the follow-up for thyroid papillary carcinoma. Because these metastases will be missed by routine ultrasonography of the neck, periodic CT scan or MRI is recommended for follow-up, especially for patients with a history of neck dissection. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2007 [source]


    High-dose superselective intra-arterial cisplatin and concomitant radiation (radplat) for advanced head and neck cancer,

    HEAD & NECK: JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES & SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK, Issue 6 2004
    Alfons J. M. Balm MD
    Abstract Background. The purpose of this study was to study the effect of intensive targeted chemoradiation in a group of patients with head and neck cancer with stage IV inoperable disease. Methods. We examined 79 patients with inoperable stage IV head and neck cancer receiving intra-arterial infusion of high-dose cisplatin (150 mg/m2) on days 2, 9, 16, and 23 concomitant with delivery of external beam radiotherapy (total dose, 70 Gy; 2 Gy, 35 fractions; 1 fraction/day for 7 weeks). Sodium thiosulfate was administered intravenously to provide effective cisplatin neutralization. Results. Four patients were not assessable. Complete local tumor response was achieved in 72 patients (91%) and a partial response in three patients. The complete response rate of neck node metastases was 90%. The 1- and 2-year locoregional control rates were 82% and 69%, respectively. The median overall survival time was 2.2 years, with a 3-year overall survival probability of 43%. Acute toxicities were as follows: grade III/IV hematologic toxicity (22%/16%), grade III/IV nephrotoxicity (0%), grade III mucositis (43%), grade III skin reactions (24%), grade III toxicity of the upper gastrointestinal tract (57%), grade III nausea (20%), and grade III subjective hearing loss (10%). Grade V toxicity (treatment-related deaths) was 3.8%. Six (18%) of 33 patients with complete remission needed tube feeding 2 years after treatment without intercurrent salvage surgery. Conclusions. Supradose superselective intra-arterial cisplatin and concomitant radiation is an effective organ-preserving therapy in an unfavorable group of patients. Our series confirms encouraging results reported previously. This regimen is justified in unresectable patients despite the substantial toxicity. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck26: 485,493, 2004 [source]


    External auditory canal eccrine spiradenocarcinoma: A case report and review of literature

    HEAD & NECK: JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES & SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK, Issue 6 2003
    Tanya K. Meyer MD
    Abstract Background. Eccrine spiradenocarcinoma is a rare dermal appendage carcinoma believed to arise from transformation of a long-standing benign spiradenoma. This tumor demonstrates highly malignant biologic behavior with a high recurrence rate, frequent lymph node metastases, and overall poor survival. Methods. We report the first case of eccrine spiradenocarcinoma arising in the external auditory canal. The management of this tumor, its histopathologic characteristics, and a review of literature are presented. Results. A literature review identified 17 cases of eccrine spiradenocarcinoma in the head and neck region. Local recurrence occurred in 58.8% of patients, with an average of 23 months from diagnosis. Lymph node metastasis occurred in 35.3%, with an average of 31 months from diagnosis. Other metastatic sites included skin, bone, and lung. Disease-specific mortality was 22.2%. Conclusions. Eccrine spiradenocarcinoma is an aggressive tumor with a poor prognosis. Primary treatment should include wide local excision with or without regional lymphadenectomy. Isolated successful treatments have been documented with adjuvant hormonal manipulation, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 25: 505,510, 2003 [source]


    Transcervical superior mediastinal lymphadenectomy in the management of papillary thyroid carcinoma

    HEAD & NECK: JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES & SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK, Issue 1 2003
    Mark L. C. Khoo FRCS
    Abstract Aim. Surgery is the treatment of choice for lymph node metastases in papillary thyroid carcinoma. When adequately treated by surgical extirpation, the presence of lymph node involvement does not seem to have a negative impact on cure rates or survival. Surgical lymphadenectomy for metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma has been well described for both the central and the lateral compartments of the neck. Superior mediastinal lymphadenectomy, however, has only sporadically been mentioned. We describe our experience with transcervical superior mediastinal lymphadenectomy (TSML) that avoids the morbidity of the traditional sternal split. Materials and Methods. This retrospective analysis included 30 patients (24 women and 6 men; age range, 17,72 years) who underwent TSML by the senior author (JLF) for papillary carcinoma metastatic to the superior mediastinum between 1985 and 1999. Histopathologic examination confirmed positive nodes in all the mediastinal dissections. All patients received postoperative I131. Results. All the patients are alive after a median follow-up of 5 years (range, 1,14 years). Twenty-nine of 30 patients remain free of disease, whereas one patient is alive with lung and bone metastases. No patient has had local or regional relapse. The only significant complication was a high incidence of temporary (70%) and later permanent (50%) hypoparathyroidism. Conclusions. TSML is a safe and effective treatment for superior mediastinal metastases in papillary thyroid carcinoma. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 24: 000,000, 2002 [source]


    The distribution of lymph node metastases in supraglottic squamous cell carcinoma: Therapeutic implications

    HEAD & NECK: JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES & SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK, Issue 10 2002
    Luca O. Redaelli de Zinis MD
    Abstract Background. The treatment of the neck in cancer of the upper aerodigestive tract is still a matter of controversy, even though nowadays there is a trend in the literature toward elective surgery in the N0 neck when the probability of occult lymph node metastasis is greater than 20%. In the elective setup, every effort is made for preservation of uninvolved nonlymphatic structures in positive neck. The aim of this study is to analyze in a large cohort of patients treated for supraglottic carcinoma the prevalence of lymph node metastases and their distribution through various neck levels to redefine our policy of neck treatment. Methods. A retrospective review of 402 consecutive patients, who underwent surgery in the Department of Otolaryngology of the University of Brescia (Italy) for supraglottic squamous cell carcinoma in a 14-year period, has been performed. The prevalence of neck metastases was assessed by pT category and site (marginal vs vestibular) of the primary tumor. The side(s) of neck disease was related to the side of the primary tumor, whether lateral or central. The distribution of involved lymph nodes through the neck levels was determined. Results. Overall lymph node metastases accounted for 40%; their prevalence rate increased with pT category from 10% to 57% (p = .0001). Occult metastases were found in 26% of N0 patients from 0% in pT1 to 40% in pT4 (p = .02). There was no difference in metastases rate between marginal vs vestibular, and central vs lateral neoplasms, whereas bilateral metastases were more frequent in central tumors (20% vs 5%; p < .0001). Level IV was involved only in association with level II and/or level III. Levels I and V were rarely involved when overt metastases were present and never by occult metastases. Conclusions. Elective lateral neck dissection (levels II,IV) is recommended in T2,T4 N0 supraglottic cancers; clearance of both sides of the neck is indicated whenever the lesion is not strictly lateral. We still perform a selective neck dissection including levels II,V whenever there is clinical, radiologic, or intraoperative evidence of metastases at any level. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 24: 000,000, 2002 [source]


    Risk factors for late cervical lymph node metastases in patients with stage I or II carcinoma of the tongue

    HEAD & NECK: JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES & SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK, Issue 8 2002
    Hideo Kurokawa DDS
    Abstract Background Many histopathologic parameters in squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue have been identified as predictive factors for cervical lymph metastasis. However, predictive factors for occult cervical lymph node metastases and the criterion for elective therapy remain inconclusive. This study analyzed the clinicopathologic factors associated with late cervical lymph node metastases in patients with carcinoma of the tongue. Methods The clinicopathologic features of 50 consecutive patients seen between January 1985,December 1996 with previously untreated stage I or II squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue were reviewed. All patients were treated with partial glossectomy without elective neck dissection. Their mean age was 54.5 y (range, 23,90 y) and the male,female ratio was 1.2:1 (27 men and 23 women); 30 cases were stage I, and 20 cases were stage II. Clinicopathologic factors were analyzed to determine factors predicting late cervical lymph node metastasis. Results The overall cervical lymph node metastasis rate was 14.0% (7 of 50). Clinicopathologic factors significantly associated with the development of cervical lymph node metastasis were tumor size (,30 mm), tumor depth (,4 mm), differentiation, mode of invasion, microvascular invasion, and histologic grade of malignancy. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue with tumor depth ,4 mm had predictive value for late cervical lymph node metastasis and diminished overall survival (odds ratio, 10.0; p = .02; hazards ratio, 7.0; p = .039). Conclusions The findings of this study demonstrate tumor depth ,4 mm moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue have a substantially higher rate of late cervical metastases. In the basis of these data, it is our recommendation that this be used in the decision to electively treat the neck. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 24: 731,736, 2002 [source]


    Prognostic factors in lymph node metastases of prostatic cancer patients: the size of the metastases but not extranodal extension independently predicts survival

    HISTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 4 2008
    A Fleischmann
    Aims:, To analyse tumour characteristics and the prognostic significance of prostatic cancers with extranodal extension of lymph node metastases (ENE) in 102 node-positive, hormone treatment-naive patients undergoing radical prostatectomy and extended lymphadenectomy. Methods and results:, The median number of nodes examined per patient was 21 (range 9,68), and the median follow-up time was 92 months (range 12,191). ENE was observed in 71 patients (70%). They had significantly more, larger and less differentiated nodal metastases, paralleled by significantly larger primary tumours at more advanced stages and with higher Gleason scores than patients without ENE. ENE defined a subgroup with significantly decreased biochemical recurrence-free (P = 0.038) and overall survival (P = 0.037). In multivariate analyses the diameter of the largest metastasis and Gleason score of the primary tumour were independent predictors of survival. Conclusions:, ENE in prostatic cancer is an indicator lesion for advanced/aggressive tumours with poor outcome. However, the strong correlation with larger metastases suggests that ENE may result from their size, which was the only independent risk factor in the metastasizing component. Consequently, histopathological reports should specify the true indicator of poor survival in the lymphadenectomy specimens, which is the size of the largest metastasis in each patient. [source]


    Diagnosis of pancreatic cancer

    HPB, Issue 5 2006
    Fumihiko Miura
    Abstract The ability to diagnose pancreatic carcinoma has been rapidly improving with the recent advances in diagnostic techniques such as contrast-enhanced Doppler ultrasound (US), helical computed tomography (CT), enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and endoscopic US (EUS). Each technique has advantages and limitations, making the selection of the proper diagnostic technique, in terms of purpose and characteristics, especially important. Abdominal US is the modality often used first to identify a cause of abdominal pain or jaundice, while the accuracy of conventional US for diagnosing pancreatic tumors is only 50,70%. CT is the most widely used imaging examination for the detection and staging of pancreatic carcinoma. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is generally depicted as a hypoattenuating area on contrast-enhanced CT. The reported sensitivity of helical CT in revealing pancreatic carcinoma is high, ranging between 89% and 97%. Multi-detector-row (MD) CT may offer an improvement in the early detection and accurate staging of pancreatic carcinoma. It should be taken into consideration that some pancreatic adenocarcinomas are depicted as isoattenuating and that pancreatitis accompanied by pancreatic adenocarcinoma might occasionally result in the overestimation of staging. T1-weighted spin-echo images with fat suppression and dynamic gradient-echo MR images enhanced with gadolinium have been reported to be superior to helical CT for detecting small lesions. However, chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic carcinoma are not distinguished on the basis of degree and time of enhancement on dynamic gadolinium-enhanced MRI. EUS is superior to spiral CT and MRI in the detection of small tumors, and can also localize lymph node metastases or vascular tumor infiltration with high sensitivity. EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy is a safe and highly accurate method for tissue diagnosis of patients with suspected pancreatic carcinoma. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) has been suggested as a promising modality for noninvasive differentiation between benign and malignant lesions. Previous studies reported the sensitivity and specificity of FDG-PET for detecting malignant pancreatic tumors as being 71,100% and 64,90%, respectively. FDG-PET does not replace, but is complementary to morphologic imaging, and therefore, in doubtful cases, the method must be combined with other imaging modalities. [source]


    Lysyl oxidase expression is an independent marker of prognosis and a predictor of lymph node metastasis in oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC)

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 11 2010
    Andrea Albinger-Hegyi
    Abstract Proteins of the lysyl oxidase (LOX) family are important modulators of the extracellular matrix. However, they have an important role in the tumour development as well as in tumour progression. To evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic value of the LOX protein in oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) we performed QRT-PCR and immunohistochemical analysis on two tissue microarrays (622 tissue samples in total). Significantly higher LOX expression was detected in high grade dysplastic oral mucosa as well as in OSCC when compared to normal oral mucosa (P < 0.001). High LOX expression was correlated with clinical TNM stage (P = 0.020), lymph node metastases for the entire cohort (P < 0.001), as well as in the subgroup of small primary tumours (T1/T2, P < 0.001). Moreover, high LOX expression was correlated with poor overall survival (P = 0.004) and disease specific survival (P = 0.037). In a multivariate analysis, high LOX expression was an independent prognostic factor, predicting unfavourable overall survival. In summary, LOX expression is an independent prognostic biomarker and a predictor of lymph node metastasis in OSCC. Moreover, LOX overexpression may be an early phenomenon in the pathogenesis of OSCC and thus an attractive novel target for chemopreventive and therapeutic strategies. [source]


    Tumor metastasis and the lymphatic vasculature

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 12 2009
    Jonathan P. Sleeman
    Abstract Tumor-associated lymphatic vessels act as a conduit by which disseminating tumor cells access regional lymph nodes and form metastases there. Lymph node metastasis is of major prognostic significance for many types of cancer, although lymph node metastases are themselves rarely life-threatening. These observations focus our attention on understanding how tumor cells interact with the lymphatic vasculature, and why this interaction is so significant for prognosis. Tumors interact with the lymphatic vasculature in a number of ways, including vessel co-option, chemotactic migration and invasion into lymphatic vessels and induction of lymphangiogenesis. Tumor-induced lymphangiogenesis both locally and in regional lymph nodes has been correlatively and functionally associated with metastasis formation and poor prognosis. The investigation of the molecular regulation of lymphangiogenesis has identified ways of interfering with prolymphangiogenic signaling. Blockade of tumor-induced lymphangiogenesis in preclinical models inhibits metastasis formation in lymph nodes and often also in other organs, suggesting that blocking the lymphatic route of dissemination might suppress metastasis formation not only in lymph nodes but also in other organs. However, randomized clinical trials that have investigated the efficacy of therapeutic removal of lymph nodes have concluded that lymph node metastases act only as indicators that primary tumors have developed metastatic potential, and do not govern the further spread of metastatic cells. To reconcile these apparently paradoxical observations we suggest a model in which tumor-induced lymphangiogenesis and lymph node metastasis formation act as indicators that tumors are producing factors that can act systemically to promote metastasis formation in distant organs. © 2009 UICC [source]


    Transglutaminase 3 as a prognostic biomarker in esophageal cancer revealed by proteomics

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 9 2009
    Norihisa Uemura
    Abstract To develop a prognostic biomarker for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), we examined the proteomic profile of ESCC using two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE), and identified proteins associated with prognosis by mass spectrometry. The prognostic performance of the identified proteins was examined by immunohistochemistry in additional cases. We identified 22 protein spots whose intensity was statistically different between ESCC cases with good (N = 9; survived more than 5 years without evidence of recurrence) and poor (N = 24; died within 2 years postsurgery) prognosis, within the patient group that had two or more lymph node metastases. Mass spectrometric protein identification resulted in 18 distinct gene products from the 22 protein spots. Transglutaminase 3 (TGM3) was inversely correlated with shorter patient survival. The prognostic performance of TGM3 was further examined by immunohistochemistry in 76 ESCC cases. The 5-year disease-specific survival rate was 64.5% and 32.1% for patients with TGM3-positive and TGM3-negative tumors, respectively (p = 0.0033). Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that TGM3 expression was an independent prognostic factor among the clinicopathologic variables examined. It is noteworthy that the prognostic value of TGM3 was shown to be higher than those of the lymph node metastasis, intramural metastasis and vascular invasion status. These results establish TGM3 as a novel prognostic biomarker for ESCC for the first time. Examination of TGM3 expression may provide novel therapeutic strategies to prevent recurrence of ESCC. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


    Testicular cancer: Marked birth cohort effects on incidence and a decline in mortality in southern Netherlands since 1970

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 3 2008
    Rob Verhoeven
    Abstract The aim of our study was to interpret the changing incidence, and to describe the mortality of patients with testicular cancer in the south of the Netherlands between 1970 and 2004. On the basis of data from the Eindhoven Cancer Registry and Statistics Netherlands, 5-year moving average standardised incidence and mortality rates were calculated. An age-period-cohort (APC) Poisson regression analysis was performed to disentangle time and birth cohort effects on incidence. The incidence rate remained stable for all ages at about 3 per 100,000 person-years until 1989 but increased annually thereafter by 4% to 6 in 2004. This increase can almost completely be attributed to an increase in localised tumours. The largest increase was found for seminoma testicular cancer (TC) patients aged 35,39 and non-seminoma TC patients aged 20,24 years. Relatively more localised and tumours with lymph node metastases were detected in the later periods. APC analysis showed the best fit with an age-cohort model. An increase in incidence of TC was found for birth cohorts since 1950. The mortality rate dropped from 1.0 per 100,000 person-years in 1970 to 0.3 in 2005, with a steep annual decline of 12% in the period 1979,1986. In conclusion, the increase in incidence of TC was strongly correlated with birth cohorts since 1945. The increase in incidence is possibly caused by in utero or early life exposure to a yet unknown risk factor. There was a steep decline in mortality in the period 1979,1986. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


    Different structural components of conventional papillary thyroid carcinoma display mostly identical BRAF status

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 1 2007
    Alexander Abrosimov
    Abstract Activating BRAFT1799A mutation is closely associated with a papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) histotype. The transversion is frequently detected in the conventional type, Warthin-like and tall cell variants, but is rare in the follicular variant of PTC. Conventional PTC is often presented with tumors of mixed architecture, which besides the papillary structures also contain areas with follicular and solid morphology in which the details of BRAF mutational status are unknown. We set out to differentially investigate the presence of mutated BRAF in the individual structural components microdissected from 44 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded PTC tissues from 40 patients. The mutation was detected in at least 1 structural component in 23 tumors (52%). Different structural components of the same tumor had identical BRAF status in 41/44 tumors (93%). In 3 tumors the BRAFT1799A mutation was found only in the papillary, but not in the follicular component. Mutational patterns identical to those in the primary tumors were found in 11/12 lymph node metastases (92%, including both BRAFT1799A -positive and -negative cases). The high concordance of the BRAF mutational status in structurally distinct areas suggests a rather homogeneous distribution of neoplastic epithelial cells in a conventional PTC tumor in most cases. These results imply the reliability of preoperative molecular diagnosis of PTC regardless of the type of tumor component at the site of biopsy sampling and suggest that the majority of patients with BRAF mutation-positive PTC may benefit from the targeted pharmacotherapy. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


    New method of dynamic color doppler signal quantification in metastatic lymph nodes compared to direct polarographic measurements of tissue oxygenation

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 6 2005
    Thomas Scholbach
    Abstract Tumor growth depends on sufficient blood and oxygen supply. Hypoxia stimulates neovascularization and is a known cause for radio- and chemoresistance. The objective of this study was to investigate the use of a novel ultrasound technique for the dynamic assessment of vascularization and oxygenation in metastatic lymph nodes. Twenty-four patients (age 44,78 years) with cervical lymph node metastases of squamous cell head and neck cancer were investigated by color duplex sonography and 17 (age 46,78 years) were investigated additionally with polarography. Sonography was performed after contrast enhancer infusion under defined conditions. Intranodal perfusion data (color hue, colored area) were measured automatically by a novel software technique. This allows an evaluation of blood flow dynamics by calculating perfusion intensity,velocity, perfused area, as well as the novel parameters tissue resistance index (TRI) and tissue pulsatility index (TPI),for each point of a complete heart cycle. Tumor tissue pO2 was measured by means of polarographic needle electrodes placed intranodally. The sonographic and polarographic data were correlated using Pearson's test. Sonography demonstrated a statistically significant inverse correlation between hypoxia and perfusion and significant TPI and TRI changes with different N-stages. The percentage of nodal fraction with less than 10 mmHg oxygen saturation was significantly inversely correlated with lymph node perfusion (r = ,0.551; p = 0.021). Nodes with a perfusion of less than 0.05 cm/sec flow velocity showed significantly larger hypoxic areas (p = 0.006). Significant differences of TPI and TRI existed between nodes in stage N1 and N2/N3 (p = 0.028 and 0.048, respectively). This new method of dynamic signal quantification allows a noninvasive and quantitative assessment of tumor and metastatic lymph node perfusion by means of commonly available ultrasound equipment. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


    Prognostic relevance of TGF-,1 and PAI-1 in cervical cancer

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 6 2004
    Suzanne Hazelbag
    Abstract Cervical carcinoma is a human papilloma virus (HPV)-related immunogenic type of malignancy, in which escape of the tumor from the hosts' immune response is thought to play an important role in carcinogenesis. The multifunctional cytokine transforming growth factor-,1 (TGF-,1) is involved in immunosuppression, stroma and extracellular matrix formation and controlling (epithelial) cell growth. The plasminogen activating (PA) system plays a key role in the cascade of tumor-associated proteolysis leading to extracellular matrix degradation and stromal invasion. Changes in expression of components of this system, including plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), have been associated with poor prognosis in a variety of solid tumors. The present study was undertaken to assess the role of both components on relapse, survival and other clinicopathologic parameters in cervical cancer. The expression of TGF-,1 mRNA in 108 paraffin-embedded cervical carcinomas was detected by mRNA in situ hybridization. Immunohistochemistry was used to investigate the expression of PAI-1 protein. The presence of cytoplasmatic TGF-,1 mRNA in tumor cells was not significantly correlated with the other clinicopathologic parameters investigated or with a worse (disease-free) survival. Expression of the PAI-1 protein in tumor cells was strongly correlated with worse overall and disease-free survival, in addition to well-known prognostic parameters such as lymph node metastasis, depth of tumor infiltration, tumor size and vasoinvasion. In the multivariate analysis, PAI-1 turned out to be a strong independent prognostic factor. In a subgroup of patients without lymph node metastases, PAI-1 was predictive for worse survival and relapse of disease, too. Our results show that the (enhanced) expression of PAI-1 by carcinoma cells is correlated with worse (overall and disease-free) survival of patients with cancer of the uterine cervix. The expression of TGF-,1 in itself is not associated with worse survival in these patients. Although simultaneous presence of the 2 factors was observed in all tumors, induction of PAI-1 by TGF-,1 could not be demonstrated in our group of cervical carcinomas. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


    Cyclin E expression in papillary thyroid carcinoma: Relation to staging

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 1 2004
    Jan Brzezi
    Abstract Cyclin E plays a pivotal role in the regulation of G1-S transition and relates to malignant transformation of the cells. However, the clinical significance of cyclin E expression in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) remains unknown. We examined by immunohistochemistry the expression of cyclin E in 41 resected PTCs in pathologic stages from pT1a to pT4 and analyzed its relation to clinicohistopathologic factors. The positive staining was divided into 3 grades: no expression if less than 10%, expression if 11,50% and overexpression if more than 50% of the nuclei of tumor cells were stained positively. Cylin E expressions were observed in 75.6% of analyzed PTCs but only 60% of papillary microcarcinomas (PMCs) were immunopositive for cyclin E expression. However, cyclin E staining was observed in 90.4% of PTCs in a group with TNM higher than pT1a. The staining index was significantly different between the PMCs and the rest of the cancers investigated (14.91% ± 14.4% vs. 34.03% ± 23.44%, respectively; p < 0.005) and we observed positive relation between the staining index and factor T of staging of PTCs. All the lymph node metastases coexisted with cyclin E expression and most, but not all, of them coexisted with cyclin E overexpression. These findings indicate that cyclin E may play a key role for the oncogenesis and biologic behavior of PTC. If our results are confirmed in a larger study, a high level of cyclin E expression may become a new prognostic marker for PTCs. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


    Clinical and pathological data of 10 malignant pheochromocytomas: Long-term follow up in a single institute

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF UROLOGY, Issue 3 2007
    Kuo-How Huang
    Background: Malignant pheochromocytomas are rare. Many controversies still exists in clinical practice. We report the clinical and histological data of long-term follow up in 10 patients with malignant pheochromocytoma. Methods: The clinical charts of 10 patients with malignant pheochromocytoma from a single institute were reviewed. The diagnosis of pheochromocytoma was confirmed at surgery. All patients had metastases in sites where chromaffin tissue was normally absent. Results: The median follow-up period was 5.5 years (range, 2,20 years). Extra-adrenal tumors occurred in four patients including paraganglioma tumors in three cases and bladder tumor in one case. Regional lymph node metastases were noted in six patients. Distant metastases were located in the lungs of two patients, in the bones of two patients and in the liver of one patient. Histological characteristics were not helpful for diagnosis of malignancy and for prediction of prognosis. Metastases were present in postoperative pathology in seven patients. In another three patients, metastases were discovered 6 months to 10 years after surgery. Three patients received chemotherapy and one patient received combination therapy of high-dose 131I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine (131I-MIBG) therapy and chemotherapy. All patients achieved long-term survival except for two who died of metastasis 1.5 years and 2 years after diagnosis. Conclusions: Early complete resection and adjunctive lymphadenectomy can cure malignancy. Close long-term follow up for more than 10 years after surgery is necessary in patients with pheochromocytoma. The possibility of malignancy should be kept in mind even though the initial pathology is benign. [source]


    Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection in patients with interaortocaval lymph node metastases of transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary tract

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF UROLOGY, Issue 4 2004
    CHUL JANG KIM
    Abstract Three patients suffered from renal pelvic, ureteral and bladder cancers that were treated with both standard surgical treatments and two adjuvant cycles of cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy. Metastases of interaortocaval lymph nodes were detected in all patients between 9 and 33 months from the surgery for primary lesions. All patients received three cycles of cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy and retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND). The chemotherapy achieved partial response (62,98%). Two patients with viable cancer cells died with hepatic metastases; the first 15 months and the second 25 months from the date of diagnosis of distant lymph node metastasis. The third patient, who had no viable cancer cells, remains alive and disease-free 36 months later. Therefore, RPLND after chemotherapy provides prognostic information that helps to define patients who might benefit from additional systemic chemotherapy. [source]


    Per-operative frozen section examination of pelvic nodes is unnecessary for the majority of clinically localized prostate cancers in the prostate-specific antigen era

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF UROLOGY, Issue 8 2000
    Yoshiyuki Kakehi
    Abstract Background: The incidence of unsuspected lymph node metastasis seems to be decreasing in the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) era. It remains controversial as to whether routine pelvic lymph node dissection and per-operative frozen section examination should be performed. In addition, it is still unclear whether an aggressive approach to local disease by surgery or irradiation confers survival benefits on stage D1 patients. Methods: Eighty-eight consecutive patients with clinically localized prostate cancer who underwent pelvic lymph node dissection prior to radical prostatectomy during the period between 1985 and 1998 were analyzed. The incidence of lymph node metastases after 1992 was compared with that before 1992. Sensitivity and specificity of frozen section examination was assessed. Progression-free survival and cause-specific survival curves of node-positive patients who underwent radical prostatectomy were estimated by the Kaplan,Meier method. Results: Six of 17 patients (35.3%) treated before 1992 and five of 71 patients (7.0%) treated after 1992 showed unsuspected lymph node metastasis (P = 0.0059). Eight of 11 node-positive patients underwent radical prostatectomy and two have so far demonstrated clinical progression and cancer death with a median follow-up period of 63 months. The 5 year progression-free rate and the cause-specific survival rate for these patients were 71.4 and 85.7%, respectively. Sensitivity of frozen section examination for micrometastasis and gross-metastasis cases, respectively, was 3/6 (50%) and 4/4 (100%), while specificity was 85/85 (100%). Conclusions: The incidence of unsuspected lymph node metastases has been significantly decreased in the PSA era. Frozen section examination of pelvic nodes can be omitted and radical prostatectomy is an acceptable choice of treatment in patients without macroscopically apparent nodal metastases. [source]


    Cystic appearance of cervical lymph nodes is characteristic of metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma

    JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ULTRASOUND, Issue 1 2003
    Ada Kessler MD
    Abstract Purpose The usefulness of high-resolution sonography in diagnosing cervical lymph node metastases from papillary thyroid carcinoma was investigated. The accuracy of a particular sign, cystic change within a node, in establishing the diagnosis was assessed. Methods The sonographic findings in 63 patients with enlarged cervical lymph nodes were retrospectively reviewed. The patients had undergone high-resolution gray-scale and color Doppler sonography followed by ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) in all patients and surgical excision in 27 patients. Results Abnormal sonographic features were present in the lymph nodes of all 63 patients. In 14 (70%) of 20 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma, sonography depicted cystic changes. This pattern was not found in any of the other 43 patients, in whom FNA revealed either metastasis from another malignancy (22 patients) or benign reactive lymphadenopathy (21 patients). Among the 63 patients, there were 43 true-negative, 14 true-positive, 6 false-negative, and no false-positive results in the diagnosis of metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma using the presence or absence of an intranodal cystic area on sonography. These results yielded a 70% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% positive predictive value, 88% negative predictive value, and 90% overall accuracy for this criterion. Conclusions Cystic changes within a cervical lymph node are highly suggestive of metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 31:21,25, 2003 [source]