Outpatient pelvic lymph node dissection

PURPOSE: Staging pelvic lymph node dissection is an important part of the evaluation of most patients with prostatic carcinoma. While laparoscopic pelvic lymph node dissection provides an alternative to standard pelvic lymph node dissection, it has been associated with a significant learning curve, high major complication rate, frequent hospitalization and greater expense. We sought to modify the technique of pelvic lymph node dissection to allow its performance as an outpatient procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pelvic lymph node dissection was performed through bilateral 3 cm. incisions overlying the obturator fossa in 11 patients. RESULTS: Nodes sampled ranged from 5 to 26 per patient that differed insignificantly from those undergoing standard pelvic lymph node dissection. Four patients had lymph node metastases. Nine procedures were performed entirely on an outpatient basis. One complication (external vein injury) was repaired with a single suture after extending the incision to 6 cm. CONCLUSIONS: Outpatient pelvic lymph node dissection through small incisions provides an attractive alternative to standard or laparoscopic lymph node dissection. With further experience it may become the procedure of choice for staging prostatic carcinoma in patients with a high risk of pelvic lymph node metastases.     

Changes in lymph node dissection for pancreatic cancer

Two step pancreatoduodenectomy for periampullary carcinoma was first reported in 1912 by Kausch. Pancreatoduodenectomy performed for carcinoma of the head of the pancreas was first reported in 1937 by Brunschwig. Before this report, all previous pancreatoduodenectomy had been performed for other periampullary tumors. By the 1960's, pancreatoduodenectomy was performed for pancreatic cancer without lymph node dissection. However, Fortner advocated regional pancreatectomy for pancreatic cancer in 1973. In our institute, also, extended radical pancreatectomy by translateral retroperitoneal approach has been performed during the past 2 decades. Many Japanese surgeons also adopted extend pancreatectomy. In the 1980's, extended radical pancreatectomy consisted of paraaortic lymph node dissection, total pancreatectomy, and complete resection of extrapancreatic nerve plexus. However, based on the many clinicopathologic studies, pancreatoduodenectomy was better operative procedure than total pancreatectomy. Although extended radical pancreatectomy has the advantage of long-time survival, disadvantage of nutritional status and quality of life was produced by this operative procedure. Tarverso and Longmire reported new operative procedure of pylorus preserving pancreatoduodenectomy (PPPD) in 1978. Recently, this operative procedure was indicated for pancreatic cancer. However, there is a question whether PPPD is the best operative procedure for pancreatic cancer or not.     

Prognostic significance of lymph node dissection in gastric cancer

The results for 162 patients who underwent curative gastrectomy for gastric cancer from January 1988 to June 1994 were analysed statistically with special reference to the effect of lymph node dissection. Median survival was 69.3 months and the overall cumulative 5-year survival rate was 50.2 (95 per cent confidence interval (c.i.) 41.6-58.1) per cent. By univariate analysis age, histology, depth of tumour invasion, node involvement, number of metastatic lymph nodes and type of lymphadenectomy were found to be significant factors related to survival time. Multivariate analysis with the Cox model and stratified for tumour node metastasis stage revealed that only the number of metastatic nodes (P = 0.04) and the extent of lymphadenectomy (P = 0.003) affected survival independently. With respect to D1 lymphadenectomy, the relative risk associated with D2 and D4 lymphadenectomy was respectively 0.61 (95 per cent c.i. 0.34-1.10) and 0.26 (95 per cent c.i. 0.12-0.60). The 5-year survival rate was 28 per cent for patients who had a D1 dissection, 63 per cent for those who had D2 and 68 per cent for those who had D4. These results suggest that extended lymphadenectomy (D2) and especially superextended lymphadenectomy (D4) can improve survival in patients with gastric cancer.     

Prospective randomized evaluation of preoperative endoscopic vital staining using CH-40 for lymph node dissection in gastric cancer

BACKGROUND: CH-40 is a suspension of activated carbon particles that was developed in Japan to carry anticancer drugs to regional nodes and peritoneal seedings of gastric cancer. METHODS: Forty-five consecutive patients who had surgical resection and D2 lymph node dissection for gastric cancer over a 2-year period were randomly assigned to preoperative endoscopic submucosal injection of CH-40 (group A) or no staining (group B). A total of 21 patients in group A and 24 in group B were available for analysis. RESULTS: The number of resected nodes per patient was significantly higher (t = 6.06; 40 df; P < .0001) in group A (mean+/-S.E. = 35.3+/-1.24) than in group B (mean+/-S.E. = 25.5+/-1.02). The rate of metastatic nodes resected was significantly higher (chi2 = 6.903 ; 1 df; P = .009) in stained (22.5%) than in non-stained (14.7%) nodes of group A and also (chi2 = 6.906; 1 df; P = .009) in stained nodes of group A than in group B (15.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative endoscopic vital staining with CH-40 proved to be rapid, safe, and effective in all cases in this series. Its use allowed surgeons to resect a higher number of lymph nodes. and to identify and examine more metastatic nodes. It also permitted identification of nodal micrometastases on routine histopathologic examination.     

Effect of lymph node dissection on survival of gastric carcinoma

We investigated microbial contamination of in-use antiseptics at a hospital. No microbial contamination was observed in 70 samples of 0.02% benzalkonium chloride solution (500-ml volume), 70 samples of 1% titratable I2 povidone-iodine solution (250-ml volume), or 15 samples of 0.1% ethacridine lactate solution (500-ml volume) during use in reduced amounts. Nor was any microbial contamination observed in 70 samples of cotton balls soaked in 1% titratable I2 povidone-iodine solution in canisters or cotton gauze soaked in 70% (w/v) ethanol solution in canisters. However, among 70 samples of cotton balls soaked in 0.02% benzalkonium chloride solution in canisters, 6 (8.6%) were contaminated with 10(4) to 10(6) viable cells/ml. The microbial species detected were glucose non-fermentative bacilli such as Alcaligenes xylosoxidans and Pseudomonas putida. The contaminants obtained from cotton balls soaked in 0.02% benzalkonium chloride solution did not proliferate in that solution or in distilled water but showed rapid growth in the cotton balls soaked in either of these liquids. These findings suggested that benzalkonium chloride solution tends to become contaminated when cotton balls are immersed. Therefore, cotton balls soaked in benzalkonium chloride solution are not recommended as an antiseptic. When no other choice is available, the cotton balls should be soaked in benzalkonium chloride solution at the time of usage.     

Technique and rationale of lymph node dissection in bronchial carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a chronic T-cell-mediated inflammatory skin disease which can be treated with topical medication, phototherapy or systemic medication. A subgroup of psoriatic patients does not respond to monotherapy and needs combination therapy. We used low-dose narrow-band UVB phototherapy, combined with balneotherapy, short-contact anthralin, liquor carbonis detergens and calcipotriol for treatment of psoriatic patients in our day care centre. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to study the efficacy, induction of erythema and effect on systemic T-cell activation of this combination therapy. METHODS: Skin reflectance spectrophotometry was used to measure skin erythema. The Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) was used to evaluate psoriatic patients. Serum soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL2-R) levels were measured by an ELISA. RESULTS: The possible erythematogenic effect of low-dose narrow-band UVB irradiation was studied (skin reflectance spectrophotometer) in a control group of psoriatic patients (n = 11). No induction of skin erythema was seen. Subsequently, this low-dose irradiation regimen was used in combination with topical medication in 26 psoriatic patients. A 90% decrease in the PASI was seen after a mean number of 35 treatment sessions. Seventeen patients (65%) remained in remission during the following 6 months. Serum sIL-2R levels were elevated in all patients (mean 913 U/ml) and did not change during treatment. CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that low-dose narrow-band UVB can be used successfully, in combination with topical treatment, in a day care setting to treat psoriatic patients. Since sIL-2R serum levels were not decreased, it can be speculated that this treatment does not induce systemic immunosuppression.     

Pelvic lymph node dissection can be curative in patients with node positive bladder cancer

To determine the incidence of cryptococcosis and its risk factors among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons, population-based active surveillance was conducted in four US areas (population, 12.5 million) during 1992-1994, and a case-control study was done. Of 1083 cases, 931 (86%) occurred in HIV-infected persons. The annual incidence of cryptococcosis per 1000 among persons living with AIDS ranged from 17 (San Francisco, 1994) to 66 (Atlanta, 1992) and decreased significantly in these cities during 1992-1994. Among non-HIV-infected persons, the annual incidence of cryptococcosis ranged from 0.2 to 0.9/100,000. Multivariate analysis of the case-control study (158 cases and 423 controls) revealed smoking and outdoor occupations to be significantly associated with an increased risk of cryptococcosis; receiving fluconazole within 3 months before enrollment was associated with a decreased risk for cryptococcosis. Further studies are needed to better describe persons with AIDS currently developing cryptococcosis in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy.     

Elective lymph node dissection in malignant melanoma--status of color Doppler findings

Since there is still a controversial discussion about the ELND in melanoma patients, the purpose of this prospective study was to optimize the indication concerning ELND by ultrasound examinations. 144 patients with primary melanomas were checked every 3 months after excision. Echomorphologic pattern and intranodal vascularisation in the color-flow Doppler modus provide essential information for differential diagnosis. We found 47 patients (32.6%) with suspicious ultrasound lesions. 50% of these patients had no pathological clinical findings, the histological findings of excised lymph nodes were positive in all cases. It must be emphasized, however, that the group with lymph node metastases included 12 patients with low-risk-melanomas (2 x Tis, 10 x T1 < 1 mm tumor thickness). In comparison with a historical control group (141 patients), where ELND was performed routinely in high-risk-patients ( > T2), the incidence of ELND in our hospital decreased more than 50%; at the same time the percentage of detected lymph node metastases increased (twice).     

Laparoscopic retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for clinical stage I nonseminomatous testicular tumor

In Japan, a nationwide mass screening system for neonatal metabolic diseases was established in 1977. This system consisted of screening programs for five main congenital metabolic diseases, including phenylketonuria (PKU). To evaluate the efficiency of the mass screening system, a cost-benefit analysis of the screening program for PKU (as a typical case in Japan) was carried out. The costs of the detection and the treatment program were compared with the projected benefit (avoided costs) that results from prevention of the mental retardation associated with the disorders due to PKU. Costs and benefits were discounted at an annual rate of 7%. Assuming that the incidence of PKU was 1/80,500 and the total number of infants screened was 1.2 million, net benefits for the screening program were $283,000, and the cost-benefit ratio was 1:2.5. The sensitivity analysis for the incidence of PKU showed that the cost-benefit ratios exceeded one.     

Demonstration of the sentinel lymph node in axillary dissection for breast cancer

OBJECTIVES: The sentinel node is defined as the first-line axillary lymphatic drainage node in breast cancer. If the sentinel node can be identified, during axillary dissection for breast cancer, resection could be limited reducing subsequent morbidity. However, before modifying the standard dissection procedure, it is important to prove that the sentinel node is representative of the metastatic status of other axillary nodes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between March and December 1996, 86 patients (mean age 58 years, range 32-82) underwent amputation (n = 20), tumorectomy with dissection (n = 56) or tumorectomy followed by secondary dissection (n = 10) for breast cancer. Ten ml of diluted patent blue was injected either into the peripheral portion of the tumor or the tumorectomy cavity. Node dissection was performed 10 to 20 minutes after injection. The blue sentinel node was identified prior to standard dissection. RESULTS: A mean 12 nodes were removed (range 4-21). Seventy-nine sentinel nodes were identified (91%) and in 7 cases (8%) a sentinel node could not be identified. In 7 other cases the sentinel node was a false negative, i.e. non malignant despite metastases in other dissected nodes. In all the other cases, the status of the sentinel node predicted the status of the other nodes, i.e. a non-metastatic sentinel node associated with other metastatic nodes. Finally, in 7 cases, the sentinel node was the only invaded node among the nodes dissected. During the last 3 months of the study, the sentinel node was identified in 100% of the cases and was representative of the overall dissection. CONCLUSION: Identifying the sentinel node is an alternative to standard axillary node dissection procedures. The method requires a training period and identification can be improved with radioimmunologic guidance. Patient selection within the framework of a rigorous multidisciplinary protocol is indispensable. A nationwide study is currently being conducted to validate these preliminary results.     

Surgical treatment of gastric adenocarcinoma: the role of lymph node dissection

In this retrospective study, 652 patients who had curative resections for gastric cancer from 1977 to 1991 were reviewed to evaluate improvements in gastric cancer surgery and the influence of the extent of lymphadenectomy on survival. The patients were grouped into three time periods: 1977 to 1981, 1982 to 1986 and 1987 to 1991. The percentage of patients with early gastric cancer increased from 17.7% during 1977 to 1981, to 24.3% during 1987 to 1991. The average number of dissected lymph nodes was 7.5 +/- 8.1 during 1977 to 1981 and 16.4 +/- 10.3 during 1987 to 1991, when more radical lymphadenectomy was adopted. Total gastrectomies increased from 10.9% to 25.9% in the same time periods while combined visceral resections increased from 26.7% to 38.1%. Operative mortality decreased from 5.0% to 1.7%. The overall 5-year survival rate increased from 34.8% to 59.4%. In subgroup analysis, significant improvement of the 5-year survival rate was noted in the following groups: patients with stage I, II and III tumors but not stage IV; both proximal and distally located tumors; tumors with or without lymph node metastases; T1 and T2 but not in T3 and T4 (cancer invasion beyond the serosa). The decreased surgical mortality in recent years suggests that curative resection with extensive lymph node dissection can now be safely performed. Radical gastrectomy with extended lymphadenectomy may be adopted in gastric cancer resection for better control of regional disease.     

Early stage carcinoma of the female breast and axillary lymph node dissection

Stage I carcinoma of the female breast can be treated effectively by total mastectomy and post-operative radiation therapy to the chest wall and regional lymph nodes. Identification of positive axillary lymph nodes for prognostic purposes or for definition of patients who might benefit by adjuvant chemotherapy is not a requisite to the successful management of early stage carcinoma of the breast.     

Controversy about treatment of colorectal cancer in view of surgeon--lymph node dissection for colorectal surgery (lateral lymph node dissection and TME)]

Lateral lymph node dissection is technique for reducing local recurrence rate after resection of rectal cancer. In this study, we will report a decade experience for lateral lymph node dissection of rectal cancer in 491 cases. Lateral lymph node metastases occurred in 15.4% of rectal cancer which was below peritoneal reflection and through muscularis propria into non-peritoneal. It is a problem that it has never been well designed study of lateral lymph node dissection for rectal cancer. On the other hand, TME has also contributed reducing local recurrence rate. But, distant margin for resection of rectal cancer is controversial.     

Experience with the two-windows method for mediastinal lymph node dissection in lung cancer

A rapid dipstick test for scrub typhus was prospectively evaluated in Chiangrai, northern Thailand. Sera from 162 patients with fever of unclear etiology were tested by a dot blot immunoassay using two different antigen concentrations. Dipsticks coated with lower concentration of antigen lacked sensitivity compared with the indirect immunoperoxidase test. Dipsticks with higher antigen concentration had increased sensitivity that was equivalent to that of the immunoperoxidase test. By increasing the antigen concentration on the dipstick, sensitivity increased from 67% to 100%, positive predictive value increased from 90% to 93%, and negative predictive value rose from 92% to 100%. The specificity of both antigen concentrations was 98%. This study establishes that scrub typhus can be confirmed serologically by use of a dipstick assay and that serodiagnosis can be effectively tailored to a target population.