Impact of methylene blue staining in the retrieval of lymph nodes in resected colorectal cancer specimens.

Adequate lymph node harvest in resected colorectal cancer (CRC) specimens is important in staging and choosing appropriate therapeutic options. The yield of lymph nodes and metastatic nodes by methylene blue dye injection in 30 randomly selected resected CRC specimens was compared with an equal number of CRC specimens (control) with matched grade and stage.The mean number of lymph nodes retrieved in the study group was 22 ± 9 compared to 17 ± 8 in the control group which was statistically significant (P = 0.04).Methylene blue technique is an effective aid in increasing the yield of lymph nodes in the resected CRC specimens.

Comparison between the 7th edition of International Union Against Cancer staging system and the Chinese 2008 staging system for nasopharyngeal carcinoma and suggestions for the updating of the staging system / 中华放射肿瘤学杂志

Objective To compare the 7th edition of International Union Against Cancer ( UICC) staging system with the Chinese 2008 staging system for nasopharyngeal carcinoma ( NPC) , and to provide evidence for further updating of the staging system. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed among 767 patients who were pathologically and newly diagnosed with non?metastatic NPC and treated with intensity?modulated radiotherapy from 2006 to 2012. Based on the main prognostic indices, overall survival ( OS) , locoregional failure?free survival( LFFS) local relapse?free survival ( LRFS) , and distant metastasis?free survival ( DMFS) rates, the value of T stage, N stage, and clinical stage in prognostic prediction was compared between the two staging systems. The Kaplan?Meier method was used for calculating survival rates. The log?rank test was used for survival difference analysis. The Cox model was used for multivariate prognostic analysis. Results In terms of T stage, the Chinese 2008 staging system was a significantly better predictor of the OS and LRFS rates than the 7th edition of UICC staging system. In terms of N stage, they were comparable in the prediction of the OS and DMFS rates. In terms of clinical stage, the 7th edition of UICC staging system was a significantly better predictor of the OS rate than the Chinese 2008 staging system. For the new staging system proposed based on the statistical results, the T, N, and clinical staging gave significantly better prognostic prediction. Conclusions The 7th edition of UICC staging system and the Chinese 2008 staging system for NPC have their own advantages in prognostic prediction. The new staging system proposed in this study could contribute to the updating of the current staging system for NPC.