Study of correlation between early postoperative metastasis and occult micrometastasis of lymph nodes in patients with stageⅠa non-small cell lung carcinoma / 中国癌症杂志

ABSTRACT

Purpose:To investigate the correlation between early postoperative metastasis with occult micrometastasis of mediastinal lymph nodes in patients with stageⅠa non small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC).Methods:Using RT PCR assay, detection of the expression of MUC1 mRNA was used to diagnose occult micrometastasis in mediastinal lymph nodes. All the patients underwent checked up at least once a year to detect early metastatic lesions after surgery, by means of CT scan of chest and brain, ultrasound examination of liver and adrenal glands, and bone scanning. The patients with and without occult nodal micrometastasis were divided into two different groups. Difference in early metastatic rate between two groups of patients was compared by ? 2 test, and odds ratio (OR) was calculated.Results:Occult nodal micrometastasis was diagnosed in sixteen patients (32.0%). Early metastatic rate (31.25%) in the patients with occult nodal micrometastasis was higher than that (5.88%) in the patients without occult nodal micrometastasis ( P