Predictors of sentinel lymph node metastasis in Chinese women with clinical T1-T2 N0 breast cancer and a normal axillary ultrasound.

BACKGROUND: The clinicopathological predictors of sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastasis in clinical T1-T2 N0 (cT1-T2 N0) patients with a normal axillary ultrasound (AUS) are unclear. PURPOSE: To assess the association between clinicopathological characteristics of a primary tumor and SLN metastasis in cT1-T2 N0 patients with a normal AUS. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients who were diagnosed with cT1-T2 N0 invasive breast cancer and who obtained normal AUS results between October 2016 and September 2018 in a single hospital were included. Clinicopathological data were collected to explore the predictors of SLN metastasis using a multivariate logistic regression model. RESULTS: SLN metastasis occurred in 26 patients (18.4%) among 141 AUS-normal patients, of which 24 cases (17.0%) had one or two nodal involvements. In the univariate analysis, tumor location, estrogen receptor (ER) status, progesterone receptor (PR) status, and lymphovascular invasion (LVI) were significantly associated with SLN metastasis (P < 0.05). The multivariate analysis showed that tumor location in the upper outer quadrant (odds ratio [OR] = 4.49, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.63-12.37; P = 0.004), positive PR status (OR = 13.35, 95% CI = 1.60-111.39; P = 0.017), and positive LVI (OR = 8.66, 95% CI = 2.20-34.18; P = 0.002) were independent high-risk factors for SLN metastasis. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the regression model was 0.787 (95% CI = 0.694-0.881; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Tumor location in the upper outer quadrant, positive PR, and LVI status were found to be significantly high-risk factors for SLN metastasis among cT1-T2 N0 breast cancer patients with a normal AUS result.

[Risk factor analysis on postoperative complications after laparoscopic total mesorectal excision with preventive terminal ileostomy and timing of stoma closure in rectal cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the application of protective terminal ileostomy in laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer patients, and explore the risk factors associated with postoperative complications and timing of stoma closure. METHODS: Clinical data of 77 patients with middle or low rectal cancer undergoing laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (TME) with preventive terminal ileostomy in our department from January 2007 to December 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. Independent risk factors associated to postoperative complications of terminal ileostomy were examined by logistic regression and timing of stoma closure was investigated. RESULT: The total postoperative complication morbidity was 57.1% (44/77). Electrolyte disturbance was found in 39 cases (50.6%, 39/77), including 1 case of hypovolemic syncope. Parastomal hernia occurred in 9 cases (11.7%, 9/77). Peristomal dermatitis and subcutaneous abscess was observed in 1 case (1.3%, 1/77). The result of the single factor analysis of the water electrolyte disturbance after operation, the risk factors of P<0.2 were new adjuvant chemotherapy (P=0.094), tumor antigen (P=0.086) and TNM staging (P=0.026); Postoperative parastomal hernia of the single factor analysis results, the risk factors of P<0.2 included uses of antidiabetic drugs (P=0.172), ASA anesthesia (P=0.168) grading and TNM stage(P=0.161); But multivariate analysis revealed no risk factors associated with the above complications (all P>0.05). Sixty-five patients underwent stoma closure during follow-up, including 2 cases (3.1%) within 90 days, 20 cases (30.8%) from 90 to 180 days, and 43 cases (66.2%) more than 180 days. CONCLUSIONS: No risk factors were found to be associated with main postoperative complications of protective terminal ileostomy after laparoscopic TME for rectal cancer patients, such as electrolytes imbalance and parastomal hernia. The timing of stoma closure should be longer than 180 days.

Effectiveness of MRI for the assessment of mesorectal fascia involvement in patients with rectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIMS: Defining the most appropriate definition of mesorectal fascia involvement (MRF+) by reviewing literature and using new inclusion criteria to re-evaluate the effectiveness of MRI in the assessment of MRF+ for rectal cancer. METHODS: PubMed, Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Library databases were electronically searched from 1999 to 2012. The bivariate random effects model was used to estimate the pooled outcomes of each subgroup. The definition of MRF+ in MRI and the influence of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (neo-ChRT) were especially discussed. RESULTS: Fourteen studies involving 1,600 patients were included. Different definitions of MRF+ (≤ 1, ≤ 2 and ≤ 5 mm) in MRI exhibited different pooled sensitivity (76, 79 and 92%), specificity (88, 66 and 48%) and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) (22.4, 6.6 and 16.0). The definition of MRF+ at ≤ 1 mm showed the highest DOR. The specificity (88 vs. 93%, p = 0.026) and DOR (15.5 vs. 39.0, p = 0.001) were lower in patients who underwent neo-ChRT than those who did not while using ≤ 1 mm as the definition of MRF+. However, the sensitivity showed no significant difference (67 vs. 74%, p = 0.129). CONCLUSIONS: MRI is valuable for the assessment of MRF. The most appropriate definition of MRF+ in MRI is ≤ 1 mm. The effectiveness is higher in patients who did not undergo neo-ChRT.

Endoscopic resection therapies for rectal neuroendocrine tumors: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Among various endoscopic resection therapies, including conventional endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) only with a snare after submucosal injection, modified EMR (m-EMR) with other assistant devices such as a ligation band or a suction cap, and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), we aimed to study which is the best choice for rectal neuroendocrine tumors. METHODS: A broad literature research was performed, and a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted. RESULTS: Ten retrospective studies with 650 patients were included. Complete resection rates were significantly higher in the ESD group compared with the EMR group (relative risk [RR] 0.89, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.79, 0.99]), in the m-EMR group compared with the conventional EMR group (RR 0.72, 95% CI [0.60, 0.86]), and was comparable between the ESD group and the m-EMR group (RR 1.03, 95% CI [0.95, 1.11]). Procedure time was significantly longer in the ESD group than in the EMR group (standard mean differences -1.37, 95% CI [-1.99, -0.75]), but there was no significant difference between that of the m-EMR group and ESD group (standard mean differences -1.50, 95% CI [-3.14, 0.14]). Local recurrence occurred in five cases in the EMR group (5/328) and did not occur in the ESD group (0/209). CONCLUSIONS: ESD or m-EMR techniques could be applied to rectal neuroendocrine tumors with indications for endoscopic treatment. m-EMR procedures appear to be comparable with ESD in the treatment of rectal neuroendocrine tumors. However, the findings have to be carefully interpreted due to the lower level of evidence.

Factors associated with lymph node metastasis in radically resected rectal carcinoids: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Although various guidelines regarding neuroendocrine tumors were released, treatment for rectal neuroendocrine tumors with size between 1 and 2 cm has not been explicitly elucidated. The determinant factor of the choice between endoscopic resection and radical surgery is whether lymph node involvement exists. AIM: This study aims to explore factors associated with lymph node involvement in rectal neuroendocrine tumors by conducting a meta-analysis. METHODS: A broad literature research of Pubmed, Embase&Medline, and The Cochrane Library was performed, and systematic review and meta-analysis about factors associated with lymph node involvement were conducted. RESULTS: Seven studies were included in this meta-analysis. Tumor size > 1 cm (odds ratio (OR) 6.72, 95% confidence interval (CI) [3.23, 14.02]), depth of invasion (OR 5.06, 95% CI [2.30, 11.10]), venous invasion (OR 5.92, 95% CI [2.21, 15.87]), and central depression (OR 3.00, 95% CI [1.07, 8.43]) were significantly associated with lymph node involvement. CONCLUSION: The available clinical evidence suggests that tumor size > 1 cm, invasion of muscularis properia, venous invasion, and central depression could be risk factors of lymph node involvement, while other factors reported by few studies need further research.