Carnoy solution versus GEWF solution for lymph node revealing in colorectal cancer: a randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the performance of two lymph node revealing solutions. METHODS: This randomized clinical trial (NTC02704988) investigated patients with colon or rectal cancer who underwent surgical resection with D2 lymphadenectomy. Specimens submitted for conventional pathological examination were randomly assigned for additional fixation with Carnoy or GEWF solution, and dissection was performed to examine the missed lymph nodes. The number of lymph nodes retrieved, additional identified metastatic lymph nodes, lymph node upstaging, and complementary indication of adjuvant therapy were investigated. RESULTS: The number of lymph nodes retrieved was significantly higher with the use of lymph node revealing solutions than with the conventional method in colon cancer (GEWF: 29.5 vs 27; p < 0.001; Carnoy: 27.7 vs 25.2; p < 0.001) and rectal cancer (GEWF: 25.8 vs 23.6; p < 0.001; Carnoy: 23.1 vs 20.8; p < 0.001). There were no differences between the solutions and conventional examination with respect to the median number of additional metastatic lymph nodes identified (0 in all arms), the number of patients with lymph node upstaging (colon cancer: 1 in the Carnoy arm, 0 in the GEWF arm; rectal cancer: 1 in the GEWF arm, 0 in the Carnoy arm), or the number of patients with complementary indication of adjuvant therapy (colon cancer: 1 in the Carnoy arm, 0 in the GEWF arm; rectal cancer: 0 in both arms). CONCLUSION: Despite the higher number of lymph nodes retrieved, neither solution resulted in significant changes in patient staging or treatment. Both solutions exhibited equal performance with respect to all outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NTC02704988.

Carnoy's solution increases the number of examined lymph nodes following gastrectomy for adenocarcinoma: a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Pathological examination of a minimum of 16 lymph nodes is recommended following surgery for gastric adenocarcinoma, despite this a longer survival is expected when 30 or more lymph nodes are examined. Small lymph nodes are difficult to identify, and fat-clearing solutions have been proposed to improve this, but there is no evidence of their clinical benefit. METHODS: Fifty D2 subtotal gastrectomy specimens were randomized for fixation in Carnoy's solution (CS) or 10% neutral buffered formalin (NBF), with subsequent fat dissection. After dissection, the residual fat from the NBF group, instead of being discarded, was immersed in CS and dissected again. Data from 25 D2 subtotal gastrectomies performed before the study were also analyzed. RESULTS: The mean number of examined lymph nodes was 50.4 and 34.8 for CS and NBF, respectively (p < 0.001). Missing lymph nodes were found in all cases from the residual fat group (mean of 16.9), and in eight of them (32%) metastatic lymph nodes were present; this allowed the upstaging of two patients. Lymph nodes in the CS group were smaller than those in the NBF group (p = 0.01). The number of retrieved lymph nodes was similar among the NBF and Retrospective groups (p = 0.802). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with NBF, CS increases lymph node detection following gastrectomy and allows a more accurate pathological staging. No influence of the research protocol on the number of examined lymph nodes was observed.

Impact of using a lymph node revealing solution in surgical specimens for pathological staging of gastric cancer / Uso de solução reveladora de linfonodos em peças cirúrgicas, no estadiamento anatomopatológico do câncer gástrico

Introduction: Lymph node (LN) metastasis is a major staging criterion of gastric cancer (GC). GC prognosis is associated with the number of metastatic LNs. Objectives: To evaluate the impact of using a lymph node revealing solution (LRS) in gastrectomy specimens. Materials and methods: prospective study in 30 gastrectomy specimens (19 men, average age of 59.5; 11 women, average age of 66.1) for pathological tumor, node, metastasis (TNM) staging. After LN dissection according to the routine procedures (conventional method [CM]), the tissue was emerged in LRS: a mixture containing 65% ethanol, 20% ether, 5% acetic acid, and 10% formalin solution (10%), for 36 hours with 3 changes. A new LN dissection was performed. The number of LNs obtained from both methods was compared and analyzed. The number of metastatic and non-metastatic LNs was determined. Results: From 1,005 (33.5/specimen) dissected LNs, 657 of which (21.9/specimen) by the CM, and 348 (11.6/specimen) after using LRS (p = 0.0002), metastases were detected in 272 LNs (9.2/case), 211 of which (7.0/specimen) were found with the CM, and 61 (2.0/specimen) after using LRS (p = 0.0028). The number of LNs increased 53.0% with LRS, and the number of metastatic LNs was 28.9% higher. The pN classification changed in 5 (16.7%) of the 30 specimens, and in stage grouping in 4 (13.3%) analyzed cases. Conclusion: The use of LRS in gastrectomy specimens is simple, enables dissection, increases the number of LNs, and occasionally changes pN staging and stage grouping. .

Introdução: O envolvimento do linfonodo (LNs) por metástase é importante critério para estadiar câncer gástrico (CG). Relaciona-se o prognóstico do CG com número de LNs metastáticos. Objetivos: Avaliar o impacto do uso de solução reveladora de linfonodos (SRL) em espécimes de gastrectomia. Materiais e métodos: Estudo prospectivo em 30 espécimes de gastrectomia (19 homens, média de idade 59,5 anos, e 11 mulheres, média de idade 66,1 anos) para estadiamento patológico tumor-linfonodo-metástase (TNM). Após dissecção dos LNs de acordo com procedimento de rotina (método convencional [MC]), esse tecido foi imerso em SRL, mistura contendo 65% de álcool, 20% de éter, 5% de ácido acético e 10% de formal a 10%, por 36 horas, com três mudanças, sendo realizada nova dissecção de LNs. Os LNs obtidos por ambos os métodos foram comparados e analisados. O número de LNs metastáticos e sem metástases foram determinados Resultados: Dissecados 1.005 LNs (33,5/caso): 657 LNs (21,9/caso) pelo MC e 348 LNs (11,6/caso) após uso da SRL (p = 0,0002). Metástases foram detectadas em 272 LNs (9,2/caso): 211 (sete/ caso) pelo MC e 61 (dois/caso) após uso de SRL (p = 0,0028). O uso da SRL aumentou o número de LNs em 53%, e o número de LNs metastáticos, em 28,9%. Houve mudança na classificação pN em cinco (16,7%) dos 30 espécimes, e no estadiamento por grupos em quatro (13,3%) casos analisados Conclusão: O uso de SRL em espécimes de gastrectomia é procedimento simples de aplicar, facilitando a dissecção, aumentando o número de LNs e eventualmente mudando estadiamento pN e de grupamento. .

Impacto da solução de Carnoy no número de linfonodos resgatados em peças cirúrgicas de câncer gástrico: estudo prospectivo randomizado

Introdução: O adenocarcinoma gástrico é uma doença de elevada incidência e alta mortalidade. A gastrectomia com linfadenectomia é tratamento potencialmente curativo, promovendo controle loco - regional da doença e fornecendo material para análise histopatológica. Para o adequado estadiamento dos pacientes é recomendado que pelo menos 16 linfonodos seja m examinados pela patologia, entretanto, espera - se maior sobrevida quando ≥ 30 linfonodos são avaliados , mesmo em pacientes com tumores precoce s. A justificativa para este achado é o sub - estadiamento de pacientes com poucos linfonodos examina dos. Linfonodos pequenos são particularmente difíceis de serem encontrados, mas podem conter metástases e impactar negativamente na sobrevida. Visando facilitar sua identificação, soluções clareadoras de gordura foram propostas, entretanto não há evidência clara de seu benefício clínico. Objetivos: Comparar as soluções de Carnoy e de formalina neutra tamponada em relação ao número absoluto de linfonodos encontrados na peça cirúrgica de pacientes submetidos a gastrectomia. Averiguar se linfonodos retirados cirurgicamente são perdidos com a fixação em formalina e, caso isso ocorra, se este fato é relevante para o estadiamento. Observar se o protocolo de pesquisa influenciou o número de linfonodos encontrados. Métodos: Cinquenta produtos de gastrectomia subtotal com linfadenectomia D2 por adenocarcinoma gástrico foram randomizados para fixação em Carnoy ou formalina com posterior dissecção da peça em b usca de linfonodos. Após a dissecção do grupo Formalinn, a gordura residual a ser desprezada foi imersa em Carnoy e reavaliada posteriormente. Os dados de 25 gastrectomias D2 operad a s previamente ao estudo também foram avalia do s. Resultados: A média de linfonodos encontrados nos grupos C arnoy e Formalina foi de 50,4 e 34,8; respectivamente (p <0,001)...

Background: Gastric adenocarcinoma is a frequent disease with high mortality ratio. Gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy is potentially curative, allows local control of the disease and provides material for TNM classification. While pathology examination of at least 16 lymph nodes is recommended following surgery, longer survival rates are expected when >=30 lymph nodes are examined, even for early gastric cancer. The understaging of patients with less examined lymph nodes justifies this findings. Small lymph nodes are particularly difficult to identify and fat clearing solutions have been proposed to improve this, but there is no evidence of their clinical benefit. Objectives: Compare Carnoy's solution (CS) and formalin in terms of the total number of examined lymph nodes following gastrectomy. Verify if surgically retrieved lymph nodes are lost with the formalin fixation and if this fact is clinically significant. Observe if a research protocol influences the number of examined lymph nodes. Methods: Fifty specimens of gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy were randomized for fixation in CS or formalin with posterior dissection in search for lymph nodes. In the Formalin group, the residual fat to be discarded was immersed in CS and dissected again. Data from 25 D2 gastrectomies performed previously the present study were retrospectively analyzed. Results: The medium number of examined lymph nodes was 50.4 and 34.8 for CS and formalin, respectively (p < 0.001). Lost lymph nodes were found in all cases in the Residual Fat group (medium 16.9), this increased the Formalin group average to 51.7 (which is similar to the CS group, p=0.809). With one exception (7mm), all other examined lymph nodes in the Residual Fat group measured <= 3mm. Thirteen lymph nodes from this group were metastatic, this determined the upstaging of 2 (8%) patients. Lymph nodes from the CS group were smaller than those found in the formalin group (p=0.01)...