Detection of lymph node metastasis in lung cancer patients using a one-step nucleic acid amplification assay: a single-centre prospective study.

BACKGROUND: The use of one-step nucleic acid amplification (OSNA) allows for lymph node (LN) metastasis to be detected rapidly and accurately. We conducted a prospective single-centre clinical trial to evaluate OSNA assay in detecting LN metastasis of lung cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 705 LNs from 160 patients with clinical stage IA to IVA lung cancer were included in this study. The LNs were divided and submitted to routine histological diagnosis and OSNA assay and the results were compared. We also examined keratin 19 expression of different histological types lung primary tumours. RESULTS: When the cut-off value was set to 250 copies/µl, the concordance rate between the two methods was 96.17% and the sensitivity 97.14%. Discordant results were observed in 27 LNs of 21 patients. Most of these discordant results were molecular micrometastasis expressing a very low number of copies with negative histology. Most thoracic tumours were positive for keratin 19. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that the OSNA assay might be a useful and sensitive method to diagnose LN metastasis in lung cancer and could be applied to intraoperative decision-making in personalised lung cancer surgery based on LN status and a more accurate staging of patients.

[Acute cranial multineuritis caused by a fungus]. / Multineuritis craneal aguda de causa fúngica.

TITLE: Multineuritis craneal aguda de causa fungica.

Extraparietal or lymphatic late relapse of neoplasms: confirmation by means of EUS-FNA key for the treatment.

BACKGROUND: After treatment intended to cure systemic neoplasms, a series of monitoring strategies are followed. OBJECTIVE: To analyse our experience in confirming the cases of lymphatic or extraparietal relapse in areas accessible to endoscopic ultrasonography plus fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) in long-term monitoring (>1 year of treatment for the primary neoplasm) and define what implications have been derived with regards histopathological confirmation in relation to treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis was made of all EUS-FNA carried out in our Endoscopy Unit during the period from 1/07/2007 to 28/02/2010 by means of searches in the Endobase (Olympus) database. Medical records of patients and drug therapy were reviewed in order to check the chemotherapy used in each case. RESULTS: From a total of 154 EUS-FNA carried out in our service, we have detected histopathological confirmation of malignancy in primary neoplasm treated with initial curative intention at least 1 year before. Locations were: esophageal extraparietal involvement of a squamous cell carcinoma (one patient), perirectal adenopathy of rectal adenocarcinoma (one patient), multiple lymphatic relapse of melanoma (two patients), perigastric adenopathy relapse of gastric adenocarcinoma (one patient), pancreatic head mass secondary to initial breast ductal carcinoma (one patient). In all cases, this fact has involved a directed treatment: surgery (one patient), radiotherapy (one patient), chemotherapy (four patients). CONCLUSIONS: Confirmation by means of EUS-FNA of late relapse in any section of the digestive tract allowed a treatment to be carried out by surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy.