Recurrence factors in patients with cutaneous melanoma and positive sentinel lymph node treated in a single reference unit in Buenos Aires.

INTRODUCTION: Although therapeutic advances have improved results of cutaneous melanoma (CM), sentinel node-positive patients still have substantial risk to develop recurrent disease. We aim to investigate prognostic indicators associated with disease recurrence in positive-sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) patients in a Latin-American population. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of CM patients and positive-SLNB (2010-2020). Patients were divided into two groups: Group A (completion lymph node dissection, CLND), Group B (active surveillance, AS). Association of demographics, tumor data and SLN features with recurrence-free (RFS), distant metastases-free (DMFS) and melanoma specific (MSS) survival was analyzed. RESULTS: Of 205 patients, 45 had a positive SLNB; 27(60%) belonged to Group A and 18(40%) to Group B. With a median follow-up of 36 months, 16 patients (12 in Group A and 4 in Group B) developed recurrent disease and estimated 5-yr RFS at any site was 60% (CI95%, 0.39 - 0.77) (44.5% in CLND group vs. 22% in AS group; P = 0.20). Estimated 5-yr DMFS and MSS: 65% (CI 95%, 0.44 - 0.81) and 73% (CI 95%, 0.59 - 0.89) with no differences between groups (p = 0.41 and 0.37, respectively). Independent predictors of poorer MSS were extranodal extension (ENE) and MaxSize > 2 mm of melanoma deposit in SLN. Factors independently associated with DMFS: Breslow depth > 2 mm, ENE, number (≥ 2) of positive SN and CLND status. CONCLUSION: Primary tumor and SN features in melanoma provide important prognostic information that help optimize prognosis and clinical management. AS is now the preferred approach for most positive-SLNB CM patients.

Introducción: Si bien los avances terapéuticos han permitido mejorar los resultados del melanoma cutáneo (MC), los pacientes con ganglio centinela positivo (BGCP) aún tienen riesgo elevado de desarrollar recurrencia de la enfermedad. Nuestro objetivo fue investigar indicadores pronósticos asociados a dicho evento en una población latinoamericana. Métodos: Análisis retrospectivo de pacientes con MC y BGCP entre 2010-2020. Los pacientes se dividieron en 2 grupos: Grupo A (linfadenectomía terapéutica) y Grupo B (Vigilancia activa, VA). Se analizaron datos demográficos, tumorales y características del GC junto con sobrevidalibre de recurrencia (SLR), libre de metástasis a distancia (SLMD) y específica de melanoma (SEM). Resultados: De 205 pacientes, 45 presentaron BGCP; 27 (60%) perteneció al Grupo A y 18 (40%) al Grupo B. Con una mediana de seguimiento de 36 meses, 16 pacientes (12 en Grupo A y 4 en Grupo B) desarrollaron enfermedad recurrente con una SLR a 5 años de 60% (IC95%: 0.39-0.77) (44.5% en Grupo B vs. 22% en Grupo A; P = 0.20). Las SLMD y SEM estimadas a 5 años fueron de 65% (CI 95%, 0.44 ­ 0.81) y 73% (CI 95%, 0.59 ­ 0.89) sin diferencias entre ambos grupos (p = 0.41 y 0.37, respectivamente). Los predictores independientes de peor SEM fueron: extensión extranodal (ENE) y MaxSize > 2mm de depósito tumoral en GC. Los factores asociados de forma independiente con SLMD fueron Breslow > 2mm, ENE, número (≥ 2) de GC positivos y el status (positividad) de la linfadenectomía. Conclusión: Características del tumor primario y del GC brindan información importante que ayuda a optimizar el pronóstico y manejo clínico de los pacientes con MC. La VA es actualmente el abordaje de elección para la mayoría de los pacientes con BGCP.

Gastric perforation secondary to T-cell lymphoma.

Introduction: Malignant primary lymphoma represents only 1%-5% of all gastric tumours. Spontaneous gastric perforation in the absence of chemotherapy in these cases is extremely rare. The vast majority of primary gastric lymphomas have a B-cell phenotype that originates from mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue and primary gastric lymphomas with a T-cell phenotype are rarely reported. This report describes a case of a primary gastric T-cell malignant lymphoma associated to spontaneous perforation and peritonitis. Case presentation: An 80-year-old woman referring 24 hours of abdominal pain associated to cognitive impairment consulted to our Emergency Department. Her past medical history revealed smoking, hypothyroidism, dilated cardiomyopathy, hypertension, celiac disease with poor adherence to gluten-free diet and a Non-Hodgkin T cell lymphoma associated to enteropathy in 2010. At physical examination, she presented with tachycardia, hypotension and abdominal tenderness. Lab test revealed low red cell count and an abdomen computed tomography scan showed pneumoperitoneum secondary to a large gastric perforation located in the anterior wall of the antrum. Urgent surgery was performed. At exploratory laparoscopy, a 5 cm perforation of the anterior wall of prepyloric antrum was observed associated to a 4-quadrant peritonitis. Conversion to open surgery was decided to perform an open antrectomy and Billroth II gastro-jejunostomy. The patient was transferred to ICU after surgery under mechanical respiratory assistance for closed monitoring but evolved with a cardiogenic shock and deceased on the first postoperative day. The final histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis reported enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma of gastric localisation with concomitant celiac disease. Discussion: We present a rare case of a patient with a history of celiac disease who developed a gastric perforation secondary to an enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma of gastric localisation. To the best of authors' knowledge, there have been reported less than 30 cases of spontaneous perforation of gastric lymphoma in the absence of chemotherapy in the last 35 years. Malignant gastric lymphoma, accounting only for 1% of primary gastric malignancies, is usually a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Incidence of perforation of gastric lymphomas in patients receiving chemotherapy rounds 0.9%-1.1%. However, it is a rare condition in patients not receiving chemotherapy. Conclusion: This is a rare case of a patient with an enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma of gastric localisation, who developed a spontaneous gastric perforation in the absence of chemotherapy. Despite it is a rare condition, it must be suspected in patients with a history of lymphoma in the context of acute abdominal pain.