Predictors and Survival Impact of False-Negative Sentinel Nodes in Melanoma.

BACKGROUND: The status of the sentinel lymph node in melanoma is an important prognostic factor. The clinical predictors and implications of false-negative (FN) biopsy remain debatable. METHODS: We compared patients with positive sentinel lymph node biopsy (SNB) [true positive (TP)] and negative SNB with and without regional recurrence [FN, true negative (TN)] from our prospective institutional database. RESULTS: Among 2986 patients (84 FN, 494 TP, and 2408 TN; median follow-up 93 months), the incidence of FN-SNB was 2.8%. While calculated FN rate was 14.5% [84 FN/(494 TP + 84 FN) × 100], when we accounted for local/in-transit recurrence (LITR) this rate was 8.5% [46 FN/(494 TP + 46 FN) × 100 %]. On multivariate analysis, male gender (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.1-3.6, p = 0.018), head/neck primaries (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.3-4.8, p < 0.006), and LITR (OR 3.5, 95% CI 2.1-5.8, p < 0.001) were associated with FN-SNB. Melanoma-specific survival (MSS) for the FN group was similar to the TP group at 5 years (68 vs. 73%, p = 0.539). However, MSS declined more for the FN group with a longer follow up and was significantly worse at 10 years (44 vs. 64%, p < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, FN-SNB was a significant predictor of worse MSS in melanomas <4 mm in Breslow thickness (HR 1.6; 95% CI 1.1-2.5, p = 0.021). CONCLUSIONS: Male gender, LITR, and head and neck tumors were associated with FN-SNB. FN-SNB was an independent predictor of worse MSS in melanomas <4 mm in thickness, but this survival difference did not become apparent until after 5 years of follow-up.

Attitudes and Perceptions of Surgical Oncology Fellows on ACGME Accreditation and the Complex General Surgical Oncology Certification.

BACKGROUND: With the first qualifying examination administered September 15, 2014, complex general surgical oncology (CGSO) is now a board-certified specialty. We aimed to assess the attitudes and perceptions of current and future surgical oncology fellows regarding the recently instituted Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accreditation. METHODS: A 29-question anonymous survey was distributed to fellows in surgical oncology fellowship programs and applicants interviewing at our fellowship program. RESULTS: There were 110 responses (79 fellows and 31 candidates). The response rate for the first- and second-year fellows was 66 %. Ninety-percent of the respondents were aware that completing an ACGME-accredited fellowship leads to board eligibility in CGSO. However, the majority (80 %) of the respondents stated that their decision to specialize in surgical oncology was not influenced by the ACGME accreditation. The fellows in training were concerned about the cost of the exam (90 %) and expressed anxiety in preparing for another board exam (83 %). However, the majority of the respondents believed that CGSO board certification will be helpful (79 %) in obtaining their future career goals. Interestingly, candidate fellows appeared more focused on a career in general complex surgical oncology (p = 0.004), highlighting the impact that fellowship training may have on organ-specific subspecialization. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of the surveyed surgical oncology fellows and candidates believe that obtaining board certification in CGSO is important and will help them pursue their career goals. However, the decision to specialize in surgical oncology does not appear to be motivated by ACGME accreditation or the new board certification.

Hepatic hemorrhage as a consequence of rapid response to combined targeted therapy in metastatic melanoma.

A middle-aged female with metastatic melanoma was found to have hemoperitoneum after starting systemic therapy with the BRAF and MEK inhibitors dabrafenib and trametinib. Etiology proved to be bleeding from a known hepatic metastasis. The patient was managed conservatively and eventually resumed systemic therapy with ongoing response. This case serves to illustrate the possible deleterious effects of rapid tumor response after initiation of targeted systemic therapy in patients with metastatic melanoma.

Age at Primary Malignancy Determines Survival in Adolescent and Young Adults That Develop a Secondary Thyroid Cancer.

PURPOSE: Second malignancy status is a risk factor for death in adolescent and young adults (AYAs) (ages 15-39) with thyroid cancer (TC). This study investigates whether age at primary malignancy (PM) is an independent predictor of overall survival (OS) for AYA patients diagnosed with secondary TC who have survived ≥5 years from their PM. METHODS: Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results program (SEER) multiple-primary session (SEER-9 [1973-2010] and SEER-13 [1992-2010]) identified all secondary TCs in patients <40 years of age who were also 5-year survivors. Patients with a thyroid second malignant neoplasm (SMN) diagnosed as an AYA were categorized by age at PM (pediatric <15 years vs. AYA). Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional analysis determined OS. RESULTS: Four hundred twenty-eight cases of secondary AYA TCs in 5-year cancer survivors were identified; 71 had a pediatric PM and 357 an AYA PM. Median OS after a pediatric PM was 35.76 years and 33.22 years after an AYA-PM (p = 0.023); only one death was due to TC. Race, site and stage of PM, marital status, and three or more independent PMs also influenced OS (all p < 0.05). However, TC characteristics, stage, and treatment did not affect OS. Cox regression demonstrated that patients with an AYA PM had a 5.84 relative risk of death (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.81-18.91) compared to patients with a pediatric PM. Among AYAs who develop a TC as a second PM, OS is not affected by the TC. The OS for these patients is associated with their demographics and the characteristics of their PM: patients who are black, male, have three or more primary cancers, and a higher stage of their first malignancy are more likely to die. CONCLUSION: For AYA patients with thyroid SMNs, having a prior AYA PM (compared to a pediatric PM), Black race, and having three or more independent tumors predicted a decreased OS, independent of PM type or PM/SMN stage.

Impact of Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy on Overall Survival in Patients with Nonmetastatic Adrenocortical Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Appropriate use of laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA) for adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) remains controversial because complete resection with negative margins is the best chance for potential cure. This study compared the oncologic outcomes and overall survival (OS) of LA and open adrenalectomy (OA) for ACC. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) between 2010 and 2014 identified 423 European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumors (ENSAT) stage I to III ACC patients who had LA (n = 137) or OA (n = 286). Outcomes and OS were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: Patients who underwent OA had more advanced stage disease (p = 0.0001), larger (≥5 cm) tumors (p < 0.0001), and were younger (age less than 55 years, p = 0.05). Nodal assessment was rare in LA (n = 4) compared with OA (n = 88) (p < 0.0001). Margin positivity was affected only by surgical approach in patients with T3 tumors (LA 54.6% vs OA 21.7%; p = 0.0009). Neither surgical procedure nor any socio-demographic factor(s) affected OS for the entire cohort. Only positive margins (p = 0.007), positive nodes (p = 0.02), tumor extension (p = 0.01), and more advanced ENSAT stage (p = 0.004) increased mortality. When stratified by disease stage, LA decreased OS for patients with stage II disease (p = 0.04), and remained an independent risk factor for death on multivariate analysis (hazard ratio [HR] 1.86, 95% CI 1.02 to 3.38; p = 0.04). Only positive margins decreased OS in the entire cohort (HR 2.17, 95% CI 1.32 to 3.57; p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Use of LA may decrease OS in select patients with ACC. Because margin status remains the strongest predictor of mortality, caution should be used in selecting LA for patients with ACC.

Impact of Completion Lymph Node Dissection on Patients with Positive Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Melanoma.

BACKGROUND: Whether patients with positive SLNB should undergo complete lymph node dissection (CLND) is an important unanswered clinical question. STUDY DESIGN: Patients diagnosed with positive SLNB at a melanoma referral center from 1991 to 2013 were studied. Outcomes of patients who underwent CLND were compared with those who did not undergo immediate CLND (observation [OBS] group). RESULTS: There were 471 patients who had positive SLNB; 375 (79.6%) in the CLND group and 96 (20.4%) in the OBS group. The groups were similar except that the CLND group was younger and had more sentinel nodes removed. Five-year nodal recurrence-free survival was significantly better in the CLND group compared with the OBS group (93.1% vs 84.4%; p = 0.005). However, 5-year (66.4% vs 55.2%) and 10-year (59.5% vs 45.0%) distant metastasis-free survival rates were not significantly different (p = 0.061). The CLND group's melanoma-specific survival (MSS) rate was superior to that of the OBS group; 5-year MSS rates were 73.7% vs 65.5% and 10-year MSS rates were 66.8% vs 48.3% (p = 0.015). On multivariate analysis, CLND was associated with improved MSS (hazard ratio = 0.60; 95% CI, 0.40-0.89; p = 0.011) and lower nodal recurrence (hazard ratio = 0.46; 95% CI, 0.24-0.86; p = 0.016). Increased Breslow thickness, older age, ulceration, and trunk melanoma were all associated with worse outcomes. On subgroup analysis, the following factors were associated with better outcomes from CLND: male sex, nonulcerated primary, intermediate thickness, Clark level IV or lower extremity tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of positive SLNB with CLND was associated with improved MSS and nodal recurrence rates. Follow-up beyond 5 years was needed to see a significant difference in MSS rates.

Laparoscopic techniques for safe and successful removal of common bile duct stones in pediatric patients.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Choledocholithiasis is uncommon in the pediatric population. Techniques for common bile duct stone extraction are still not well established. This article aims to describe safe and applicable techniques for pediatric common bile duct exploration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database of two pediatric surgeons for patients undergoing laparoscopic common bile duct exploration at two tertiary-care centers from April 2008 to March 2012. RESULTS: For 39 patients under 15 years of age undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy, 10 cholangiograms were performed, and 8 were found to have filling defects. Seven patients underwent successful laparoscopic common bile duct exploration with documentation of stone clearance, and 1 patient was sent for postoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with stone extraction. Eleven patients had cholecystectomy performed by single-incision laparoscopic surgery, but none of these had cholangiograms or common bile duct explorations. Various methods of stone clearance were used, including the use of saline flush, balloon catheters, nitinol stone extractors, and the aide of glucagon. Depending on patient size, a choledochosope or a ureteroscope was used. There were no complications and no conversions to open surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic common bile duct exploration is feasible in the pediatric population, using many of the instruments readily available in the standard operating room. With an armamentarium of tools and techniques, the method of stone extraction can be tailored to the patient and situation.

Retail meat consumption and the acquisition of antimicrobial resistant Escherichia coli causing urinary tract infections: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: The increasing incidence of community-acquired urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by antimicrobial resistant Escherichia coli, and observations of potential outbreaks of UTI-causing E. coli, suggest that food may be an important source of E. coli in women who develop UTI. We sought to determine if acquisition of and infection with a UTI-causing, antimicrobial resistant E. coli isolate is associated with a woman's dietary habits, specifically her preparation and consumption of retail meat products. METHODS: Between April 2003 and June 2004, a case-control study was conducted. The dietary habits of women with UTI caused by an antimicrobial resistant E. coli (cases) and women with UTI caused by fully susceptible E. coli (controls) were compared. Broth microdilution was used to perform antimicrobial resistance testing. All E. coli isolates were genotyped by the pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) method. RESULTS: Ninety-nine women met study criteria. Women who were infected with multidrug-resistant E. coli reported more frequent chicken consumption (adjusted OR = 3.7, 95% CI 1.1, 12.4). Women with UTI caused by an ampicillin- or cephalosporin-resistant E. coli isolate reported more frequent consumption of pork (adjusted OR = 3.2, 95% CI 1.0, 10.3 and adjusted OR = 4.0, 95% CI 1.0, 15.5, respectively). Frequent alcohol consumption was associated with antimicrobial resistant UTI. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides epidemiologic evidence that antimicrobial resistant, UTI-causing E. coli could have a food reservoir, possibly in poultry or pork.