Metastatic lymph node characteristics as predictors of recurrence/persistence in the neck and distant metastases in differentiated thyroid cancer

ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between this characteristic and outcomes in patients with lymph node metastasis in a Brazilian cohort. Subjects and methods: This study examined a retrospective cohort of adult patients diagnosed with differentiated thyroid cancer and lymph node metastases from 1998 to 2015 in two referral centers. Number, location, size and extranodal extension (ENE) of metastatic lymph nodes were assessed and correlated with response to initial therapy. Results: A greater number of metastatic nodes, larger size, presence of lateral neck disease and ENE were all associated with a lower probability of achieving an excellent response to initial therapy (p ≤ 0.05 for all these parameters). Local recurrent disease had a significant association with lymph node number (6 in the recurrence/persistence group versus 4 in the non-recurrent group; p = 0.02) and ENE (19.2 versus 75%, p = 0.03). Lateral neck disease was the only characteristic associated with distant metastasis and was present in 52.1% of the group without metastasis and 70.4% of the group with metastasis (p = 0.001). Conclusion: The lymph node characteristics were associated with response to initial therapy and neck recurrence/persistence, confirming the importance of the analysis of these factors in risk stratification in a Brazilian population and its possible use to tailor initial staging and long term follow-up.

Metastatic lymph node characteristics as predictors of recurrence/persistence in the neck and distant metastases in differentiated thyroid cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between this characteristic and outcomes in patients with lymph node metastasis in a Brazilian cohort. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This study examined a retrospective cohort of adult patients diagnosed with differentiated thyroid cancer and lymph node metastases from 1998 to 2015 in two referral centers. Number, location, size and extranodal extension (ENE) of metastatic lymph nodes were assessed and correlated with response to initial therapy. RESULTS: A greater number of metastatic nodes, larger size, presence of lateral neck disease and ENE were all associated with a lower probability of achieving an excellent response to initial therapy (p ≤ 0.05 for all these parameters). Local recurrent disease had a significant association with lymph node number (6 in the recurrence/persistence group versus 4 in the non-recurrent group; p = 0.02) and ENE (19.2 versus 75%, p = 0.03). Lateral neck disease was the only characteristic associated with distant metastasis and was present in 52.1% of the group without metastasis and 70.4% of the group with metastasis (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The lymph node characteristics were associated with response to initial therapy and neck recurrence/persistence, confirming the importance of the analysis of these factors in risk stratification in a Brazilian population and its possible use to tailor initial staging and long term follow-up.

Prognostic Factors for Early and Long-Term Remission in Pediatric Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma: The Role of Sex, Age, Clinical Presentation, and the Newly Proposed American Thyroid Association Risk Stratification System.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of pediatric differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) has been rising in recent years, and the main risk factors for recurrence are lymph node and distant metastasis at diagnosis. Other clinical features remain unclear, such as the impact of age, sex, and puberty. Furthermore, until now, this population has been treated using the same strategies used to treat adults. In 2015, the American Thyroid Association (ATA) published the first guidelines targeted at this age group. The aims of this study were to investigate the prognostic factors for early and long-term remission and also to validate the ATA risk stratification proposal in a population outside the United States. METHODS: Clinical records from 118 patients <18 years old followed in two referral centers were reviewed. The median age was 12 years (range 4-18 years), and 20.3% (24 patients) were <10 years old at diagnosis. The median follow-up was 9.1 years. The majority were female (72%) and received total thyroidectomy and radioiodine therapy (RAI), and 61.8% were treated with more than one dose of RAI. The majority were classified as high risk (48.3%) by the new ATA pediatric guidelines due to distant metastasis (30 patients) or extensive lymph node involvement (27 patients). The remained were classified as low risk (31.3%) and intermediate risk (20.4%). RESULTS: Females with no lymph node or distant metastasis and low ATA pediatric risk were more likely to have no evidence of disease (p < 0.05) within the first year and also in the long term. In this study, age did not significantly predict outcomes. Furthermore, patients also benefitted from multiple doses of RAI, but when the cumulative activity was >400 mCi, this benefit was diminished. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the ATA risk stratification proposal for pediatric patients is useful in predicting early and long-term outcomes in pediatric patients with DTC. In addition, it shows that sex and metastatic disease are important prognostic factors in pediatric populations.

Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the salivary gland: a clinicopathological study of 49 cases and of metallothionein expression with regard to tumour behaviour.

AIMS: Adenoid cystic carcinoma (AdCC) of the salivary glands shows heterogeneous behaviour, with metastasis as a key indicator of poor prognosis. Metallothionein (MT) expression has been associated with poor prognosis of diverse neoplasms. We evaluated prognostic factors for AdCC and the role played by MT, focusing on metastatic behaviour. METHODS AND RESULTS: We reviewed the files of the Brazilian National Institute of Cancer between 1997 and 2004, obtaining 49 cases. Fourteen tumours had metastasized during follow-up. Among these, we identified cases presenting with metastasis at patient admission as showing the poorest survival rates. MT immunostaining of the tumours was performed (using the E9 antibody), and evaluated for the parameters of proportion, intensity and distribution in tumour cells. Extent and intensity of staining, and Quickscore (a combined measure of extent and intensity), were higher in metastatic than non-metastatic tumours (for Quickscore, P = 0.044), with highest values found for cases of early metastasis. Most cases showing weak staining, and all with a predominantly cytoplasm-restricted staining pattern, were non-metastatic. Metastatic tumours of solid type received higher scores than solid non-metastatic (Intensity, P = 0.0239; Quickscore, P = 0.0481). CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrated metastasis to be the most significant indicator of poor prognosis and deterioration for AdCC. Consistent patterns of MT expression were observed to correlate with metastatic behaviour, indicating that MT may potentially serve as a prognostic marker for AdCC.

Total thyroidectomy with ultrasonic scalpel: a multicenter, randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The ultrasonic scalpel is a recently introduced device in head and neck surgery. Total thyroidectomy is the most common endocrine procedure performed by surgeons. METHODS: This was an open, phase IV, multicenter, randomized controlled trial (RCT) that compared the use of an ultrasonic scalpel with a conventional technique in patients who underwent total thyroidectomy. The outcomes were surgical complication rate, operative time, drainage volume, postoperative pain, and costs. RESULTS: In all, 261 patients were included in 11 centers. There was a mean difference of 17% of operative time in favor of the ultrasonic scalpel group. There were no differences in postoperative complications. There was a difference in costs of 14% in favor of the ultrasonic scalpel group, but it was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The use of an ultrasonic scalpel was as safe as that of the conventional technique and had the advantage of a shorter operative time and lower postoperative drainage. Costs were not different between groups.

Sublingual gland tumors: clinical, pathologic, and therapeutic analysis of 13 patients treated in a single institution.

BACKGROUND: Sublingual gland tumors are rare, although frequently malignant. This study describes the clinicopathologic features and treatment results and reviews the literature. METHODS: Thirteen cases treated between 1996 and 2007 were reviewed with interest on clinical, pathologic, and therapeutic information. Survival data were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Malignancies represented 92.3% of cases. Adenoid cystic carcinoma was the most common malignant type (66.7%). Most patients (83.3%) presented in advanced pathologic TNM stages (III or IV). All cases underwent surgical treatment. Neck dissection was performed in 69.2% with no metastases detected. Ten patients (83.3%) had adjuvant radiotherapy. Distant metastases occurred in 3 patients (25%). The 5-year overall and disease-free survival rates were 78.7% and 87.5%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Tumors of the sublingual gland are rare and are usually malignant. Radical surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy seems to offer adequate local and regional control. Unlike distant failure, local recurrence and regional metastases are not common.

Vascular endothelial growth factor and thymidine phosphorylase expression in salivary gland tumors with distinct metastatic behavior.

BACKGROUND: Metastasis of salivary gland tumors has a negative impact on survival. Angiogenesis and its factors are potential markers for predicting metastasis in different malignant tumors, but this is not the case for salivary gland tumors. METHODS: Salivary gland tumors of distinct biologic behavior were analyzed according to the semiquantitative immunoexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and thymidine phosphorylase (TP). RESULTS: Vascular endothelial growth factor expression was predominantly weak in benign tumors. Weak TP expression was observed in 100% cases of benign tumors and in 74.3% of primary malignant tumors. High VEGF and TP expression levels were significantly associated with primary malignant tumors but not with primary non-metastasizing and primary metastasizing malignant tumors or with subtypes of malignant tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Vascular endothelial growth factor and TP expression levels discriminate benign and malignant tumors but cannot predict metastasis from non-metastasizing tumors.

Can the lymph node reactivity pattern in the pN0 neck analysis provide any additional prognostic information in patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma? / A análise do padrão de reatividade linfonodal no pescoço pN0 pode fornecer alguma informação prognóstica adicional em pacientes com carcinoma epidermoide de laringe?

Objective: To evaluate the influence of lymph node reactivity on recurrence and survival rates in a population of pT3 or pT4 pN0 patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Methods: Between 2002 and 2005, 105 patients with LSSC underwent total laryngectomy with bilateral selective neck dissection including levels II, III and IV. Most (69) received PO radiotherapy. All pathological specimens were either pT3 or pT4, and all necks were pN0. All lymph nodes were analyzed and their reactivity status were classified as the following four patterns: follicular hyperplasia associated with humoral response, paracortical hyperplasia associated with cellular response, sinus histiocytosis with no association with specific immune response, or normal lymph node. Only the first two patterns were considered stimulated, whereas the last two were considered non-stimulated. The most prevalent pattern in a particular neck specimen was considered for the analysis of recurrence and survival. Results: The total number of lymph nodes studied was 3,648, with an average of 34.7 lymph nodes/neck specimens. The most frequent lymph node reactivity patterns were sinusal histiocytosis (50 cases), paracortical hyperplasia (35 cases), and follicular hyperplasia (20 cases). There was no statistical association of these individual patterns with recurrence rate (p = 0.98) or mortality (p = 0.49). However, there was a statistically significant association between paracortical hyperplasia pattern (related to cellular lymph node immunity) and improved five-year survival (76 versus 60%; log-rank = 0.05). Conclusions: There was a positive correlation between stimulated cellular lymph node pattern and improved 5-year survival rate in patients with pN0 laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma, suggesting the indication of adjuvant treatment for those individuals with decreased immune response, even in the absence of pathologic metastases detected by the usual methods.

Objetivo: Avaliar a importância da reatividade linfonodal na recidiva e mortalidade em pacientes com carcinoma epidermoide de laringe estagiados como pT3 ou pT4 pN0 M0. Métodos: Entre 2002 e 2005, foram selecionados 105 pacientes matriculados na Seção de Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço do Instituto Nacional de Câncer (INCA) com o diagnóstico de carcinoma epidermoide de laringe, com estágio III ou IV. A radioterapia foi indicada em 69 casos. Todos os pacientes foram estagiados como pT3 ou pT4 e pN0. Todos os linfonodos ressecados foram analisados e classificados conforme os quatro padrões de reatividade linfonodal: hiperplasia folicular associada à resposta imune humoral, hiperplasia paracortical associada à resposta imune celular, histiocitose sinusal sem relação com resposta imune específica, e linfonodo normal. Os dois primeiros padrões são definidos como linfonodos estimulados e os dois últimos como linfonodos não-estimulados. O padrão linfonodal mais frequente em cada paciente foi considerado para a análise da relação com a recidiva e mortalidade. Resultados: Foi analisado um total de 3.648 linfonodos, com média de 34,7 linfonodos por paciente. O padrão de reatividade mais frequente foi a histiocitose sinusal (50 casos), seguido da hiperplasia paracortical (35 casos) e da hiperplasia folicular (20 casos), sendo esses padrões sem relação com a recidiva (p = 0,98) ou mortalidade (p = 0,49). No entanto, o estímulo da imunidade celular relacionada à hiperplasia paracervical apresentou relação com significância estatística com melhor sobrevida global em cinco anos (76 versus 60%; log-rank = 0,05). Conclusões: houve correlação positiva entre o padrão de estímulo da imunidade celular e o aumento da sobrevida em cinco anos em paciente pN0 com carcinoma epidermoide de laringe sugerindo a indicação de tratamento adjuvante em casos que apresentarem diminuição da imunidade celular mesmo na ausência de metástases patológicas detectadas pelos métodos habituais.

Can the lymph node reactivity pattern in the pN0 neck analysis provide any additional prognostic information in patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of lymph node reactivity on recurrence and survival rates in a population of pT3 or pT4 pN0 patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. METHODS: Between 2002 and 2005, 105 patients with LSSC underwent total laryngectomy with bilateral selective neck dissection including levels II, III and IV. Most (69) received PO radiotherapy. All pathological specimens were either pT3 or pT4, and all necks were pN0. All lymph nodes were analyzed and their reactivity status were classified as the following four patterns: follicular hyperplasia associated with humoral response, paracortical hyperplasia associated with cellular response, sinus histiocytosis with no association with specific immune response, or normal lymph node. Only the first two patterns were considered stimulated, whereas the last two were considered non-stimulated. The most prevalent pattern in a particular neck specimen was considered for the analysis of recurrence and survival. RESULTS: The total number of lymph nodes studied was 3,648, with an average of 34.7 lymph nodes/neck specimens. The most frequent lymph node reactivity patterns were sinusal histiocytosis (50 cases), paracortical hyperplasia (35 cases), and follicular hyperplasia (20 cases). There was no statistical association of these individual patterns with recurrence rate (p = 0.98) or mortality (p = 0.49). However, there was a statistically significant association between paracortical hyperplasia pattern (related to cellular lymph node immunity) and improved five-year survival (76 versus 60%; log-rank = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There was a positive correlation between stimulated cellular lymph node pattern and improved 5-year survival rate in patients with pN0 laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma, suggesting the indication of adjuvant treatment for those individuals with decreased immune response, even in the absence of pathologic metastases detected by the usual methods.

Warthin's tumor at the Brazilian National Cancer Institute: additional evidence of homogeneous sex prevalence and association with other neoplasms.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: To report the largest Brazilian series of Warthin's tumor (WT). PROCEDURES: The medical files of 76 patients with WT treated in the Brazilian National Cancer Institute from 1996 to 2006 were reviewed. RESULTS: The male:female ratio was 2:1, with a predominance of white, old, and smoking patients. However, there were more women among the nonsmokers. One fifth of the patients presented with synchronous multiple lesions. Parotid lesions were prevalent, but there were patients with lesions in cervical lymph nodes and in the inferior lip. Most cases were treated by superficial parotidectomy, without recurrences. One fourth of the patients also developed other primary neoplasms. CONCLUSIONS: The observed data do not differ from those in the international literature. Multiplicity and the development of other neoplastic diseases require close clinical management of patients with WT. MESSAGE: The previously unreported observation of female prevalence among nonsmoking people with WT should be confirmed and explored in future studies.

Atypical facial access: an unusually high prevalence of use among patients with skull base tumors treated at 2 centers.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the influence of the unique percentage of skin carcinomas with skull base invasion on the choice of the facial surgical approach. DESIGN: Multi-institutional retrospective analysis of the medical charts of all patients who had undergone oncological craniofacial operations from 1981 to 2005. Data were collected on demographic distribution, location of the primary tumor, histologic type, type of operation, reconstruction, complications, and outcome. Special attention was directed toward the choice of facial approach. SETTING: Two major tertiary care centers. PATIENTS: A total of 484 patients who had undergone major skull base operations. INTERVENTION: Frequency of atypical facial approaches. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Impact on the need for more sophisticated reconstructions and on surgical morbidity. RESULTS: During this 25-year period, 484 patients underwent major skull base operations in the 2 centers; data concerning 467 cases were available for analysis. The median age of the patients was 52.8 years (range, 4-88 years), and the male-female ratio was 1.9:1.0. The initial location of the tumor was the craniofacial skin in 63.5% of cases, ethmoid in 10.8%, maxilla in 2.3%, orbit in 1.9%, and other origins, including endocranial, in 19.4%. The histologic type of the lesions was basal cell carcinoma in 42.0% of cases, squamous cell carcinoma in 29.5%, esthesioneuroblastoma in 5.3%, adenocarcinoma in 3.9%, adenoid cystic carcinoma in 2.8%, and other types in 16.5%. Owing to this high prevalence of advanced skin carcinomas, the most commonly employed facial approach was atypical, tailored to encompass all compromised skin and underlying tissues, in 55.5% of cases, followed by the Weber-Ferguson approach, with all its variations (eg, nasal swing) in 17.8%, lateral rhinotomy in 12.2%, facial translocation in 3.8%, and other facial techniques in 7.7%. No facial approach was required in 1.5% of cases. CONCLUSION: In most situations, head and neck surgeons chose an atypical surgical approach to properly resect all facial structures invaded by very advanced skin cancers.

Metástase cervical nos tumores malignos da parótida / Neck metastasis in malignant parotid tumors

OBJETIVO: Analisar fatores que influenciam a ocorrência de metástase linfática cervical e a sobrevida nos tumores malignos epiteliais da glândula parótida. MÉTODO: Analisamos retrospectivamente os prontuários de 150 pacientes tratados em nossa instituição de 1974 a 1998. Vinte e quatro pacientes foram excluídos do estudo por não terem sido tratados primariamente por cirurgia. O 126 pacientes restantes foram submetidos a parotidectomia e incluídos neste estudo. Setenta e quatro pacientes tiveram sua cirurgia complementada por radioterapia pós-operatória. Trinta e quatro pacientes foram submetidos ao esvaziamento cervical associado a parotidectomia. A idade média foi de 49 anos. Todos os pacientes foram estadiados pela Classificação TNM da UICC de 1997, sendo 49 pacientes estágio I, 27 estágio II, 22 estágio III, and 28 estágio IV. A influência dos fatores analisados na ocorrência de metástase cervical foi estabelecida pelo teste do chi quadrado e por análise multivariada. A influência de fatores prognósticos na sobrevida específica de doença (SED) em 5 e 10 anos foi estabelecida pelo método de Kaplan-Meier e pelo teste log-rank. RESULTADOS: O tipo histopatológico de 40 pacientes foi o carcinoma mucoepidermóide, de 18 pacientes o adenocarcinoma (SOE), de 18 pacientes o carcinoma de células acinares, de 15 pacientes o carcinoma adenóide cístico, de 11 pacientes o carcinoma exadenoma pleomórfico, de 11 pacientes o carcinoma de ducto salivares, e de 13 pacientes outras histopatologias. Vinte e cinco pacientes apresentaram recidivas, 17 recidivas locais, quatro recidivas regionais, e quatro recidivas loco-regionais. A incidência geral de metástase linfática cervical foi de 17,5 por cento. Metástases linfáticas cervicais ocultas ocorreram em cinco pacientes daqueles submetidos a esvaziamento cervical profilático. A presença de paralisia facial no diagnóstico, a idade, o estágio T, e o grau de malignidade foram relacionados a ocorrência de metástase...

BACKGROUND: Factors influencing the occurrence of neck metastasis and survival in patients with parotid malignant epithelial tumors are analyzed. METHODS: One hundred fifty patients treated at our institution from 1974 to 1998 were retrospectively reviewed. Twenty four patients were not treated by surgery and were excluded from this study. The remaining 126 patients were operated on and 74 patients had postoperative radiotherapy. Thirty four patients were treated with parotidectomy plus neck dissection. The mean age was 49 years old. According to the UICC/1997 TNM Classification 49 patients were Stage I, 27 were Stage II, 22 were Stage III, and 28 were Stage IV. The influence of selected factors on 10 years disease-specific survival was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier actuarial method and log-rank test. RESULTS: Forty patients had mucoepidermoid carcinoma, 18 patients adenocarcinoma, 18 patients acinic cell carcinoma, 15 patients adenoid cystic carcinoma, 11 patients carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma, 11 patients salivary duct carcinoma, and 13 patients other pathology. Recurrences occurred on 27 patients, 17 local, 4 had neck recurrences, and 4 loco-regional recurrences. Overall incidence of neck metastasis was 17.5 percent. Occult neck metastasis occurred in 5 patients who underwent elective neck dissection. Facial nerve dysfunction, age, T stage, grade, and histology were related to the recurrence of neck metastasis in univariate analysis. Prognoses were negatively influenced by five factors: T3- T4 stage, high malignancy grade, presence of cervical metastases, facial nerve palsy at first presentation and age higher then 50 years old. Ten years disease-specific survival was 97 percent for stage I, 81 percent for stage II, 56 percent for stage II, and 20 percent for stage IV. CONCLUSION: Tumor grade and stage were the most important prognostic factors. In spite of lack of prospective randomized published studies, recommendations to do elective...

Fatores prognósticos em pacientes com carcinoma das células de hürthle / Prognostic factors in patients with hürthle cell carcinoma

OBJETIVO: Analisar fatores prognósticos na sobrevida livre de doença e específica dos pacientes com carcinomas de células de Hürthle. MÉTODO: Estudo retrospectivo de 28 pacientes tratados na Seção de Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço do HCI - INCa, objetivando coletar dados demográficos, clínicos e histopatológicos e relacioná-los com a sobrevida livre de doença e sobrevida global específica. O estadiamento foi realizado conforme a AJCC de 2002. Para análise estatística foi utilizado o programa Epi info 2002, considerando-se significativo estatisticamente o valor de p < 0,05. A análise da curva de sobrevida foi realizada utilizando-se o método de Kaplan-Meyer. O tempo médio de seguimento foi de 69,3 meses (10 - 230 meses). RESULTADOS: Foram avaliados 28 pacientes, com idade média de 50,8 anos. As variáveis que apresentaram impacto prognóstico quanto a recidiva foram o estágio mais avançado da doença (p = 0,03), a presença de metástase a distância (p = 0,03 e principalmente o padrão histológico de invasão maciça (p = 0,0027). Quando relacionado as variáveis estudadas com a mortalidade, o padrão de invasão histológica maciça (p = 0,02), o maior tamanho do tumor (p = 0,013) e principalmente a presença de metástases a distância (p = 0,0056) apresentaram relação com significância estatística. A sobrevida livre de doença foi de 72 por cento e 55 por cento e a sobrevida global de 87 por cento e 77 por cento em 5 e 10 anos respectivamente. CONCLUSÃO: A presença de metástase à distância e o padrão histológico de invasão maciça apresentaram relação estatisticamente significativa com a sobrevida livre de doença e específica.

Relação entre idade, sexo, tratamento realizado e estágio da doença com a sobrevida em pacientes terminais com carcinoma epidermóide de laringe / Relationship between age, gender, treatment, and disease stage and survival in terminal patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx

Introdução: A evolução dos pacientes com carcinoma epidermóide (CEC) de laringe, após o término do tratamento oncológico curativo, deve ser melhor entendida para possibilitar suporte mais adequado neste período da evolução da doença.Objetivo: Avaliar o tempo de sobrevida e relacionar com fatores demográficos, clínicos e terapêuticos de pacientes portadores de CEC de laringe sem possibilidades de tratamento oncológico curativo. Determinar qual a maior causa de término de tratamento oncológico curativo em pacientes com CEC de laringe tratados no INCA e o sítio de metástases mais freqüente.Método: Estudo retrospectivo de 93 pacientes terminais com CEC de laringe tratados no HC IV, entre 1992 e 2003. A sobrevida dos pacientes foi relacionada com a idade, sexo, tratamento realizado e estágio do paciente nomomento do fim do tratamento oncológico curativo. Análise estatística realizada, considerando o valor de p menor que 0,05. Curva de sobrevida realizada pelo método de Kaplan-Meyer.Resultados: A sobrevida média dos pacientes, após ser determinado o fim do tratamento curativo, foi de 3,51 meses, e a idade, sexo, tratamento realizado e o estágio da doença não estiveram relacionados com o tempo desobrevida após o início dos cuidados paliativos. A maior causa de falência de tratamento foi a presença de doença loco-regional avançada. O sítio de metástase à distância mais freqüente foi o pulmão.Conclusão: A sobrevida dos pacientes com CEC de laringe em cuidados paliativos foi bastante curta não chegando a 4 meses, sendo que nenhum fator estudado alterou este período. A causa mais freqüente de falência do tratamento foi a doença locoregional avançada. O pulmão foi o sítio de metástase mais frequentemente acometido.

Valor prognóstico da invasão de cartilagem no câncer de laringe / Prognostic value of cartilage invasion in laryngeal cancer

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o valor prognóstico da invasão de cartilagens (tireóide, cricóide) no câncer de laringe, com relação à sobrevida livre de doença. MÉTODO: Foi realizada uma análise retrospectiva de 102 pacientes com câncer de laringe atendidos no período de 1992 a 1994 no Hospital do Câncer - INCA/MS-RJ, que foram divididos em quatro grupos: pacientes com tumores T3N0M0, estádio III (excluídos os pacientes com tumores T3N1M0); T4N0M0 (com invasão tumoral de cartilagem do laringe sem extravasamento); T4N0M0 (com extravasamento neoplásico pelo compartimento laríngeo); e pacientes com linfadenopatia cervical metastática (T3N2-3/T4N1-2-3). Foram realizadas curvas de sobrevida para cada grupo e comparada a diferença de sobrevida entre estes grupos, utilizando o método de Kaplan-Meier. O valor da significância estatística da diferença de sobrevida dos quatro grupos foi avaliado pelo método de Wilcoxon-Gehan. RESULTADOS: Os pacientes que apresentaram apenas invasão tumoral de cartilagem de laringe, sem extravasá-la (T4N0M0), se comportam como os pacientes com tumores T3N0M0, sem diferença estatística com relação à sobrevida (p=0,36). Os que apresentam apenas invasão neoplásica de cartilagens de laringe (T4N0M0) tiveram melhor prognóstico com relação à sobrevida, do que aqueles com extravasamento neoplásico pelo compartimento laríngeo (T4N0M0) (p=0,02). A presença de linfonodos metastáticos foi o fator que apresentou maior impacto adverso no prognóstico com relação à sobrevida (p=0,002). CONCLUSÃO: Os achados deste estudo questionam a validade da atual classificação TNM em estadiar tumores T4N0M0 de laringe. Novos estudos, com uma casuística maior, são necessários para que os resultados obtidos sejam corroborados.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the prognostic value of the cartilage invasion (thyroid, cricoid) in laryngeal cancer, in relation to disease free survival period. METHOD: Examination was made of the charts of 102 patients with cancer of the larynx treated at the INCA/MS-RJ Cancer Hospital between 1992 and 1994. These patients were divided into 4 groups: those having T3N0M0 stage III tumors (excluding patients with T3N1M0); those having T4N0M0 (with tumoral invasion of laryngeal cartilage without extralaryngeal spread); those having T4N0M0 (with neoplastic spread through the laryngeal compartment); and those having metastatic cervical lymphadenopathy (T3N2-3/T4N1-2-3). Survival rate curves were drawn for each group and the survival rate differences between the groups were compared using the Kaplan-Meier method. The value of statistical significance were calculated using the Wilcoxon-Gehan method. RESULTS: Those patients who presented with tumoral invasion of laryngeal cartilage without neoplastic spread, behaved like those with T3N0M0 tumors, with no statistical survival rate difference (p=0.36). Patients who had neoplastic invasion of the laryngeal cartilage (T4N0M0) had a better prognostic than those with extra laryngeal neoplastic spread (T4N0M0) (p=0.02). The presence of metastatic lymph nodes was the main adverse factor affecting prognosis (p=0.002). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study call into question the validity of the present TNM classification in the staging of T4N0M0 laryngeal tumors. New studies, based on a larger number of cases, are needed to corroborate our results.

Metástase cervical de carcinoma epidermóide com tumor primário desconhecido / Metastatic squamous cell carcinoma to the neck from an occult origin

Revisamos nossa experiência com carcinoma epidermóide metastático (CEM) para o pescoço com tumor primário desconhecido com a intenção de evidenciar quando o tratamento radioterápico exclusivo ou o tratamento cirúrgico seguido de radioterapia teriam impacto positivo sobre a sobrevida. Este é um estudo retrospectivo de 54 pacientes com CEM tratados na Seção de Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço do Hospital do Câncer/INCa entre 1986 e 1992. Quarenta e oito pacientes (89 por cento) eram do sexo masculino, a idade média foi de 54 anos. Quarenta pacientes tinham metástase para linfonodos cervicais da cadeia jugular interna alta (nível 2). Utilizamos a classificação TNM da UICC de 1992 para estagiar os pacientes, onde oito pacientes foram classificados como N1, vinte como N2, 22 como N3, sendo que quatro pacientes permaneceram não classificados. Todos foram submetidos a endoscopia do trato aerodigestivo superior e raio X de tórax. Trinta e cinco pacientes foram submetidos a biópsia de aspiração com agulha fina. Trinta e oito pacientes tiveram tratamento com intenção curativa e 16 tiveram tratamento paliativo com radioterapia. Dos pacientes tratados com intenção curativa, dez foram submetidos a esvaziamento cervical e 28 tiveram tratamento exclusivo com radioterapia. Os 16 pacientes tratados com intenção paliativa foram excluídos dos cálculos de sobrevida e análise das recidivas. As recidivas cervicais foram analisadas usando o método do qui-quadrado, e as curvas de sobrevida foram comparadas usando-se o teste de Wilcoxon. A biópsia aspirativa com agulha fina alcançou o diagnóstico em 85 por cento dos casos. Oito pacientes (15 por cento) apresentaram metástase à distância. O tumor primário foi identificado subsequentemente em 9 por cento dos pacientes. Dezoito pacientes (64 por cento) tratados com radioterapia exclusiva tiveram recidivas no pescoço, e três pacientes (33 por cento) tratados com cirurgia + radioterapia tiveram recidivas no pescoço (p=0,05). Os pacientes classificados como N2/N3 tratados com cirurgia + radioterapia tiveram melhores resultados do que os tratados com radioterapia exclusiva (respectivamente p=0,05 e p=0,09). Os pacientes N1 tiveram melhor sobrevida livre de doença do que os pacientes N2/N3 (respectivamente p=0,007 e p=0,007). A sobrevida livre de doença em cinco anos foi de 69 por cento para os pacientes N1, 11 por cento para os pacientes N2 e 15 por cento para os pacientes N3. A sobrevida livre de doença para todos...