Parameters of dual-energy CT for the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules and the indirect prediction of lymph node metastasis in thyroid carcinoma: a retrospective diagnostic study.

Background: To further investigate the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules using dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) and explore the relationship between DECT parameters and lymph node metastasis in thyroid carcinoma for clinical practice, especially difficult diagnosis by routine imaging examination. Methods: A total of 150 patients with thyroid nodules who underwent preoperative DECT and Thyroid Imaging Report and Data System (TIRADS) classification were enrolled in this study, including 96 patients with malignant tumors and 54 with benign tumors. The DECT parameters were got form regions of interest (ROI) by an experienced radiologist team and thyroid nodules and lymph node status of all patients were identified by cytology and histopathology. Statistical analyses were performed using Student's t-test, Chi-squared test, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results: In the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid nodules, the optimal iodine concentration (IC) and normalized iodine concentration (NIC) cut-off values were ICa (2.835 mg/mL), NIC1a (0.690), and their corresponding area under the curve (AUC) were 0.940, 0.954 respectively; meantime, the optimal computed tomography (CT) value and slope of the spectral Hounsfield unit curve (λHU) cut-off values were 70 keVa (125.05 HU) and λHU2a (1.405), and their corresponding AUC were 0.955, 0.941 respectively. For lymph node status (with or without lymph node metastasis), the optimal IC and NIC thresholds were ICa (1.715 mg/mL) and NIC2a (0.155), and their corresponding AUC were 0.717, 0.720 respectively; meanwhile, the optimal CT value and λHU thresholds were 70 keVv (89.635 HU) and λHU2v (1.185), and their corresponding AUC were 0.729, 0.641 respectively. Conclusions: Base on our study, we think DECT is useful in differentiating malignant from benign thyroid nodules, which has potential value in the indirect prediction of lymph node metastasis in thyroid carcinoma.

Para-aortic lymph node tracing and dissection in advanced gastric cancer: Effectiveness of carbon nanoparticles injection through the no. 12b lymph node.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The relative effectiveness of tracers in guiding para-aortic lymph node dissection (PAND) in advanced gastric cancer is undefined. In this single-center, prospective study, we aimed to discuss the effectiveness of such tracers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2015 and January 2016, 90 consecutive patients with stage T4a gastric cancer were evenly assigned to receive 0.2 mL of carbon nanoparticles (a), methylene blue (b), or no tracer (c) injection through no. 12b lymph nodes before PAND. RESULTS: There was no difference in the baseline characteristics between the three groups. Group A vs. B or C had a higher number of dissected lymph nodes (34.1 ± 9.8, 25.5 ± 5.5, and 22.6 ± 3.7; P < 0.001; B vs. C: P =0.321) and no. 16a2/b1 para-aortic lymph nodes (PANs; 11.8 ± 4.8, 7.0 ± 1.2, and 5.5 ± 1.2; P < 0.001; B vs. C: P =0.178) and similar rates of lymph node metastasis (20.9 ± 17.5%, 19.1 ± 15.1%, and 23.6 ± 19.7%; P = 0.511), positive dissected PAN (23.3% [7/30], 16.7% [5/30], and 16.7% [5/30]), surgery duration (252.9 + 35.4, 244.4 ± 29.0, and 250.3 + 29.9 min; P = 0.421), and blood loss (266.7 ± 115.5, 270.0 ± 82.6, and 260.0 ± 116.3 mL, P = 0.933). There was no common bile duct damage by tracer injection, and one case of duodenal stump fistula, one abdominal infection, and two anastomotic leakages in Groups A-C, respectively, were treated successfully. CONCLUSIONS: In advanced gastric cancer treatment, carbon nanoparticle injection into no. 12b nodes appears to better trace no. 16a2/b1 PAN.

Application value of nomogram and prognostic factors of gastric cancer patients who underwent D2 radical lymphadenectomy.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to explore the prognostic factors and establish a nomogram to predict the long-term survival of gastric cancer patients. METHODS: The clinicopathological data of 421 gastric cancer patients, who were treated with radical D2 lymphadenectomy by the same surgical team between January 2009 and March 2017, were collected. The analysis of long-term survival was performed using Cox regression analysis. Based on the multivariate analysis results, a prognostic nomogram was formulated to predict the 5-year survival rate probability. RESULTS: In the present study, the total overall 3-year and 5-year survival rates were 58.7 and 45.8%, respectively. The results of the univariate Cox regression analysis revealed that tumor staging, tumor location, Borrmann type, the number of lymph nodes dissected, the number of lymph node metastases, positive lymph nodes ratio, lymphocyte count, serum albumin, CEA, CA153, CA199, BMI, tumor size, nerve invasion, and vascular invasion were prognostic factors for gastric cancer (all, P < 0.05). However, merely tumor staging, tumor location, positive lymph node ratio, CA199, BMI, tumor size, nerve invasion, and vascular invasion were independent risk factors, based on the results of the multivariate Cox regression analysis (all, P < 0.05). The nomogram based on eight independent prognostic factors revealed a well-degree of differentiation with a concordance index of 0.76 (95% CI: 0.72-0.79, P < 0.001), which was better than the AJCC-7 staging system (concordance index = 0.68). CONCLUSION: The present study established a nomogram based on eight independent prognostic factors to predict long-term survival in gastric cancer patients. The nomogram would be beneficial for more accurately predicting the prognosis of gastric cancer, and provide important basis for making individualized treatment plans following surgery.

Relationship between celiac artery variation and number of lymph nodes dissection in gastric cancer surgery.

BACKGROUND: Radical D2 lymphadenectomy for advanced gastric cancer as a standard procedure has gained global consensus. Mounting studies have shown that the number of lymph nodes dissection directly affects the prognosis and recurrence of gastric cancer. Our previous study showed that there was no obvious lymph node around the abnormal hepatic artery derived from the superior mesenteric artery. AIM: To investigate the relationship between celiac artery variation and the number of lymph nodes dissection in gastric cancer surgery. METHODS: The clinicopathological data of 421 patients treated with radical D2 lymphadenectomy were analyzed retrospectively. The difference of the number of lymph nodes dissection between the celiac artery variation group and the normal vessels group and the relationship with prognosis were analyzed. RESULTS: Celiac artery variation was found in 110 patients, with a variation rate of 26.13%. Celiac artery variation, tumor staging, and Borrmann typing were factors that affected lymph node clearance in gastric cancer, and the number of lymph nodes dissection in patients with celiac artery variation was significantly less than that of non-variant groups (P < 0.05). Univariate analysis showed that there was no significant difference in survival time between the two groups (P > 0.05). Univariate and multiple Cox regression analysis showed that celiac artery variation was not a prognostic factor for gastric cancer (P > 0.05). Tumor staging, intraoperative bleeding, and positive lymph node ratio were prognostic factors for gastric cancer patients (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The number of lymph nodes dissection in patients with celiac artery variation was reduced, but there was no obvious effect on prognosis. Therefore, lymph nodes around the abnormal hepatic artery may not need to be dissected in radical D2 lymphadenectomy.

Clinicopathological classification and traditional prognostic indicators of breast cancer.

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease with molecular subtypes that have biological distinctness and different behavior. The objective of this study is to evaluate the value of molecular subtypes in breast cancer management according to a retrospective analysis of breast carcinoma molecular subtypes, histopathological grade, and TNM stage. A retrospective study of 475 paraffin-embedded tissues of breast cancer samples from the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University was performed. Expression of ER, PR, Her-2 and Ki-67 was analyzed to classify molecular subtypes of breast cancer by immunohistochemistry. The differences of molecular subtypes of breast cancers in regard to TNM staging and pathological grade were analyzed using χ(2) tests. Values of P<0.05 were considered statistically significant. The frequency of luminal A, luminal B, HER2-positive luminal B, triple negative and non-luminal HER2-positive subtypes were: 35.5%, 22.5%, 13.1%, 15.2% and 13.7%, respectively. Among the five subtypes of breast cancer, the distribution of pathological grades showed a significant difference (P<0.001). There were significant differences in the distribution of TNM staging among the five subtypes of breast cancer (P<0.001). In addition to traditional prognostic indicators such as TNM staging and pathological grade, molecular subtype may aid clinical practice and research into breast cancer. Different molecular subtypes will lead to different prognosis and therapeutic option. Molecular subtyping is essential for breast cancer management.

Presence of PDGFRA and DOG1 mutations in gastrointestinal stromal tumors among Chinese population.

Approximately 15% of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) do not express KIT mutations and of these about 5 to 7% harbor mutations in PDGFRA. DOG1 was specifically expressed in GISTs. These cases require special attention for PDGFRA and DOG1 mutational status. Hundred cases of GIST were diagnosed between August 2007 and October 2012 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University. DNA from tumor tissues and normal adjacent tissues was isolated and amplified for the 22 exons of PDGFRA and 26 exons of DOG1. Each PCR product was sequenced. Amino acid sequences were inferred from DNA and aligned to GenBank reference sequences to determine the position and type of mutations. Overall, 16.0% of the samples had a mutation in PDGFRA, and GISTs with mutations in the DOG1 gene were not found. Of the mutations detected, they were in PDGFRA exon 18 (8 cases, 8%), PDGFRA exon 12 (5 cases, 5%), PDGFRA exon 14 (1 cases, 1.0%), PDGFRA exon 11 (1 cases, 1.0%), and PDGFRA exon 8 (1 cases, 1.0%). Of these, Y392S, L521P and T632K mutant occurred in PDGFRA exon 8, exon 11 and exon 14, respectively. The mutation of PDGFRA has been considered as another causative genetic event as PDGFRA mutations were found in most GISTs lacking a KIT mutation. PDGFRA mutations occurred preferentially in exon 18 and exon 12. Mutations occurring in PDGFRA exon 8 (Y392S), exon 11 (L521P) and exon 14 (T632K) also were first identified. The over-expression of DOG1 was not related to DOG1 gene mutation.

Study of celiac artery variations and related surgical techniques in gastric cancer.

AIM: To investigate celiac artery variations in gastric cancer patients and the impact on gastric cancer surgery, and also to discuss the value of the ultrasonic knife in reducing the risk caused by celiac artery variations. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted to investigate the difference in average operation time, intraoperative blood loss, number of harvested lymph nodes, average postoperative drainage within 3 d, and postoperative hospital stay between the group with vascular variations and no vascular variations, and between the ultrasonic harmonic scalpel and conventional electric scalpel surgery group. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty-eight cases presented with normal celiac artery, and 80 presented with celiac artery variation (33.61%). The average operation time, blood loss, average drainage within 3 d after surgery in the celiac artery variation group were significantly more than in the no celiac artery variation group (215.7 ± 32.7 min vs 204.2 ± 31.3 min, 220.0 ± 56.7 mL vs 163.1 ± 52.3 mL, 193.6 ± 41.4 mL vs 175.3 ± 34.1 mL, respectively, P < 0.05). In celiac artery variation patients, the average operation time, blood loss, average drainage within 3 d after surgery in the ultrasonic harmonic scalpel group were significantly lower than in the conventional electric scalpel surgery group (209.5 ± 34.9 min vs 226.9 ± 29.4 min, 207.5 ± 57.1 mL vs 235.6 ± 52.9 mL, 184.4 ± 38.2 mL vs 205.0 ± 42.9 mL, respectively, P < 0.05), and the number of lymph node dissections was significantly higher than in the conventional surgery group (25.5 ± 9.2 vs 19.9 ± 7.8, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Celiac artery variation increases the difficulty and risk of radical gastrectomy. Preoperative imaging evaluation and the application of ultrasonic harmonic scalpel are conducive to radical gastrectomy.

Clinico-pathological characteristics and prognostic factors of gastrointestinal stromal tumors among a Chinese population.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common primary mesenchymal tumors of the digestive tract. GISTs include a group of heterogeneous tumors with different morphology, biologic behavior, and genetic characteristics, so their epidemiology, clinico-pathological features and prognosis is distinct in different countries. The objective of this study is to analyze clinico-pathological characteristics and prognostic factors of GISTs among Chinese population. We investigated 112 GIST patients were diagnosed between July 2008 and January 2013 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University. Histologic evaluation and immunohistochemistry analysis was performed on paraffin-embedded tissue from the 112 GISTs. Overall survival analysis was carried out using the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test. Multivariate analysis was performed according to Cox's proportional hazards model. Three and 5-year OS rates were 71.4 and 58.6% respectively. Univariate analysis showed that the following factors were significant in predicting OS: tumor site, tumor size, metastasis, resection margin status, cell type, invasion of adjacent organ, invasion of smooth muscle, mitotic rate, P53 and adjuvant therapy with imatinib (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that tumor size, metastasis, resection margin status, mitotic rate, P53 and adjuvant therapy with imatinib were independent prognostic factors associated with OS. This may aid in the prediction of clinical evolution and guide treatments in patients with GIST in China.