K G Foley1, A Christian2, P Fielding3, W G Lewis4, S A Roberts5. 1. Division of Cancer & Genetics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK. Electronic address: foleykg@cardiff.ac.uk. 2. Department of Pathology, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK. 3. Wales Research & Diagnostic PET Imaging Centre, Cardiff, UK. 4. Department of Upper GI Surgery, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK. 5. Department of Clinical Radiology, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK.
Abstract
AIM: To evaluate the accuracy of contemporary N-staging and provide radiological-pathological correlation in patients with lymph node metastases (LNMs) that were radiologically staged N0. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and twelve patients were included who underwent surgery alone (n=41) or neoadjuvant therapy (n=71) between October 2010 and December 2015. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT), endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), and combined positron-emission tomography (PET) and CT N-stage were compared to pathological N-stage [node-negative (N0) versus node-positive (N+) groups]. Fifty LNMs from 15 patients preoperatively staged as N0 were measured and the maximum size recorded. RESULTS: Accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of N0 versus N+ disease with CECT, EUS, and PET/CT was 54.5%, 39.7% and 77.3%, 55.4%, 42.6% and 75%, and 57.1% 35.3%, and 90.9%, respectively. All techniques were more likely to under-stage nodal disease; CECT (X2 32.890, df=1, p<0.001), EUS (X2 28.471, df=1, p<0.001), and PET/CT (X2 50.790, df=1, p<0.001). PET/CT was more likely to under-stage nodal disease than EUS (p=0.031). Median LNM size was 3 mm, with 41 (82%) of LNMs measuring <6 mm and 22 (44%) classified as micro-metastases (≤2 mm). CONCLUSION: This study has demonstrated poor N-staging accuracy in the modern era of radiological staging. Eighty-two percent of LNMs measured <6 mm, making direct identification extremely challenging on medical imaging. Future research should focus on investigating and developing alternative surrogate markers to predict the likelihood of LNMs. Crown
AIM: To evaluate the accuracy of contemporary N-staging and provide radiological-pathological correlation in patients with lymph node metastases (LNMs) that were radiologically staged N0. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and twelve patients were included who underwent surgery alone (n=41) or neoadjuvant therapy (n=71) between October 2010 and December 2015. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT), endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), and combined positron-emission tomography (PET) and CT N-stage were compared to pathological N-stage [node-negative (N0) versus node-positive (N+) groups]. Fifty LNMs from 15 patients preoperatively staged as N0 were measured and the maximum size recorded. RESULTS: Accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of N0 versus N+ disease with CECT, EUS, and PET/CT was 54.5%, 39.7% and 77.3%, 55.4%, 42.6% and 75%, and 57.1% 35.3%, and 90.9%, respectively. All techniques were more likely to under-stage nodal disease; CECT (X2 32.890, df=1, p<0.001), EUS (X2 28.471, df=1, p<0.001), and PET/CT (X2 50.790, df=1, p<0.001). PET/CT was more likely to under-stage nodal disease than EUS (p=0.031). Median LNM size was 3 mm, with 41 (82%) of LNMs measuring <6 mm and 22 (44%) classified as micro-metastases (≤2 mm). CONCLUSION: This study has demonstrated poor N-staging accuracy in the modern era of radiological staging. Eighty-two percent of LNMs measured <6 mm, making direct identification extremely challenging on medical imaging. Future research should focus on investigating and developing alternative surrogate markers to predict the likelihood of LNMs. Crown
Authors: Dong Young Jeong; Min Yeong Kim; Kyung Soo Lee; Joon Young Choi; Soo Jeong Kim; Myung Jin Chung; Yang Won Min; Hong Kwan Kim; Jae Ill Zo; Young Mog Shim; Jong-Mu Sun Journal: Cancer Med Date: 2018-06-22 Impact factor: 4.452