BACKGROUND The accurate prediction of lymph node metastasis(LNM)is crucial for managing locally advanced(T3/T4)colorectal cancer(CRC).However,both traditional histopathology and standard slide-level deep learning ofte...BACKGROUND The accurate prediction of lymph node metastasis(LNM)is crucial for managing locally advanced(T3/T4)colorectal cancer(CRC).However,both traditional histopathology and standard slide-level deep learning often fail to capture the sparse and diagnostically critical features of metastatic potential.AIM To develop and validate a case-level multiple-instance learning(MIL)framework mimicking a pathologist's comprehensive review and improve T3/T4 CRC LNM prediction.METHODS The whole-slide images of 130 patients with T3/T4 CRC were retrospectively collected.A case-level MIL framework utilising the CONCH v1.5 and UNI2-h deep learning models was trained on features from all haematoxylin and eosinstained primary tumour slides for each patient.These pathological features were subsequently integrated with clinical data,and model performance was evaluated using the area under the curve(AUC).RESULTS The case-level framework demonstrated superior LNM prediction over slide-level training,with the CONCH v1.5 model achieving a mean AUC(±SD)of 0.899±0.033 vs 0.814±0.083,respectively.Integrating pathology features with clinical data further enhanced performance,yielding a top model with a mean AUC of 0.904±0.047,in sharp contrast to a clinical-only model(mean AUC 0.584±0.084).Crucially,a pathologist’s review confirmed that the model-identified high-attention regions correspond to known high-risk histopathological features.CONCLUSION A case-level MIL framework provides a superior approach for predicting LNM in advanced CRC.This method shows promise for risk stratification and therapy decisions,requiring further validation.展开更多
BACKGROUND Early screening,preoperative staging,and diagnosis of lymph node metastasis are crucial for improving the prognosis of gastric cancer(GC).AIM To evaluate the diagnostic value of combined multidetector compu...BACKGROUND Early screening,preoperative staging,and diagnosis of lymph node metastasis are crucial for improving the prognosis of gastric cancer(GC).AIM To evaluate the diagnostic value of combined multidetector computed tomography(MDCT)and gastrointestinal endoscopy for GC screening,preoperative staging,and lymph node metastasis detection,thereby providing a reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment.METHODS In this retrospective study clinical and imaging data of 134 patients with suspected GC who were admitted between January 2023 and October 2024 were initially reviewed.According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria,102 patients were finally enrolled in the analysis.All enrolled patients had undergone both MDCT and gastrointestinal endoscopy examinations prior to surgical intervention.Preoperative clinical staging and lymph node metastasis findings were compared with pathological results.RESULTS The combined use of MDCT and gastrointestinal endoscopy demonstrated a sensitivity of 98.53%,specificity of 97.06%,accuracy of 98.04%,positive predictive value of 98.53%,and negative predictive value of 97.06%for diagnosing GC.These factors were all significantly higher than those of MDCT or endoscopy alone(P<0.05).The accuracy rates of the combined approach for detecting clinical T and N stages were 97.06%and 92.65%,respectively,outperforming MDCT alone(86.76% and 79.41%)and endoscopy alone(85.29% and 70.59%)(P<0.05).Among 68 patients with confirmed GC,50(73.53%)were pathologically diagnosed with lymph node metastasis.The accuracy for detecting lymph node metastasis was 66.00%with endoscopy,76.00%with MDCT,and 92.00% with the combined approach,all with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).CONCLUSION The combined application of MDCT and gastrointestinal endoscopy enhanced diagnostic accuracy for GC,provided greater consistency in preoperative staging,and improved the detection of lymph node metastasis,thereby demonstrating significant clinical utility.展开更多
BACKGROUND One of the main characteristics of oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC)is that it metastasizes to cervical lymph nodes frequently with a high degree of local invasiveness.A primary feature of malignant tumors...BACKGROUND One of the main characteristics of oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC)is that it metastasizes to cervical lymph nodes frequently with a high degree of local invasiveness.A primary feature of malignant tumors is their penetration of neighboring tissues,such as lymphatic and blood arteries,due to the tumor cells'capacity to break down the extracellular matrix(ECM).Matrix metalloproteinases(MMPs)constitute a family of proteolytic enzymes that facilitate tissue remodeling and the degradation of the ECM.MMP-9 and MMP-13 belong to the group of extracellular matrix degrading enzymes and their expression has been studied in OSCC because of their specific functions.MMP-13,a collagenase family member,is thought to play an essential role in the MMP activation cascade by breaking down the fibrillar collagens,whereas MMP-9 is thought to accelerate the growth of tumors.Elevated MMP-13 expression has been associated with tumor behavior and patient prognosis in a number of malignant cases.AIM To assess the immunohistochemical expression of MMP-9 and MMP-13 in OSCC.METHODS A total of 40 cases with histologically confirmed OSCC by incisional biopsy were included in this cross-sectional retrospective study.The protocols for both MMP-9 and MMP-13 immunohistochemical staining were performed according to the manufacturer’s recommendations along with the normal gingival epithelium as a positive control.All the observations were recorded and Pearson’sχ²test with Fisher exact test was used for statistical analysis.RESULTS Our study showed no significant correlation between MMP-9 and MMP-13 staining intensity and tumor size.The majority of the patients were in advanced TNM stages(III and IV),and showed intense expression of MMP-9 and MMP-13.CONCLUSION The present study suggests that both MMP-9 and MMP-13 play an important and independent role in OSCC progression and invasiveness.Intense expression of MMP-9 and MMP-13,irrespective of histological grade of OSCC,correlates well with TNM stage.Consequently,it is evident that MMP-9 and MMP-13 are important for the invasiveness and progression of tumors.The findings may facilitate the development of new approaches for evaluating lymph node metastases and interventional therapy techniques,hence enhancing the prognosis of patients diagnosed with OSCC.展开更多
Objective:The neglect of occult lymph nodes metastasis(OLNM)is one of the pivotal causes of early non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)recurrence after local treatments such as stereotactic body radiotherapy(SBRT)or surge...Objective:The neglect of occult lymph nodes metastasis(OLNM)is one of the pivotal causes of early non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)recurrence after local treatments such as stereotactic body radiotherapy(SBRT)or surgery.This study aimed to develop and validate a computed tomography(CT)-based radiomics and deep learning(DL)fusion model for predicting non-invasive OLNM.Methods:Patients with radiologically node-negative lung adenocarcinoma from two centers were retrospectively analyzed.We developed clinical,radiomics,and radiomics-clinical models using logistic regression.A DL model was established using a three-dimensional squeeze-and-excitation residual network-34(3D SE-ResNet34)and a fusion model was created by integrating seleted clinical,radiomics features and DL features.Model performance was assessed using the area under the curve(AUC)of the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve,calibration curves,and decision curve analysis(DCA).Five predictive models were compared;SHapley Additive exPlanations(SHAP)and Gradient-weighted Class Activation Mapping(Grad-CAM)were employed for visualization and interpretation.Results:Overall,358 patients were included:186 in the training cohort,48 in the internal validation cohort,and 124 in the external testing cohort.The DL fusion model incorporating 3D SE-Resnet34 achieved the highest AUC of 0.947 in the training dataset,with strong performance in internal and external cohorts(AUCs of 0.903 and 0.907,respectively),outperforming single-modal DL models,clinical models,radiomics models,and radiomicsclinical combined models(DeLong test:P<0.05).DCA confirmed its clinical utility,and calibration curves demonstrated excellent agreement between predicted and observed OLNM probabilities.Features interpretation highlighted the importance of textural characteristics and the surrounding tumor regions in stratifying OLNM risk.Conclusions:The DL fusion model reliably and accurately predicts OLNM in early-stage lung adenocarcinoma,offering a non-invasive tool to refine staging and guide personalized treatment decisions.These results may aid clinicians in optimizing surgical and radiotherapy strategies.展开更多
Gastric cancer(GC)represents a significant global health burden due to its high morbidity and mortality.Specific behaviors of GC sub-types,distinct dissem-ination patterns,and associated risk-factors remain poorly und...Gastric cancer(GC)represents a significant global health burden due to its high morbidity and mortality.Specific behaviors of GC sub-types,distinct dissem-ination patterns,and associated risk-factors remain poorly understood.This editorial highlights several key prognostic factors,including pathological staging and vascular invasion,that impact GC.It examines a recent study’s investigation of differential metastatic lymph nodes distribution and survival in upper and lower GC sub-types,focusing on histological characterization,pathophysiology,usage of neoadjuvant chemotherapy,and additional predictive determinants.We assess the statistical robustness and clinical applicability of the findings,un-derscoring the importance of treating GC as a heterogeneous disease and em-phasizing how tailored surgical approaches informed by lymph node distribution can optimize tumor detection while minimizing unnecessary interventions.The study’s large cohort,multi-center design,and strict inclusion criteria strengthen its validity in guiding surgical planning and risk-stratification.However,inte-grating genetic and molecular data is critical for refining models and broadening applicability.Additionally,recurrence-metrics and infection-related factors,such as Helicobacter pylori and Epstein-Barr virus,absent in the original study,remain vital for directing future research.By bridging metastatic patterns with pros-pective methodologies and inclusion of diverse populations,this editorial pro-vides a framework for advancing early detection and personalized GC care.展开更多
BACKGROUND Lymph node status is a critical prognostic factor in gastric cancer(GC),but stage migration may occur in pathological lymph nodes(pN)staging.To address this,alternative staging systems such as the positive ...BACKGROUND Lymph node status is a critical prognostic factor in gastric cancer(GC),but stage migration may occur in pathological lymph nodes(pN)staging.To address this,alternative staging systems such as the positive lymph node ratio(LNR)and log odds of positive lymph nodes(LODDS)were introduced.AIM To assess the prognostic accuracy and stratification efficacy of three nodal staging systems in GC.METHODS A systematic review identified 12 studies,from which hazard ratios(HRs)for overall survival(OS)were summarized.Sensitivity analyses,subgroup analyses,publication bias assessments,and quality evaluations were conducted.To enhance comparability,data from studies with identical cutoff values for pN,LNR,and LODDS were pooled.Homogeneous stratification was then applied to generate Kaplan-Meier(KM)survival curves,assessing the stratification efficacy of three staging systems.RESULTS The HRs and 95%confidence intervals for pN,LNR,and LODDS were 2.16(1.72-2.73),2.05(1.65-2.55),and 3.15(2.15-4.37),respectively,confirming all three as independent prognostic risk factors for OS.Comparative analysis of HRs demonstrated that LODDS had superior prognostic predictive power over LNR and pN.KM curves for pN(N0,N1,N2,N3a,N3b),LNR(0.1/0.2/0.5),and LODDS(-1.5/-1.0/-0.5/0)revealed significant differences(P<0.001)among all prognostic stratifications.Mean differences and standard deviations in 60-month relative survival were 27.93%±0.29%,41.70%±0.30%,and 26.60%±0.28%for pN,LNR,and LODDS,respectively.CONCLUSION All three staging systems are independent prognostic factors for OS.LODDS demonstrated the highest specificity,making it especially useful for predicting outcomes,while pN was the most effective in homogeneous stratification,offering better patient differentiation.These findings highlight the complementary roles of LODDS and pN in enhancing prognostic accuracy and stratification.展开更多
Gastric cancer(GC)remains a leading cause of cancer mortality.While the extent of nodal involvement is a well-known prognostic factor,the specific entity of swollen lymph node metastasis(SLNM),bulky nodal tumor deposi...Gastric cancer(GC)remains a leading cause of cancer mortality.While the extent of nodal involvement is a well-known prognostic factor,the specific entity of swollen lymph node metastasis(SLNM),bulky nodal tumor deposits detectable radiologically or pathologically,has received little attention in staging.Recent data from a study by Cui et al demonstrated that SLNM is an independent predictor of very poor survival in GC.Through robust data and rigorous propensitymatched analyses,SLNM emerged not merely as an anatomical finding but as an independent predictor of poor prognosis,even among patients undergoing curative resection.As precision oncology advances,the findings by Cui et al urge a fundamental rethinking of how SLNM is incorporated into clinical decisionmaking for GC management.In this editorial,we critically examine the prognostic significance of SLNM,challenge its omission from traditional staging frameworks,and advocate for its formal integration into preoperative risk stratification and treatment planning.Recognizing SLNM at diagnosis could unlock intensified neoadjuvant therapy strategies and optimize outcomes for a historically high-risk patient subgroup.展开更多
Objective Almost 15%of prostate cancer(PCa)patients were found to have lymph node metastases(LNMs),which are associated with higher risk of biochemical recurrence.Using indocyanine green(ICG)for the sentinel node biop...Objective Almost 15%of prostate cancer(PCa)patients were found to have lymph node metastases(LNMs),which are associated with higher risk of biochemical recurrence.Using indocyanine green(ICG)for the sentinel node biopsy(SNB)before surgery was proposed to detect LNMs in PCa patients.However,its diagnostic performance still remains controversial.This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic performance of ICG for the SNB in PCa.Methods This systematic review and meta-analysis has been reported in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.The protocol has been registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews database,and the register number is CRD42023421911.Four bibliographic databases were searched,i.e.,PubMed,EMBASE,Cochrane Library,and Web of Science,to retrieve articles studying the diagnostic performance of ICG for the SNB in PCa from the inception to Sep 9,2023.We calculated the pooled sensitivity,specificity,likelihood ratios,diagnostic odds ratios and their 95%confidence intervals(CIs).Subgroup analyses and meta-regression analyses were also conducted.Results A total of 17 articles from databases are enrolled in this study.Using lymph node-based data,our results showed that the pooled sensitivity and specificity of applying ICG alone in PCa were 71%(95%CI 52%–85%)and 68%(95%CI 64%–72%),respectively.The pooled sensitivity and specificity of applying ICG-technetium-99m-nanocolloid in PCa were 49%(95%CI 39%–59%)and 69%(95%CI 67%–71%),respectively.展开更多
The article by Yuan et al accessed the clinicopathologic and prognostic significance of the patterns of lymph node(LN)metastasis in upper and lower gastric cancer(GC).In this article,we will analyze both the strengths...The article by Yuan et al accessed the clinicopathologic and prognostic significance of the patterns of lymph node(LN)metastasis in upper and lower gastric cancer(GC).In this article,we will analyze both the strengths and limitations of this paper.The study’s methodology seems appropriate and proper statistical analyses were applied to identify significant variables.The authors applied the Cox regression model to identify independent risk factors and Kaplan-Meier survival curves to assess prognosis.The researchers found notable differences in cli-nicopathologic variables between patients with upper and lower GC.Addi-tionally,they identified specific LN stations more prone to metastasis in different Siewert classifications of GC.Despite the study’s detailed analysis,it would have been beneficial to explore whether there were survival differences among upper GC patients based on the Siewert classification.Furthermore,the study should have addressed potential confounding factors that might have influenced the results.A more comprehensive analysis could have been achieved by comparing survival outcomes based on LN metastasis patterns.Overall,this article is relevant and provides valuable insights into the significance of LN metastasis patterns in upper GC patients.展开更多
BACKGROUND Gastric cancer(GC)is frequently diagnosed at advanced stages,often with lymph node metastasis(LNM),which complicates prognosis.Swollen LNM(SLNM)in GC has been linked to poor outcomes,yet its prognostic valu...BACKGROUND Gastric cancer(GC)is frequently diagnosed at advanced stages,often with lymph node metastasis(LNM),which complicates prognosis.Swollen LNM(SLNM)in GC has been linked to poor outcomes,yet its prognostic value requires validation.AIM To evaluate the prognostic significance of SLNM in GC patients undergoing curative-intent gastrectomy.METHODS A retrospective analysis included 507 GC patients with LNM,categorized by SLNM status into positive(SLNM present)and negative(SLNM absent)groups.Survival outcomes were compared between groups,including propensity score matching and multivariate analysis to assess the role of SLNM as an independent prognostic factor.RESULTS One hundred and thirty-nine(27.4%)patients exhibited SLNM,associated with significantly lower 5-year overall survival(OS)compared to non-SLNM patients(13.6%vs 35.8%,P<0.001).After matching,SLNM-positive patients maintained worse OS rates(13.4%vs 21.2%,P=0.006).Multivariate analysis confirmed SLNM as an independent prognostic factor(hazard ratio=1.318,P=0.031).Additionally,T4 stage,N3 stage,and neoadjuvant chemotherapy independently influenced survival outcomes for SLNM-positive patients.Those who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy demonstrated better prognosis.CONCLUSION SLNM is an independent predictor of poor prognosis in GC.Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by D2 gastrectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy may offer survival benefits for patients with SLNM.展开更多
Introduction:Radical cystectomy with pelvic node dissection remains the standard of care for muscle-invasive bladder carcinoma(MIBC);however,there is a growing interest in bladder preservation alternatives among the e...Introduction:Radical cystectomy with pelvic node dissection remains the standard of care for muscle-invasive bladder carcinoma(MIBC);however,there is a growing interest in bladder preservation alternatives among the elderly population.Guidelines indicate that partial cystectomy(PC)combined with pelvic node dissection(LND)can be considered as an alternative in carefully selected individuals.Using the National Cancer Database,we analyzed the overall survival(OS)between PC with and without LND among octogenarians.Methods:We identified octogenarians with localized muscle-invasive bladder carcinoma(cT2-3N0M0)and urothelial histology who underwent PC with or without LND between 2004 and 2018.Based on the number of lymph nodes removed(LNR),the LND group was further subdivided into<10 and>=10 lymph node groups.A propensity-matched Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed to compare OS between these groups.Results:Among 2573 patients who underwent PC,492 octogenarians met our selection criteria.208(42.2%)had LND,while 284(57.8%)had no LND.Within the LND group,53(25.5%)had<10 LNR,and 155(74.5%)had>=10 LNR.The median OS for the matched LND and non-LND groups was 36.9 and 33.4 months(p=0.96),respectively.Similarly,<10 LNR and>=10 LNR had 36.9 and 43.5 months(p=0.42),respectively.Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed no difference in the risk of mortality.Conclusion:Among octogenarians who underwent PC,there was no significant difference in OS between those with or without LND,and between<10 or>=10 LNR groups.Therefore,the role and extent of LND after PC need further exploration in this subset of the population.展开更多
Accurate preoperative prediction of lymph node metastasis is crucial for developing clinical management strategies for patients with esophageal cancer.In this letter,we present our insights and opinions on a new nomog...Accurate preoperative prediction of lymph node metastasis is crucial for developing clinical management strategies for patients with esophageal cancer.In this letter,we present our insights and opinions on a new nomogram proposed by Xu et al.Although this research has great potential,there are still concerns re-garding the small sample size,limited consideration of biological complexity,subjective image segmentation,incomplete image feature extraction and statistical analyses.Furthermore,we discuss how to achieve more robust and accurate predictive performance in future research.展开更多
BACKGROUND Lymph node metastasis(LNM)is a key prognostic factor in pancreatic cancer(PC).Accurate preoperative prediction of LNM remains challenging.Radiomics offers a noninvasive method to extract quantitative imagin...BACKGROUND Lymph node metastasis(LNM)is a key prognostic factor in pancreatic cancer(PC).Accurate preoperative prediction of LNM remains challenging.Radiomics offers a noninvasive method to extract quantitative imaging features that may aid in predicting LNM.AIM To investigate the potential value of a computed tomography(CT)-based radiomics model in prediction of LNM in PC.METHODS A retrospective analysis was performed on 168 pathologically confirmed PC patients who underwent contrast-enhanced-CT.Among them,107 cases had no LNM,while 61 cases had confirmed LNM.These patients were randomly divided into a training cohort(n=135)and a validation cohort(n=33).A total of 792 radiomics features were extracted,comprising 396 features from the arterial phase and another 396 from the portal venous phase.The Minimum Redundancy Maximum Relevance and Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator methods were used for feature selection and Radiomics model construction.The receiver operating characteristic curve was employed to assess the diagnostic potential of the model,and DeLong test was used to compare the area under the curve(AUC)values of the model.RESULTS Six radiomics features from the arterial phase and nine from the portal venous phase were selected.The Radscore model demonstrated strong predictive performance for LNM in both the training and test cohorts,with AUC values ranging from 0.86 to 0.94,sensitivity between 66.7% and 91.7%,specificity from 71.4% to 100.0%,accuracy between 78.8%and 91.1%,PPV ranging from 64.7% to 100.0%,and negative predictive value between 84.0% and 93.8%.No significant differences in AUC values were observed between the arterial and portal venous phases in either the training or test set.CONCLUSION The preoperative CT-based radiomics model exhibited robust predictive capability for identifying LNM in PC.展开更多
BACKGROUND Dissection of the right paraesophageal lymph node(RPELN)in managing papillary thyroid carcinoma remains a contentious issue.This meta-analysis assesses previously established and novel risk factors associat...BACKGROUND Dissection of the right paraesophageal lymph node(RPELN)in managing papillary thyroid carcinoma remains a contentious issue.This meta-analysis assesses previously established and novel risk factors associated with RPELN metastasis.AIM To evaluate previously established and novel risk factors associated with RPELN metastasis in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma papillary thyroid carcinoma through a comprehensive meta-analysis.METHODS We searched MEDLINE(via PubMed),ScienceDirect,Scopus and EMBASE up to December 2024.Studies were assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.Statistical analysis was conducted with RevMan version 5.4,using the Q-test and I2-test for heterogeneity.Sensitivity was evaluated with the leave-one-out method,and publication bias with the Egger regression test and funnel plot.RESULTS Of 2444 articles retrieved,26 were included in our meta-analysis with 16427 patients.The RPELN metastasis rate was 12.98%[95%confidence interval(CI):12.46%-13.50%].The pooled results suggested that age<55 years[odds ratio(OR)=1.71,95%CI:1.35-2.16,P<0.00001],sex(OR=0.60,95%CI:0.54-0.67,P<0.00001),tumor size 1 cm(OR=3.37,95%CI:2.69-4.21,P<0.00001),multifocality(OR=1.81,95%CI:1.49-2.20,P<0.00001),capsular invasion(OR=2.94,95%CI:2.05-4.20,P<0.00001),vascular invasion(OR=2.16,95%CI:1.56-2.99,P<0.00001),extra-thyroid extension(OR=3.30,95%CI:1.82-5.98,P<0.0001),central lymph node metastasis(OR=7.77,95%CI:4.73-12.76,P<0.00001),lateral lymph node metastasis(OR=6.94,95%CI:6.11-7.89,P<0.00001),Hashimoto thyroiditis(OR=0.79,95%CI:0.69-0.92,P=0.002),micro-calcifications(OR=2.29,95%CI:1.20-4.37,P=0.01),and echogenicity(OR=0.62,95%CI:0.40-0.98,P=0.04)should be considered with RPELN metastasis.CONCLUSION The male<55,tumor size>1 cm,multifocality,capsular and vascular invasion,extrathyroidal extension,lymph node metastasis,and Hashimoto thyroiditis were significantly associated with RPELN metastasis and should be carefully assessed during dissection.展开更多
BACKGROUND Tissue hardness is closely related to disease pathophysiology.Shear-wave ela-stography(SWE)is a simple and noninvasive ultrasound technique that has been used to evaluate the presence of lymph node metastas...BACKGROUND Tissue hardness is closely related to disease pathophysiology.Shear-wave ela-stography(SWE)is a simple and noninvasive ultrasound technique that has been used to evaluate the presence of lymph node metastases and differentiate between benign and malignant tumors.AIM To investigate SWE usefulness in measuring lymph node hardness to predict metastasis presence or absence in surgically removed lymph nodes.METHODS This observational study obtained data from patients who underwent surgery for esophageal or gastric cancer at Nippon Medical School Hospital.The hardness of the surgically removed lymph nodes was measured using SWE.The lymph nodes with hardness values≥2.2 m/s were considered clinically positive for metastasis,whereas those with lower hardness values were considered clinically negative.The lymph nodes subsequently underwent pathological examination to determine the presence of metastasis,and the SWE results and pathological assessments were compared.RESULTS A total of 1077 lymph nodes were evaluated;18 and 15 cases of esophageal and gastric cancer were identified,respectively.The optimal cutoff value for lymph node size was calculated to be 5.1 mm,and the area under the curve value was 0.74(95%confidence interval:0.69-0.84).When limited to a lymph node larger than the cut off value,the SWE sensitivity and specificity for metastasis identification were 0.76 and 0.82,respectively.CONCLUSION SWE was useful in detecting lymph node metastases in the upper gastrointestinal tract.展开更多
BACKGROUND Gastric schwannoma(GS)is often misdiagnosed as gastrointestinal stromal tumors due to the high incidence of the latter.However,these two types differ significantly in pathology and biological behavior.AIM T...BACKGROUND Gastric schwannoma(GS)is often misdiagnosed as gastrointestinal stromal tumors due to the high incidence of the latter.However,these two types differ significantly in pathology and biological behavior.AIM To evaluate the computed tomography characteristics of GS and provide insights into its accurate diagnosis.METHODS Twenty-three cases of GS confirmed between January 2011 and December 2023 were assessed clinically and radiologically.Imaging characteristics,including tumor location,size,contour,ulceration,growth pattern,enhancement degree and pattern,cystic change,calcification,and perigastric lymph nodes(PLNs),were reviewed by two experienced radiologists.RESULTS Our sample included 18 females and 5 males,with a median age of 54.7 years.A total of 39.1%of cases were asymptomatic.GSs appeared as oval and well-defined submucosal tumors,with exophytic(43.5%)or mixed(endoluminal+exophytic;43.5%)growth patterns.The tumors were primarily located in the gastric body(78.3%).Ulcerations were observed in 8 cases(34.5%),and PLNs were observed in 15 cases(65%).The average degree of enhancement was 48.3 Hounsfield units.Twenty cases(87%)showed peak enhancement in the delayed phase.Most GSs were homogeneous,while cystic change(13.0%)and calcification(17.4%)were rare.CONCLUSION GS predominantly showed gradual homogenous enhancement with peak enhancement in the delayed phase.PLNs around GS are helpful in differentiating GS from other gastric submucosal tumors.展开更多
This letter comments on a study on lipid metabolism,immunity,and lymph node metastasis in esophageal cancer,a clinically relevant topic given lipid-immune crosstalk in tumor progression,to be published by the World Jo...This letter comments on a study on lipid metabolism,immunity,and lymph node metastasis in esophageal cancer,a clinically relevant topic given lipid-immune crosstalk in tumor progression,to be published by the World Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery.Key concerns include the following:Lack of detailed lipid parameter data[especially low-density lipoprotein(LDL)distribution]to contextualize LDL-metastasis associations,unclear criteria for selecting LDL receptors/LDL receptor-related protein family genes and unexplained exclusion of broader lipid metabolism genes,and a disconnect between the proposed LDL-B lymp-hocyte regulatory hypothesis and literature emphasizing cholesterol’s impact on T cells.We therefore suggest that future research should supplement lipid data,clarify gene selection rationale,and provide direct evidence for LDL-B lympho-cyte interplay,in order to enhance reliability in understanding esophageal cancer lipid-immune regulation.展开更多
Imaging evaluation of lymph node metastasis and infiltration faces problems such as low artificial outline efficiency and insufficient consistency.Deep learning technology based on convolutional neural networks has gr...Imaging evaluation of lymph node metastasis and infiltration faces problems such as low artificial outline efficiency and insufficient consistency.Deep learning technology based on convolutional neural networks has greatly improved the technical effect of radiomics in lymph node pathological characteristics analysis and efficacy monitoring through automatic lymph node detection,precise segmentation and three-dimensional reconstruction algorithms.This review focuses on the automatic lymph node segmentation model,treatment response prediction algorithm and benign and malignant differential diagnosis system for multimodal imaging,in order to provide a basis for further research on artificial intelligence to assist lymph node disease management and clinical decision-making,and provide a reference for promoting the construction of a system for accurate diagnosis,personalized treatment and prognostic evaluation of lymph node-related diseases.展开更多
Most papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC) patients have a good prognosis. However, lymph node metastasis(LNM), the most common manifestation of disease progression, is frequently associated with a poor prognosis.Neverthel...Most papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC) patients have a good prognosis. However, lymph node metastasis(LNM), the most common manifestation of disease progression, is frequently associated with a poor prognosis.Nevertheless, few studies have focused on the underlying mechanisms of LNM. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the potential role of exosomal circRNAs that contribute to LNM in PTC. We identified 9 000 differentially expressed exosomal circRNAs in PTC patients with LNM, including 684 upregulated and 2 193 downregulated circRNAs. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that these differentially expressed circRNAs were primarily involved in a variety of molecular and signaling pathways correlated with PTC progression and LNM. Through bioinformatics analysis, we identified 14 circRNA-miRNA-mRNA networks related to LNM-associated signaling pathways in PTC. Moreover, both circTACC2-miR-7-EGFR and circBIRC6-miR-24-3p-BCL2L11 axes were verified for their potential involvement in PTC with LNM. Additionally, we identified four upregulated circRNA-related hub genes and eight hub genes correlated with downregulated circRNAs, some of which were validated as being potentially involved in LNM in PTC. Collectively, our findings provide a novel framework for an in-depth investigation of the function of dysregulated exosomal circRNAs and their potential as biomarkers in PTC patients with LNM.展开更多
Introduction:We examined the pathology and safety outcomes associated with the extent of pelvic lymph node dissection in patients with high-risk prostate cancer undergoing radical prostatectomy.Materials and Methods:W...Introduction:We examined the pathology and safety outcomes associated with the extent of pelvic lymph node dissection in patients with high-risk prostate cancer undergoing radical prostatectomy.Materials and Methods:We retrospectively identified men with prostate cancer who underwent robot-assisted radical prostatectomy with pelvic lymph node dissection between May 2016 and September 2021.Cases were categorized using Current Procedural Terminology(CPT)codes(38571)for extended lymph node dissection and super-extended lymph node dissection(38572).Using logistic regression,we compared the groups on a number of factors,including recurrence.Results:Super-extended lymph node dissection had significantly higher median prostate-specific antigen and National Comprehensive Cancer Network risk classification prior to surgery.Significant differences were observed in the pathologic T stage and pathology grade group.Time on robot was significantly longer for the super-extended group,while estimated blood loss was lower.No differences were observed in length of stay or any complication-related variable.Super-extended had significantly higher node positivity(36.1%vs.7.6%,p<0.001)and recurrence.10.0%of super-extended cases had node positivity in the aortic bifurcation,the common iliac,or the pre-sacral chains that would have been missed with an extended dissection.2.2%of patients had node positivity in these chains only.Conclusions:Super-extended lymph node dissection is safe and feasible for patients with high-risk prostate cancer.Further research is needed to better understand its clinical benefit and to further inform optimal patient selection.展开更多
基金Supported by Chongqing Medical Scientific Research Project(Joint Project of Chongqing Health Commission and Science and Technology Bureau),No.2023MSXM060.
文摘BACKGROUND The accurate prediction of lymph node metastasis(LNM)is crucial for managing locally advanced(T3/T4)colorectal cancer(CRC).However,both traditional histopathology and standard slide-level deep learning often fail to capture the sparse and diagnostically critical features of metastatic potential.AIM To develop and validate a case-level multiple-instance learning(MIL)framework mimicking a pathologist's comprehensive review and improve T3/T4 CRC LNM prediction.METHODS The whole-slide images of 130 patients with T3/T4 CRC were retrospectively collected.A case-level MIL framework utilising the CONCH v1.5 and UNI2-h deep learning models was trained on features from all haematoxylin and eosinstained primary tumour slides for each patient.These pathological features were subsequently integrated with clinical data,and model performance was evaluated using the area under the curve(AUC).RESULTS The case-level framework demonstrated superior LNM prediction over slide-level training,with the CONCH v1.5 model achieving a mean AUC(±SD)of 0.899±0.033 vs 0.814±0.083,respectively.Integrating pathology features with clinical data further enhanced performance,yielding a top model with a mean AUC of 0.904±0.047,in sharp contrast to a clinical-only model(mean AUC 0.584±0.084).Crucially,a pathologist’s review confirmed that the model-identified high-attention regions correspond to known high-risk histopathological features.CONCLUSION A case-level MIL framework provides a superior approach for predicting LNM in advanced CRC.This method shows promise for risk stratification and therapy decisions,requiring further validation.
文摘BACKGROUND Early screening,preoperative staging,and diagnosis of lymph node metastasis are crucial for improving the prognosis of gastric cancer(GC).AIM To evaluate the diagnostic value of combined multidetector computed tomography(MDCT)and gastrointestinal endoscopy for GC screening,preoperative staging,and lymph node metastasis detection,thereby providing a reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment.METHODS In this retrospective study clinical and imaging data of 134 patients with suspected GC who were admitted between January 2023 and October 2024 were initially reviewed.According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria,102 patients were finally enrolled in the analysis.All enrolled patients had undergone both MDCT and gastrointestinal endoscopy examinations prior to surgical intervention.Preoperative clinical staging and lymph node metastasis findings were compared with pathological results.RESULTS The combined use of MDCT and gastrointestinal endoscopy demonstrated a sensitivity of 98.53%,specificity of 97.06%,accuracy of 98.04%,positive predictive value of 98.53%,and negative predictive value of 97.06%for diagnosing GC.These factors were all significantly higher than those of MDCT or endoscopy alone(P<0.05).The accuracy rates of the combined approach for detecting clinical T and N stages were 97.06%and 92.65%,respectively,outperforming MDCT alone(86.76% and 79.41%)and endoscopy alone(85.29% and 70.59%)(P<0.05).Among 68 patients with confirmed GC,50(73.53%)were pathologically diagnosed with lymph node metastasis.The accuracy for detecting lymph node metastasis was 66.00%with endoscopy,76.00%with MDCT,and 92.00% with the combined approach,all with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).CONCLUSION The combined application of MDCT and gastrointestinal endoscopy enhanced diagnostic accuracy for GC,provided greater consistency in preoperative staging,and improved the detection of lymph node metastasis,thereby demonstrating significant clinical utility.
文摘BACKGROUND One of the main characteristics of oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC)is that it metastasizes to cervical lymph nodes frequently with a high degree of local invasiveness.A primary feature of malignant tumors is their penetration of neighboring tissues,such as lymphatic and blood arteries,due to the tumor cells'capacity to break down the extracellular matrix(ECM).Matrix metalloproteinases(MMPs)constitute a family of proteolytic enzymes that facilitate tissue remodeling and the degradation of the ECM.MMP-9 and MMP-13 belong to the group of extracellular matrix degrading enzymes and their expression has been studied in OSCC because of their specific functions.MMP-13,a collagenase family member,is thought to play an essential role in the MMP activation cascade by breaking down the fibrillar collagens,whereas MMP-9 is thought to accelerate the growth of tumors.Elevated MMP-13 expression has been associated with tumor behavior and patient prognosis in a number of malignant cases.AIM To assess the immunohistochemical expression of MMP-9 and MMP-13 in OSCC.METHODS A total of 40 cases with histologically confirmed OSCC by incisional biopsy were included in this cross-sectional retrospective study.The protocols for both MMP-9 and MMP-13 immunohistochemical staining were performed according to the manufacturer’s recommendations along with the normal gingival epithelium as a positive control.All the observations were recorded and Pearson’sχ²test with Fisher exact test was used for statistical analysis.RESULTS Our study showed no significant correlation between MMP-9 and MMP-13 staining intensity and tumor size.The majority of the patients were in advanced TNM stages(III and IV),and showed intense expression of MMP-9 and MMP-13.CONCLUSION The present study suggests that both MMP-9 and MMP-13 play an important and independent role in OSCC progression and invasiveness.Intense expression of MMP-9 and MMP-13,irrespective of histological grade of OSCC,correlates well with TNM stage.Consequently,it is evident that MMP-9 and MMP-13 are important for the invasiveness and progression of tumors.The findings may facilitate the development of new approaches for evaluating lymph node metastases and interventional therapy techniques,hence enhancing the prognosis of patients diagnosed with OSCC.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.82272845)the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong(No.ZR2023ZD26).
文摘Objective:The neglect of occult lymph nodes metastasis(OLNM)is one of the pivotal causes of early non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)recurrence after local treatments such as stereotactic body radiotherapy(SBRT)or surgery.This study aimed to develop and validate a computed tomography(CT)-based radiomics and deep learning(DL)fusion model for predicting non-invasive OLNM.Methods:Patients with radiologically node-negative lung adenocarcinoma from two centers were retrospectively analyzed.We developed clinical,radiomics,and radiomics-clinical models using logistic regression.A DL model was established using a three-dimensional squeeze-and-excitation residual network-34(3D SE-ResNet34)and a fusion model was created by integrating seleted clinical,radiomics features and DL features.Model performance was assessed using the area under the curve(AUC)of the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve,calibration curves,and decision curve analysis(DCA).Five predictive models were compared;SHapley Additive exPlanations(SHAP)and Gradient-weighted Class Activation Mapping(Grad-CAM)were employed for visualization and interpretation.Results:Overall,358 patients were included:186 in the training cohort,48 in the internal validation cohort,and 124 in the external testing cohort.The DL fusion model incorporating 3D SE-Resnet34 achieved the highest AUC of 0.947 in the training dataset,with strong performance in internal and external cohorts(AUCs of 0.903 and 0.907,respectively),outperforming single-modal DL models,clinical models,radiomics models,and radiomicsclinical combined models(DeLong test:P<0.05).DCA confirmed its clinical utility,and calibration curves demonstrated excellent agreement between predicted and observed OLNM probabilities.Features interpretation highlighted the importance of textural characteristics and the surrounding tumor regions in stratifying OLNM risk.Conclusions:The DL fusion model reliably and accurately predicts OLNM in early-stage lung adenocarcinoma,offering a non-invasive tool to refine staging and guide personalized treatment decisions.These results may aid clinicians in optimizing surgical and radiotherapy strategies.
文摘Gastric cancer(GC)represents a significant global health burden due to its high morbidity and mortality.Specific behaviors of GC sub-types,distinct dissem-ination patterns,and associated risk-factors remain poorly understood.This editorial highlights several key prognostic factors,including pathological staging and vascular invasion,that impact GC.It examines a recent study’s investigation of differential metastatic lymph nodes distribution and survival in upper and lower GC sub-types,focusing on histological characterization,pathophysiology,usage of neoadjuvant chemotherapy,and additional predictive determinants.We assess the statistical robustness and clinical applicability of the findings,un-derscoring the importance of treating GC as a heterogeneous disease and em-phasizing how tailored surgical approaches informed by lymph node distribution can optimize tumor detection while minimizing unnecessary interventions.The study’s large cohort,multi-center design,and strict inclusion criteria strengthen its validity in guiding surgical planning and risk-stratification.However,inte-grating genetic and molecular data is critical for refining models and broadening applicability.Additionally,recurrence-metrics and infection-related factors,such as Helicobacter pylori and Epstein-Barr virus,absent in the original study,remain vital for directing future research.By bridging metastatic patterns with pros-pective methodologies and inclusion of diverse populations,this editorial pro-vides a framework for advancing early detection and personalized GC care.
基金the Clinical Medical Team Introduction Program of Suzhou,No.SZYJTD201804.
文摘BACKGROUND Lymph node status is a critical prognostic factor in gastric cancer(GC),but stage migration may occur in pathological lymph nodes(pN)staging.To address this,alternative staging systems such as the positive lymph node ratio(LNR)and log odds of positive lymph nodes(LODDS)were introduced.AIM To assess the prognostic accuracy and stratification efficacy of three nodal staging systems in GC.METHODS A systematic review identified 12 studies,from which hazard ratios(HRs)for overall survival(OS)were summarized.Sensitivity analyses,subgroup analyses,publication bias assessments,and quality evaluations were conducted.To enhance comparability,data from studies with identical cutoff values for pN,LNR,and LODDS were pooled.Homogeneous stratification was then applied to generate Kaplan-Meier(KM)survival curves,assessing the stratification efficacy of three staging systems.RESULTS The HRs and 95%confidence intervals for pN,LNR,and LODDS were 2.16(1.72-2.73),2.05(1.65-2.55),and 3.15(2.15-4.37),respectively,confirming all three as independent prognostic risk factors for OS.Comparative analysis of HRs demonstrated that LODDS had superior prognostic predictive power over LNR and pN.KM curves for pN(N0,N1,N2,N3a,N3b),LNR(0.1/0.2/0.5),and LODDS(-1.5/-1.0/-0.5/0)revealed significant differences(P<0.001)among all prognostic stratifications.Mean differences and standard deviations in 60-month relative survival were 27.93%±0.29%,41.70%±0.30%,and 26.60%±0.28%for pN,LNR,and LODDS,respectively.CONCLUSION All three staging systems are independent prognostic factors for OS.LODDS demonstrated the highest specificity,making it especially useful for predicting outcomes,while pN was the most effective in homogeneous stratification,offering better patient differentiation.These findings highlight the complementary roles of LODDS and pN in enhancing prognostic accuracy and stratification.
文摘Gastric cancer(GC)remains a leading cause of cancer mortality.While the extent of nodal involvement is a well-known prognostic factor,the specific entity of swollen lymph node metastasis(SLNM),bulky nodal tumor deposits detectable radiologically or pathologically,has received little attention in staging.Recent data from a study by Cui et al demonstrated that SLNM is an independent predictor of very poor survival in GC.Through robust data and rigorous propensitymatched analyses,SLNM emerged not merely as an anatomical finding but as an independent predictor of poor prognosis,even among patients undergoing curative resection.As precision oncology advances,the findings by Cui et al urge a fundamental rethinking of how SLNM is incorporated into clinical decisionmaking for GC management.In this editorial,we critically examine the prognostic significance of SLNM,challenge its omission from traditional staging frameworks,and advocate for its formal integration into preoperative risk stratification and treatment planning.Recognizing SLNM at diagnosis could unlock intensified neoadjuvant therapy strategies and optimize outcomes for a historically high-risk patient subgroup.
文摘Objective Almost 15%of prostate cancer(PCa)patients were found to have lymph node metastases(LNMs),which are associated with higher risk of biochemical recurrence.Using indocyanine green(ICG)for the sentinel node biopsy(SNB)before surgery was proposed to detect LNMs in PCa patients.However,its diagnostic performance still remains controversial.This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic performance of ICG for the SNB in PCa.Methods This systematic review and meta-analysis has been reported in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.The protocol has been registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews database,and the register number is CRD42023421911.Four bibliographic databases were searched,i.e.,PubMed,EMBASE,Cochrane Library,and Web of Science,to retrieve articles studying the diagnostic performance of ICG for the SNB in PCa from the inception to Sep 9,2023.We calculated the pooled sensitivity,specificity,likelihood ratios,diagnostic odds ratios and their 95%confidence intervals(CIs).Subgroup analyses and meta-regression analyses were also conducted.Results A total of 17 articles from databases are enrolled in this study.Using lymph node-based data,our results showed that the pooled sensitivity and specificity of applying ICG alone in PCa were 71%(95%CI 52%–85%)and 68%(95%CI 64%–72%),respectively.The pooled sensitivity and specificity of applying ICG-technetium-99m-nanocolloid in PCa were 49%(95%CI 39%–59%)and 69%(95%CI 67%–71%),respectively.
文摘The article by Yuan et al accessed the clinicopathologic and prognostic significance of the patterns of lymph node(LN)metastasis in upper and lower gastric cancer(GC).In this article,we will analyze both the strengths and limitations of this paper.The study’s methodology seems appropriate and proper statistical analyses were applied to identify significant variables.The authors applied the Cox regression model to identify independent risk factors and Kaplan-Meier survival curves to assess prognosis.The researchers found notable differences in cli-nicopathologic variables between patients with upper and lower GC.Addi-tionally,they identified specific LN stations more prone to metastasis in different Siewert classifications of GC.Despite the study’s detailed analysis,it would have been beneficial to explore whether there were survival differences among upper GC patients based on the Siewert classification.Furthermore,the study should have addressed potential confounding factors that might have influenced the results.A more comprehensive analysis could have been achieved by comparing survival outcomes based on LN metastasis patterns.Overall,this article is relevant and provides valuable insights into the significance of LN metastasis patterns in upper GC patients.
基金Supported by The Shandong Provincial Medical and Health Science and Technology Youth Project,China,No.202304081355The Weifang Youth Medical Talent Lift Project,Chinaand The Science and Technology Development Project of Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical University,China,No.2023FYQ004.
文摘BACKGROUND Gastric cancer(GC)is frequently diagnosed at advanced stages,often with lymph node metastasis(LNM),which complicates prognosis.Swollen LNM(SLNM)in GC has been linked to poor outcomes,yet its prognostic value requires validation.AIM To evaluate the prognostic significance of SLNM in GC patients undergoing curative-intent gastrectomy.METHODS A retrospective analysis included 507 GC patients with LNM,categorized by SLNM status into positive(SLNM present)and negative(SLNM absent)groups.Survival outcomes were compared between groups,including propensity score matching and multivariate analysis to assess the role of SLNM as an independent prognostic factor.RESULTS One hundred and thirty-nine(27.4%)patients exhibited SLNM,associated with significantly lower 5-year overall survival(OS)compared to non-SLNM patients(13.6%vs 35.8%,P<0.001).After matching,SLNM-positive patients maintained worse OS rates(13.4%vs 21.2%,P=0.006).Multivariate analysis confirmed SLNM as an independent prognostic factor(hazard ratio=1.318,P=0.031).Additionally,T4 stage,N3 stage,and neoadjuvant chemotherapy independently influenced survival outcomes for SLNM-positive patients.Those who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy demonstrated better prognosis.CONCLUSION SLNM is an independent predictor of poor prognosis in GC.Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by D2 gastrectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy may offer survival benefits for patients with SLNM.
文摘Introduction:Radical cystectomy with pelvic node dissection remains the standard of care for muscle-invasive bladder carcinoma(MIBC);however,there is a growing interest in bladder preservation alternatives among the elderly population.Guidelines indicate that partial cystectomy(PC)combined with pelvic node dissection(LND)can be considered as an alternative in carefully selected individuals.Using the National Cancer Database,we analyzed the overall survival(OS)between PC with and without LND among octogenarians.Methods:We identified octogenarians with localized muscle-invasive bladder carcinoma(cT2-3N0M0)and urothelial histology who underwent PC with or without LND between 2004 and 2018.Based on the number of lymph nodes removed(LNR),the LND group was further subdivided into<10 and>=10 lymph node groups.A propensity-matched Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed to compare OS between these groups.Results:Among 2573 patients who underwent PC,492 octogenarians met our selection criteria.208(42.2%)had LND,while 284(57.8%)had no LND.Within the LND group,53(25.5%)had<10 LNR,and 155(74.5%)had>=10 LNR.The median OS for the matched LND and non-LND groups was 36.9 and 33.4 months(p=0.96),respectively.Similarly,<10 LNR and>=10 LNR had 36.9 and 43.5 months(p=0.42),respectively.Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed no difference in the risk of mortality.Conclusion:Among octogenarians who underwent PC,there was no significant difference in OS between those with or without LND,and between<10 or>=10 LNR groups.Therefore,the role and extent of LND after PC need further exploration in this subset of the population.
文摘Accurate preoperative prediction of lymph node metastasis is crucial for developing clinical management strategies for patients with esophageal cancer.In this letter,we present our insights and opinions on a new nomogram proposed by Xu et al.Although this research has great potential,there are still concerns re-garding the small sample size,limited consideration of biological complexity,subjective image segmentation,incomplete image feature extraction and statistical analyses.Furthermore,we discuss how to achieve more robust and accurate predictive performance in future research.
基金Supported by National Natural Science foundation of China,No.82202135,No.82371919,No.82372017,and No.82171925China Postdoctoral Science Foundation,No.2023M741808+4 种基金Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship Program by China Association of Chinese Medicine,No.2024-QNRC2-B16Jiangsu Provincial Key Research and Development Program,No.BE2023789Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship Program by Jiangsu Association for Science and Technology,No.JSTJ-2023-WJ027Project funded by Nanjing Postdoctoral Science Foundation,Natural Science Foundation of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine,No.XZR2023036Foundation of Excellent Young Doctor of Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine,No.2023QB0112.
文摘BACKGROUND Lymph node metastasis(LNM)is a key prognostic factor in pancreatic cancer(PC).Accurate preoperative prediction of LNM remains challenging.Radiomics offers a noninvasive method to extract quantitative imaging features that may aid in predicting LNM.AIM To investigate the potential value of a computed tomography(CT)-based radiomics model in prediction of LNM in PC.METHODS A retrospective analysis was performed on 168 pathologically confirmed PC patients who underwent contrast-enhanced-CT.Among them,107 cases had no LNM,while 61 cases had confirmed LNM.These patients were randomly divided into a training cohort(n=135)and a validation cohort(n=33).A total of 792 radiomics features were extracted,comprising 396 features from the arterial phase and another 396 from the portal venous phase.The Minimum Redundancy Maximum Relevance and Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator methods were used for feature selection and Radiomics model construction.The receiver operating characteristic curve was employed to assess the diagnostic potential of the model,and DeLong test was used to compare the area under the curve(AUC)values of the model.RESULTS Six radiomics features from the arterial phase and nine from the portal venous phase were selected.The Radscore model demonstrated strong predictive performance for LNM in both the training and test cohorts,with AUC values ranging from 0.86 to 0.94,sensitivity between 66.7% and 91.7%,specificity from 71.4% to 100.0%,accuracy between 78.8%and 91.1%,PPV ranging from 64.7% to 100.0%,and negative predictive value between 84.0% and 93.8%.No significant differences in AUC values were observed between the arterial and portal venous phases in either the training or test set.CONCLUSION The preoperative CT-based radiomics model exhibited robust predictive capability for identifying LNM in PC.
文摘BACKGROUND Dissection of the right paraesophageal lymph node(RPELN)in managing papillary thyroid carcinoma remains a contentious issue.This meta-analysis assesses previously established and novel risk factors associated with RPELN metastasis.AIM To evaluate previously established and novel risk factors associated with RPELN metastasis in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma papillary thyroid carcinoma through a comprehensive meta-analysis.METHODS We searched MEDLINE(via PubMed),ScienceDirect,Scopus and EMBASE up to December 2024.Studies were assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.Statistical analysis was conducted with RevMan version 5.4,using the Q-test and I2-test for heterogeneity.Sensitivity was evaluated with the leave-one-out method,and publication bias with the Egger regression test and funnel plot.RESULTS Of 2444 articles retrieved,26 were included in our meta-analysis with 16427 patients.The RPELN metastasis rate was 12.98%[95%confidence interval(CI):12.46%-13.50%].The pooled results suggested that age<55 years[odds ratio(OR)=1.71,95%CI:1.35-2.16,P<0.00001],sex(OR=0.60,95%CI:0.54-0.67,P<0.00001),tumor size 1 cm(OR=3.37,95%CI:2.69-4.21,P<0.00001),multifocality(OR=1.81,95%CI:1.49-2.20,P<0.00001),capsular invasion(OR=2.94,95%CI:2.05-4.20,P<0.00001),vascular invasion(OR=2.16,95%CI:1.56-2.99,P<0.00001),extra-thyroid extension(OR=3.30,95%CI:1.82-5.98,P<0.0001),central lymph node metastasis(OR=7.77,95%CI:4.73-12.76,P<0.00001),lateral lymph node metastasis(OR=6.94,95%CI:6.11-7.89,P<0.00001),Hashimoto thyroiditis(OR=0.79,95%CI:0.69-0.92,P=0.002),micro-calcifications(OR=2.29,95%CI:1.20-4.37,P=0.01),and echogenicity(OR=0.62,95%CI:0.40-0.98,P=0.04)should be considered with RPELN metastasis.CONCLUSION The male<55,tumor size>1 cm,multifocality,capsular and vascular invasion,extrathyroidal extension,lymph node metastasis,and Hashimoto thyroiditis were significantly associated with RPELN metastasis and should be carefully assessed during dissection.
基金This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Nippon Medical School Hospital(No.B-2022-582).
文摘BACKGROUND Tissue hardness is closely related to disease pathophysiology.Shear-wave ela-stography(SWE)is a simple and noninvasive ultrasound technique that has been used to evaluate the presence of lymph node metastases and differentiate between benign and malignant tumors.AIM To investigate SWE usefulness in measuring lymph node hardness to predict metastasis presence or absence in surgically removed lymph nodes.METHODS This observational study obtained data from patients who underwent surgery for esophageal or gastric cancer at Nippon Medical School Hospital.The hardness of the surgically removed lymph nodes was measured using SWE.The lymph nodes with hardness values≥2.2 m/s were considered clinically positive for metastasis,whereas those with lower hardness values were considered clinically negative.The lymph nodes subsequently underwent pathological examination to determine the presence of metastasis,and the SWE results and pathological assessments were compared.RESULTS A total of 1077 lymph nodes were evaluated;18 and 15 cases of esophageal and gastric cancer were identified,respectively.The optimal cutoff value for lymph node size was calculated to be 5.1 mm,and the area under the curve value was 0.74(95%confidence interval:0.69-0.84).When limited to a lymph node larger than the cut off value,the SWE sensitivity and specificity for metastasis identification were 0.76 and 0.82,respectively.CONCLUSION SWE was useful in detecting lymph node metastases in the upper gastrointestinal tract.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.82101985.
文摘BACKGROUND Gastric schwannoma(GS)is often misdiagnosed as gastrointestinal stromal tumors due to the high incidence of the latter.However,these two types differ significantly in pathology and biological behavior.AIM To evaluate the computed tomography characteristics of GS and provide insights into its accurate diagnosis.METHODS Twenty-three cases of GS confirmed between January 2011 and December 2023 were assessed clinically and radiologically.Imaging characteristics,including tumor location,size,contour,ulceration,growth pattern,enhancement degree and pattern,cystic change,calcification,and perigastric lymph nodes(PLNs),were reviewed by two experienced radiologists.RESULTS Our sample included 18 females and 5 males,with a median age of 54.7 years.A total of 39.1%of cases were asymptomatic.GSs appeared as oval and well-defined submucosal tumors,with exophytic(43.5%)or mixed(endoluminal+exophytic;43.5%)growth patterns.The tumors were primarily located in the gastric body(78.3%).Ulcerations were observed in 8 cases(34.5%),and PLNs were observed in 15 cases(65%).The average degree of enhancement was 48.3 Hounsfield units.Twenty cases(87%)showed peak enhancement in the delayed phase.Most GSs were homogeneous,while cystic change(13.0%)and calcification(17.4%)were rare.CONCLUSION GS predominantly showed gradual homogenous enhancement with peak enhancement in the delayed phase.PLNs around GS are helpful in differentiating GS from other gastric submucosal tumors.
基金Supported by Fujian Provincial Science and Technology Innovation Joint Fund Project,No.2024Y9555Fujian Provincial Natural Science Foundation Project,No.20241011124.
文摘This letter comments on a study on lipid metabolism,immunity,and lymph node metastasis in esophageal cancer,a clinically relevant topic given lipid-immune crosstalk in tumor progression,to be published by the World Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery.Key concerns include the following:Lack of detailed lipid parameter data[especially low-density lipoprotein(LDL)distribution]to contextualize LDL-metastasis associations,unclear criteria for selecting LDL receptors/LDL receptor-related protein family genes and unexplained exclusion of broader lipid metabolism genes,and a disconnect between the proposed LDL-B lymp-hocyte regulatory hypothesis and literature emphasizing cholesterol’s impact on T cells.We therefore suggest that future research should supplement lipid data,clarify gene selection rationale,and provide direct evidence for LDL-B lympho-cyte interplay,in order to enhance reliability in understanding esophageal cancer lipid-immune regulation.
基金Supported by Clinical Trials from the Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital,Affiliated Hospital of Medical School,Nanjing University,No.2021-LCYJ-MS-11Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital National Natural Science Foundation Youth Cultivation Project,No.2024-JCYJQP-15.
文摘Imaging evaluation of lymph node metastasis and infiltration faces problems such as low artificial outline efficiency and insufficient consistency.Deep learning technology based on convolutional neural networks has greatly improved the technical effect of radiomics in lymph node pathological characteristics analysis and efficacy monitoring through automatic lymph node detection,precise segmentation and three-dimensional reconstruction algorithms.This review focuses on the automatic lymph node segmentation model,treatment response prediction algorithm and benign and malignant differential diagnosis system for multimodal imaging,in order to provide a basis for further research on artificial intelligence to assist lymph node disease management and clinical decision-making,and provide a reference for promoting the construction of a system for accurate diagnosis,personalized treatment and prognostic evaluation of lymph node-related diseases.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 81800698)Jiangsu Provincial Medical Key Discipline Cultivation Unit (Grant No. JSDW202241)+1 种基金Research Project of Jiangsu Commission of Health (Grant No. H2023053)Zhenjiang Science and the Technology Planning Project (Grant Nos. SH2023006and SH2023008)。
文摘Most papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC) patients have a good prognosis. However, lymph node metastasis(LNM), the most common manifestation of disease progression, is frequently associated with a poor prognosis.Nevertheless, few studies have focused on the underlying mechanisms of LNM. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the potential role of exosomal circRNAs that contribute to LNM in PTC. We identified 9 000 differentially expressed exosomal circRNAs in PTC patients with LNM, including 684 upregulated and 2 193 downregulated circRNAs. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that these differentially expressed circRNAs were primarily involved in a variety of molecular and signaling pathways correlated with PTC progression and LNM. Through bioinformatics analysis, we identified 14 circRNA-miRNA-mRNA networks related to LNM-associated signaling pathways in PTC. Moreover, both circTACC2-miR-7-EGFR and circBIRC6-miR-24-3p-BCL2L11 axes were verified for their potential involvement in PTC with LNM. Additionally, we identified four upregulated circRNA-related hub genes and eight hub genes correlated with downregulated circRNAs, some of which were validated as being potentially involved in LNM in PTC. Collectively, our findings provide a novel framework for an in-depth investigation of the function of dysregulated exosomal circRNAs and their potential as biomarkers in PTC patients with LNM.
文摘Introduction:We examined the pathology and safety outcomes associated with the extent of pelvic lymph node dissection in patients with high-risk prostate cancer undergoing radical prostatectomy.Materials and Methods:We retrospectively identified men with prostate cancer who underwent robot-assisted radical prostatectomy with pelvic lymph node dissection between May 2016 and September 2021.Cases were categorized using Current Procedural Terminology(CPT)codes(38571)for extended lymph node dissection and super-extended lymph node dissection(38572).Using logistic regression,we compared the groups on a number of factors,including recurrence.Results:Super-extended lymph node dissection had significantly higher median prostate-specific antigen and National Comprehensive Cancer Network risk classification prior to surgery.Significant differences were observed in the pathologic T stage and pathology grade group.Time on robot was significantly longer for the super-extended group,while estimated blood loss was lower.No differences were observed in length of stay or any complication-related variable.Super-extended had significantly higher node positivity(36.1%vs.7.6%,p<0.001)and recurrence.10.0%of super-extended cases had node positivity in the aortic bifurcation,the common iliac,or the pre-sacral chains that would have been missed with an extended dissection.2.2%of patients had node positivity in these chains only.Conclusions:Super-extended lymph node dissection is safe and feasible for patients with high-risk prostate cancer.Further research is needed to better understand its clinical benefit and to further inform optimal patient selection.
