Abstract Background Nutritional status and body composition parameters such as sarcopenia are important risk factors for impaired outcome in patients with esophageal cancer. This study was conducted ...to evaluate the effect of sarcopenia on long-term outcome after esophageal resection following neoadjuvant treatment. Methods Skeletal muscle index (SMI) and body composition parameters were measured in patients receiving neoadjuvant treatment for locally advanced esophageal cancer. Endpoints included relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). Results The study included 130 patients. Sarcopenia was found in 80 patients (61.5%). Patients with squamous-cell cancer (SCC) showed a decreased median SMI of 48 (range 28.4–60.8) cm/m2 compared with that of patients with adenocarcinoma (AC) of 52 (range 34.4–74.2) cm/m2 , P < 0.001. The presence of sarcopenia had a significant impact on patient outcome: HR 1.69 (1.04–2.75), P = 0.036. Median OS was 20.5 (7.36–33.64) versus 52.1 (13.55–90.65) months in sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic patients, respectively. Sarcopenia was identified as an independent risk factor: HR 1.72 (1.049–2.83), P = 0.032. Conclusion Our data provide evidence that sarcopenia impacts long-term outcome after esophageal resection in patients who have undergone neoadjuvant therapy. Assessment of the body composition parameter can be a reasonable part of patient selection and may influence treatment methods.
Background The purpose of this study was to evaluate the frequency of malignancy, oncologic outcome and perioperative morbidity between small (≤60 mm) and large (>60 mm) adrenal tumors treated by ...endoscopic adrenalectomy (EA). Methods EA was performed in 289 consecutive patients with a mean follow-up of 87.7 ± 45.1 months. Patients were divided in those with tumor size ≤60 mm (group 1; n = 252) and >60 mm (group 2; n = 37). Data on patient's age, gender, hormone function, tumor side, operation time, postoperative complications, conversion to open approach, and rate of malignancy were analyzed. Furthermore, disease-free survival in malignant tumors was estimated and compared between both groups. Results Patient age ( P = .43), gender ( P = .09), tumor side ( P = .17), and operative time ( P = .33) showed no difference in both groups. Functioning tumors were observed in 85% of patients in group 1 compared with 46% in group 2 ( P = .0001). Seven (2.8%) patients in group 1 and 7 (18.9%) in group 2 had malignant tumors ( P = .0001). Neither rate of conversion ( P = .71) and postoperative complication ( P = .27) nor recurrence of malignancy ( P = .48) differed between both groups. Estimated disease-free survival after 5 years in malignant lesions was 87.5 ± 11.7% for group 1 and 62.5 ± 21.3% for group 2 ( P = .49). Conclusion EA is a safe and feasible procedure in the majority of large adrenal tumors. Tumor size does not affect the outcome of surgery. In case of malignancy, it does not increase the rate of local recurrence. In experienced hands, tumor size should not influence the decision of surgical access (endoscopic versus open).
Background Because no clinical parameter can establish the final status of a cytologically indeterminate thyroid nodule (ITN) or nodal-metastases in case of malignancy, the initial surgical strategy ...should define an oncologically adequate procedure with low morbidity. Methods The prognostic relevance of sex, age, tumor sizes, multifocality, thyroid function, and recurrence was analyzed in 156 consecutive patients according to the presence of malignancy and nodal metastases. The accuracy of frozen sections to reveal malignancy was determined. Clinical parameters were compared with regard to their ability to identify malignancy and nodal metastases in an ITN to determine an appropriate initial operative strategy. Results One hundred and eighteen (75.6%) patients underwent (total) thyroidectomy, 37 (23.7%) patients underwent hemithyroidectomy, and 1 patient underwent isthmus resection. Fifty-five (35.3%) patients showed malignancy. First step lymphadenectomy (lymph node dissection along the recurrent laryngeal nerve before removing the thyroid lobe) was performed in 142 patients documenting 10 nodal metastases. Comparing benign and malignant ITN, no association was found for sex ( P = .17), age ( P = 1.0), tumor sizes ( P = .33, P = .12, P = .19 for ≤30 mm, ≤40 mm, and ≤50 mm, respectively), or thyroid function ( P = .26). The determination of malignancy by frozen section showed a sensitivity of 30.9% and a specificity of 100%. No permanent hypoparathyroidism or recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy was observed postoperatively. Conclusion Because of the failure of available clinical parameters to predict malignancy in cytologically ITN, hemithyroidectomy in unilateral goiter and thyroidectomy in bilateral goiter is recommended. Ipsilateral “first step central neck dissection” on the side of ITN offers the advantages of oncologically adequate resection and staging with a low morbidity, as well as avoids reoperation.
Background Conflicting recommendations exist regarding lymph node (LN) surgery in microMTC (≤10mm). This study aims to correlate biochemical and pathohistological findings in an attempt to define the ...characteristics of microMTC, thus allowing recommendations for LN surgery. Methods Patients with elevated basal (bCT:≥10pg/ml) and pentagastrin-stimulated calcitonin levels (sCT:>100pg/ml) were selected for initial surgery. None of the patient was a member of any known MTC family. Biochemical and morphological data of microMTC were compared with 146 patients with C-cell hyperplasia (CCH). Results MicroMTC (tumor diameter: 4.2±2.6mm; unifocal:68; multifocal:29) was documented in 97 of 159 (61%) MTC patients. In 11 (11%) patients, 1–19 LNs were involved. Correlating bCT and sCT levels neither predicted N-stage, nor differentiated between microMTC and CCH. Conclusions The biochemical discrimination cannot be made between patients with CCH and MTC, and patients with MTC with/without LN metastasis. Thus, thyroidectomy and central neck dissection is indicated in patients with “mildly” elevated sCT levels (<560pg/ml) (LN positive: 1 of 37 patients 2.7%). A lateral neck dissection may be added “on demand” (in the setting of measurable postoperative bCT and/or sCT levels indicating LN metastasis). Patients with “highly” elevated sCT (≥560pg/ml) must be treated as “palpable” MTC (LN positive: 10 of 54 patients 18.5%).
Background The decrease of calcitonin levels after curative operation in patients with medullary thyroid cancer is characterized by individual variation; therefore, intraoperative calcitonin ...measurements to evaluate the completeness of the resection seem to not be feasible. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether an intraoperative pentagastrin test after thyroidectomy and central neck dissection is useful to predict lymph node involvement of the lateral neck. Methods A group of 30 consecutive patients underwent primary surgery. After thyroidectomy and dissection of the central lymph node compartment, an intraoperative pentagastrin test was performed. Biochemical and histologic data were compared retrospectively. Results Of the group, 20 patients (67%) showed no, or only central neck lymph node, involvement and no increase in calcitonin after intraoperative stimulation. Lymph node involvement was documented histologically in the lateral neck of 10 patients (33%), and 8 patients showed an increase of calcitonin as an indication of lymph node involvement. In two patients, each with 1 single micrometastasis in the lateral neck, the intraoperative pentagastrin test was negative. Conclusions Intraoperative calcitonin monitoring after pentagastrin stimulation seems promising in predicting lymph node involvement of the lateral neck to aid selection of patients for lateral lymph node dissection. The development of a highly sensitive, quick calcitonin assay is imperative.
