直肠癌的淋巴结转移的危险因素

目的:本研究主要目的为确定直肠癌的淋巴结转移的危险因素。方法:通过对1250例于2004年-2008年行直肠癌根治性切除的患者进行单因素和多因素分析,以确定淋巴结转移相关的危险因素,同时对PT分期和肿瘤大小之间的关系进行了相关性分析。结果:直肠癌患者淋巴结转移发生率为41%。在单因素分析中,患者年龄(P=0.008)、肿瘤大小(P=0.003)、PT分期(P<0.0019)以及分化程度(P<0.001)和淋巴结转移相关。在多因素分析中,年龄(P=0.017,OR=0.988,95%可信区间:0.978-0.998)、PT分期(P<0.001,OR=1.952,95%可信区间:1.656-2.302)和分化程度(P<0.001,OR=3.697,95%可信区间:2.112-6.472)是淋巴结转移的独立因素。结论:在直肠癌相关分析中,肿瘤的大小和PT分期呈正相关。年龄、PT分期和肿瘤分化程度是淋巴结转移的独立因素。在直肠癌中,肿瘤的大小和PT分期呈正相关。     

Drug Allergy and the Risk of Lymph Node Metastasis in Rectal Cancer

Background

Previous epidemiologic studies have reported that a history of allergy is associated with reduced risk of colorectal cancer and other malignancies. However, no information is available for the association between allergy and the risk of lymph node metastasis. Our study was designed to determine this association in rectal cancer.

Methods

Patients who were treated at our hospital in the period from January 2003 to June 2011, and with a pathologically hospital discharge diagnosis of rectal adencarcinoma, were included. The clinical, laboratory, and pathologic parameters were analyzed. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to determine the association. Moreover, for type of allergic drug, sub-group analysis was performed.

Results

469 patients were included, including 231 with pathological lymph node metastasis (pLNM) (49.3%) and 238 without pLNM. Univariate analysis showed, compared with patients without pLNM, patients with pLNM had a younger age (60.6±12.8 yr vs. 63.6±12.2 yr, P = 0.012), a lower percentage of drug allergy (8.7% vs. 16.0%, P = 0.016), an increased CEA (median/interquartile-range 5.40/2.40–13.95 vs. 3.50/2.08–8.67, P = 0.009), and a lower serum sodium (141±3.1 mmol/L vs. 142±2.9 mmol/L, P = 0.028). Multivariate analysis showed that drug allergy was associated with a reduced risk of pLNM (OR = 0.553; 95% CI, 0.308–0.994; P = 0.048). In addition, our results showed that: (1) for tumor classification, patients with drug allergy had a higher percentage of group patients with pT1/pT2; and (2) for type of allergic drug, this inverse association was found for penicillins, not for other allergic drugs.

Conclusion

Drug allergy is associated with a reduced risk of pLNM in rectal cancer.     

The Clinical Significance and Risk Factors of Solitary Lymph Node Metastasis in Gastric Cancer

Aims

To assess the clinical significance and risk factors of solitary lymph node metastasis (SLM) in gastric carcinoma and establish a more accurate method to evaluate the possibility of lymph node metastasis (LM).

Methods

A total of 385 patients with gastric carcinoma who underwent D2 lymphadenectomy at the Cancer Center of Sun Yat-Sen University were included in this research. Then we used a group of data from Sun Yat-sen University Gastrointestinal Hospital (SYSUGIH) to validate the accuracy of our developed method. The χ² test, Kaplan–Meier analysis, log-rank test, COX model, and discriminate analysis were used to analyze the data with SPSS13.0.

Results

We found that the LM number and pathological T staging were independent prognostic risk factors. CEA grading, LN status by CT, and T staging by CT were independent risk factors for LM in gastric carcinoma. In addition, we developed the equation Y = -5.0 + X ₁ + 1.8X ₃ + 0.7X ₄ (X ₁ = CEA grading, X ₃ = LN status by CT, X ₄ = T staging by CT) to evaluate the situation of LM. The data from SYSUGIH shows this equation has a better accuracy compared with CT.

Conclusions

SLM is an independent risk factor in gastric cancer. And there was no survival difference between the skip metastasis group and the other SLM group (P = 0.659). It is inappropriate for the patient with SLM doing a standard D2 lymphadenectomy, due to the fact that LM rarely occurs in the splenic artery, splenic hilum. The risk factors for LM include CEA grading, LN status by CT, and T staging by CT. And we can use Y = -5.0 + X ₁ + 1.8X ₃ + 0.7X ₄ (X ₁, CEA grading, X ₃ = LN status by CT, X ₄ = T staging by CT, the critical value is 0.3) to estimate the possibility of LM, which has a better accuracy compared with CT.     

儿童及青少年甲状腺癌特点及颈淋巴结转移风险因素探讨

目的:探讨儿童及青少年甲状腺癌的临床和病理特征,分析乳头状癌组淋巴结转移的风险因素。方法:回顾性分析2003年1月至2013年12月间本院收治的儿童及青少年甲状腺癌病例资料,了解临床特征和病理特点及分析乳头状癌亚组淋巴结转移的风险因素。结果:共收集51例儿童及青少年甲状腺癌资料,49例甲状腺乳头状癌,2例甲状腺髓样癌。乳头状癌亚组淋巴结转移率达77.5%,患儿年龄与淋巴结转移相关,Logistic回归提示年龄是颈部淋巴结转移的独立风险因素(OR=1.40;95%CL=1.05,1.85;P=0.021)。随访中5例出现局部复发。结论:儿童及青少年甲状腺癌有区别于成人甲状腺癌的特殊性,积极筛查儿童甲状腺疾病、全面彻底的外科手术和制定相应的风险评估标准、积极随访是治疗该病的关键。     

宫颈癌腹主动脉旁淋巴结转移相关危险因素的研究分析

摘要 目的：分析上海市第一人民医院2015年至2019年期间250例分期为IB～IIA期的宫颈癌患者腹主动脉旁淋巴结（para-aortic lymph node,PALN）转移的危险因素,并探讨在早期宫颈癌手术中PALN清扫的意义。方法：回顾性分析250例宫颈癌患者的临床及病理资料,这些患者均接受了腹腔镜或开腹根治性子宫切除术+双侧盆腔淋巴结（pelvic lymph node,PLN）及PALN清扫术,采用统计学方法,通过单因素分析及多因素分析来讨论影响PALN转移的危险因素。结果：在250例宫颈癌患者中,PLN的转移率为27.60 %（69/250）,PALN的转移率为6.40 %（16/250）,在PLN转移阳性中,有15例PALN转移阳性的患者,转移率为21.74 %（15/69）。单因素分析显示,肿瘤最大直径、分期、淋巴脉管间隙浸润（lymph vascular space invasion,LVSI）、PLN转移以及鳞状上皮细胞癌抗原(SCC-Ag)与PALN转移有关（P＜0.05）,而多因素分析显示,分期为IIA期、PLN转移阳性以及PLN转移的个数≥3个是PALN转移的独立危险因素。将这些危险因素代入回归方程以建立临床预测模型,Y=-5.691+1.497×IIA期+3.627×PLN转移（Y代表PALN转移率）,利用受试者工作特征（receiver operating characteristic,ROC)曲线评估这些独立危险因素对于判断PALN转移是否具备一定的诊断价值,此时截断值（cut-off value）为0.064,灵敏度为93.80 %,特异度为76.90 %,曲线下面积（AUC）为0.907（P＜0.001,95 % CI：0.859～0.955）,H-L检验（Hosmer-Lemeshow）发现该模型拟合优度效果较好（P＞0.05）。同时通过绘制ROC曲线发现,当PLN转移个数≥3个以及肿瘤最大直径≥3.4 cm时,对判断是否存在PALN转移也具有一定的临床价值。结论：通过分析表明IIA期、PLN转移阳性以及转移个数≥3个是PALN转移的独立危险因素,可以对这些因素展开进行充分的评估与诊断,从而更加优化宫颈癌患者的分期、手术方式、治疗方案,为患者提供个体化临床诊疗,以期提高宫颈癌患者的生存质量,减少术后的并发症,改善患者的预后等。     

64排多层螺旋CT对直肠癌淋巴结转移的诊断研究

目的:通过对直肠癌患者原发肿瘤周围脂肪间隙内淋巴结的影像学分析,来评价64排增强螺旋CT对直肠癌淋巴结转移的诊断价值。方法:收集我院经术后病理证实的102例直肠癌患者的临床及影像学资料进行回顾性分析,通过多平面成像,记录直肠周围脂肪间隙内淋巴结的CT表现,包括淋巴结大小、边缘及强化程度。以病理结果为准确定转移性和非转移性淋巴结,采用双盲法。结果:单因素分析结果显示淋巴结大小、边缘及强化方式与阳性率有显著的相关性(P0.05),多因素分析结果显示各相关因素有显著诊断意义的是淋巴结大小、边缘及强化方式,其敏感性分别为94.7%、87.6%、56.9%,特异性分别为69.3%、51.6%、62.3%。结论:综合分析原发肿瘤周围脂肪间隙内淋巴结的表观情况,有助于提高对淋巴结转移的判断。     

甲状腺乳头状癌淋巴结转移的临床危险因素分析

目的:探讨甲状腺乳头状癌发生颈部淋巴结转移的危险因素。方法:回顾性分析我院自2017年1月至2017年5月手术治疗甲状腺乳头状癌病人177例的临床资料,采用卡方检验、t检验及logistic回归分析甲状腺乳头状癌发生颈部淋巴结的危险因素。结果:甲状腺乳头状癌淋巴结转移率为45.8%,术后并发症发生率为6.2%,淋巴结转移组较未转移组年龄更小、癌结节更大(P0.05),两组比较性别无统计学差异(P0.05),0.5 cm癌结节≤1 cm组较癌结节≤0.5 cm组更易出现淋巴结转移(P0.05),年龄大于45岁、癌结节≤0.5 cm的患者,9.6%发生淋巴结转移。Logistic回归分析提示年龄、癌结节大小是淋巴结转移的独立危险因素(P0.05)。结论:年龄、癌结节大小是淋巴结转移的独立危险因素,年龄越小、癌结节越大的甲状腺乳头状癌患者,越容易出现颈部淋巴结转移。     

Ratio between Negative and Positive Lymph Nodes Is Suitable for Evaluation the Prognosis of Gastric Cancer Patients with Positive Node Metastasis

Objective

To date, there is no consensus to evaluate the most appropriate category of the nodal metastasis for precise predication the prognosis of gastric cancer patients with positive node metastasis after curative surgery.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathologic characteristics and overall survival (OS) of 299 gastric cancer patients with positive node metastasis after curative surgery for evaluation the optimal category of the nodal metastasis.

Results

With the univariate and multivariate survival analyses, the depth of primary tumor invasion was identified as the independent predicators with the OS of 299 gastric cancer patients with nodal metastasis postoperatively, as were the number of positive lymph nodes (PLNs), the number of negative lymph nodes (NLNs), and the ratio between negative and positive lymph nodes (RNPL). The RNPL was identified to be more suitable for predication the OS of gastric cancer patients with positive node metastasis than the ratio between positive and dissected lymph nodes (RPDL) by using the stratum procedure of survival analysis. Besides, we found both PLNs and NLNs were independently correlated with OS of gastric cancer patients with nodal metastasis when RNPL, instead of RPDL, was controlled in the partial correlation model.

Conclusions

RNPL, a new category of the nodal metastasis, was suitable for predication the OS of gastric cancer patients with nodal metastasis after curative resection, as were the PLNs, and NLNs.     

肿瘤淋巴管入侵与无淋巴结转移膀胱癌复发及预后的相关性分析

目的:分析肿瘤淋巴管入侵与无淋巴结转移膀胱癌复发和预后之间的关系。方法:选取临床资料完整的膀胱癌病例72例,分为淋巴结转移组(32例)和无淋巴结转移组(40例)。采用Spearman相关分析探讨淋巴管入侵与膀胱癌复发和预后的相关性,应用Kaplan-Meier法描绘生存曲线,Cox比例危险度模型筛选影响膀胱癌患者预后的因素。结果:在72例膀胱癌组织中,淋巴管入侵的阳性率是48.6%(35/72),淋巴管入侵的阳性率随肿瘤分期和分级增加而显著升高(P0.05);淋巴结转移组的淋巴管入侵阳性率为68.8%(22/32),显著高于无淋巴结转移的32.5%(13/40)。淋巴管入侵与膀胱癌的临床分期、分级、淋巴结转移以及无淋巴结转移膀胱癌复发均显著相关(P0.05)。淋巴管入侵阴性的患者的五年总体生存率显著高于淋巴管入侵阳性者,淋巴管入侵是无淋巴结转移膀胱癌复发和预后不良的危险因素。结论:肿瘤淋巴管入侵与膀胱癌临床分期和淋巴结转移密切相关,并影响膀胱癌患者的总体生存率,可作为无淋巴结转移膀胱癌复发和预后的预测因素。     

甲状腺微小乳头状癌发生隐匿性颈部淋巴结转移的危险因素分析

目的:分析甲状腺微小乳头状癌(PTMC)发生隐匿性颈部淋巴结转移的危险因素。方法:收集2013-2017年于青岛大学附属医院确诊的PTMC患者共1524例,按其术前、术后是否有颈部淋巴结转移分为显性淋巴结转移、隐匿性淋巴结转移及无淋巴结转移三组,比较各组之间的临床病理特征,包括性别(男性)、年龄、肿瘤大小、双叶、多灶、侵犯包膜、合并桥本病、术前TSH水平等是否具有差异性。结果:单因素分析结果显示:与无淋巴结转移患者相比,隐匿性淋巴结转移组男性患者比例、年龄、肿瘤大小、肿瘤累及双叶、多灶比例均有统计学差异(P0.05),其中隐匿性淋巴结转移组中的发病年龄较低(P0.05),合并桥本病的比率无显著差异(P0.05);与显性淋巴结转移相比,隐匿性淋巴结转移肿瘤大小、合并多灶及合并病理桥本病的转移率较后者低(P0.05)。多因素分析表明以无淋巴结转移的患者为对照组,男性患者、年龄、大小、多灶为隐匿性淋巴结转移的危险因素(OR值分别为0.525,1.033,0.169,0.562);与隐匿性淋巴结转移相比,合并桥本病的患者发生显性颈部淋巴结转移的风险更高,而发病年龄较前者大(OR值分别为0.370,0.979)。结论:男性、肿瘤累及双叶、多灶者为PTMC早期淋巴结转移的危险因素,合并桥本病者发生显性颈部淋巴结转移的风险更高;但没有发现桥本病与隐匿性颈部淋巴结转移存在相关性。     

乳腺癌腋窝淋巴结清扫术后上肢淋巴水肿的危险因素分析

研究背景：乳腺癌是女性常见的恶性肿瘤之一,同时也是治愈率最高的癌症,文献报道早期乳腺癌术后5年生存率达85．16％。上肢淋巴水肿是腋窝淋巴结清扫术后常见并发症,术后10—35％患者出现上肢水肿,就上肢淋巴水肿的风险因素,国内外做了许多研究,但结果不一,分歧较大。方法：抽取60例腋窝淋巴结清扫术后患者,调查统计可能与腋窝淋巴结清扫术后上肢淋巴水肿相关的8个因素（变量）：年龄、临床分期、是否放疗、是否出现延迟愈合／感染／积液等术后其它并发症、术后上肢功能锻炼、是否是优势侧,平时是否参加体育锻炼,是否有高血压等合并症。数据采用SPSS13．0分析软件以logistic回归方法进行分析。结果：四项关联因素分别为：1、是否放疗（OR=8．966）2、延迟愈合／感染／积液等其它术后并发症（0R=8．493）3、术后上肢功能锻炼（OR=0．194）4、高血压（0R=5．609）。结论：放疗、其它术后并发症、高血压为腋窝淋巴结清扫术后上肢淋巴水肿的风险因素,而术后上肢功能锻炼为术后水肿的保护因素。     

Quantitative,Architectural Analysis of Immune Cell Subsets in Tumor-Draining Lymph Nodes from Breast Cancer Patients and Healthy Lymph Nodes

Background

To date, pathological examination of specimens remains largely qualitative. Quantitative measures of tissue spatial features are generally not captured. To gain additional mechanistic and prognostic insights, a need for quantitative architectural analysis arises in studying immune cell-cancer interactions within the tumor microenvironment and tumor-draining lymph nodes (TDLNs).

Methodology/Principal Findings

We present a novel, quantitative image analysis approach incorporating 1) multi-color tissue staining, 2) high-resolution, automated whole-section imaging, 3) custom image analysis software that identifies cell types and locations, and 4) spatial statistical analysis. As a proof of concept, we applied this approach to study the architectural patterns of T and B cells within tumor-draining lymph nodes from breast cancer patients versus healthy lymph nodes. We found that the spatial grouping patterns of T and B cells differed between healthy and breast cancer lymph nodes, and this could be attributed to the lack of B cell localization in the extrafollicular region of the TDLNs.

Conclusions/Significance

Our integrative approach has made quantitative analysis of complex visual data possible. Our results highlight spatial alterations of immune cells within lymph nodes from breast cancer patients as an independent variable from numerical changes. This opens up new areas of investigations in research and medicine. Future application of this approach will lead to a better understanding of immune changes in the tumor microenvironment and TDLNs, and how they affect clinical outcomes.     

结直肠癌淋巴结微转移灶的临床病理研究

摘要目的：探讨结直肠癌淋巴结微转移灶的特点及其临床病理意义。方法：对我院2001年1月-2006年10月收治的56例无组织学淋巴结转移的结直肠癌患者的650个淋巴结进行微转移灶的免疫组织化学和组织学检测,并分析微转移灶与患者临床病理特征之间的关系。结果-通过对41,zm厚淋巴结连续切片进行观察,连续切片五片的微转移灶检出率较一片和两片的的微转移灶检出率显著升高（P〈0．05）。按解剖部位分组的患者微转移灶阳性率1组有66．67％（16／24）,2组有60％（9／15）,3组有41．2％（7／17）,无显著性差别（P〉0．05）。微转移灶与无组织学淋巴结转移的结直肠癌患者的肿瘤浸润深度（P=0．013）和肿块大小（P=0．037）存在显著性相关,但有微转移灶和无微转移灶的无组织学淋巴结转移的结直肠癌患者总体生存状况比较无显著差异（P〉0．05）。结论：微转移灶在无组织学淋巴结转移的结直肠癌淋巴结中较常见,与肿瘤大小和浸润深度有关,但与患者的预后无显著相关性。     

肛提肌外腹会阴联合切除术治疗低位进展期直肠癌的临床研究

目的:探讨肛提肌外腹会阴联合切除术(ELAPE)在低位进展期直肠癌中的应用。方法:回顾性分析2011年1月至2013年12月我院胃肠外科30例接受ELAPE和18例接受传统腹会阴联合直肠癌切除术(APR)的低位直肠癌病人的临床资料,通过对手术用时、失血量、术中穿孔发生率、术后住院时间、术后并发症以及出院后随访相关指标等的比较来分析ELAPE的可行性。结果:和APR相比,ELAPE治疗低位直肠癌可降低术中直肠穿孔和CRM阳性的发生率,术后会阴部切口愈合延迟率以及出院后肿瘤局部复发、远处转移以及患者死亡的发生率,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。行ELAPE术的手术时间、术中出血量、平均住院天数,术后引流管拔管时间、尿潴留发生率以及出院随访的骶尾部不适率均稍大于行APR术的患者,但差异均尚无统计学意义(P0.05);进行两种手术的患者住院两组间围手术期死亡病例、会阴部血清肿的发生率、肠梗阻发生率、造口问题发生率以及出现并发症的情况差异不大(P0.05)。结论:和APR相比,ELAPE治疗低位进展期直肠癌可降低术中肠管穿孔发生率、CRM阳性率和住院期间发生会阴部切口愈合延迟率,短期随访预后良好,有望成为治疗进展期低位直肠癌的推荐术式。     

Significance of Lymph Node Metastasis in Cancer Dissemination of Head and Neck Cancer

Lymph node metastasis (LNM) in many solid cancers is a well-known prognostic factor; however, it has been debated whether regional LNM simply reflects tumor aggressiveness or is a source for further tumor dissemination. Similarly, the metastatic process in head and neck cancer (HNC) has not been fully evaluated. Thus, we aimed to investigate the relative significance of LNM in metastatic cascade of HNC using functional imaging of HNC patients and molecular imaging in in vivo models. First, we analyzed ¹⁸Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET) parameters of 117 patients with oral cancer. The primary tumor and nodal PET parameters were measured separately, and survival analyses were conducted on the basis of clinical and PET variables to identify significant prognostic factors. In multivariate analyses, we found that only the metastatic node PET values were significant. Next, we compared the relative frequency of lung metastasis in primary ear tumors versus lymph node (LN) tumors, and we tested the rate of lung metastasis in another animal model, in which each animal had both primary and LN tumors that were expressing different colors. As a result, LN tumors showed higher frequencies of lung metastasis compared to orthotopic primary tumors. In color-matched comparisons, the relative contribution to lung metastasis was higher in LN tumors than in primary tumors, although both primary and LN tumors caused lung metastases. In summary, tumors growing in the LN microenvironment spread to systemic sites more commonly than primary tumors in HNC, suggesting that the adequate management of LNM can reduce further systemic metastasis.     

Risk Factors for Central Lymph Node Metastasis in CN0 Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background

Central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) is common in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Prophylactic central lymph node dissection (PCLND) for patients with clinically negative central compartment lymph nodes (CN0) remains controversial. The phrase “clinically negative” is used to indicate that patients exhibited no clinical evidence of CLNM by ultrasonography (US) or computerized tomography (CT) preoperatively. In this study, we analyze the risk factors for CLNM in CN0 patients.

Methods

The PUBMED and SCIE databases were systematically searched for works published through January 31, 2015. All of the patients included in this study underwent thyroidectomy+PCLND. Revman 5.3 software was used to analyze the data.

Results

Twenty studies and 9084 patients were included in this meta-analysis. The following variables were associated with an increased risk of CLNM in CN0 patients: age < 45 years (OR = 1.59, 95% CI = 1.42–1.78, p<0.00001), male sex (OR = 1.95, 95% CI = 1.63–2.32, p<0.00001), multifocality (OR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.22–1.67, p<0.00001), tumor size > 2 cm for PTC patients (OR = 2.98, 95% CI 2.08–4.28, p<0.00001) or tumor size > 0.5 cm for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) patients (OR = 2.30, 95% CI = 1.71–3.09, p<0.00001), location of the primary tumor in the central area and low pole (OR = 1.86, 95% CI = 1.48–2.33, p<0.00001), lymphovascular invasion (OR = 4.35, 95% CI = 2.24–8.46, p<0.0001), extrathyroidal extension (OR = 2.27, 95% CI = 1.76–2.94, p<0.00001), and capsular invasion (OR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.39–2.41, p<0.00001). PTC (tumor size>1cm) exhibited a higher risk factor associated with CLNM than PTMC (tumor size<1cm) (OR = 2.83, 95% CI = 2.15–3.72, p<0.00001). Bilateral tumors (OR = 1.21, 95% CI = 0.92–1.58, p = 0.17) and lymphocytic thyroiditis (OR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.71–1.09, p = 0.25) had no association with CLNM in CN0 patients.

Conclusions

Our systematic review identified several clinical features associated with CLNM in CN0 patients, including age, sex, multifocality, size, location, lymphovascular invasion, capsular invasion, and extrathyroidal extension. These factors should guide the application of PCLND in CN0 patients.     

Intravital Microscopy of the Inguinal Lymph Node

Lymph nodes (LN''s), located throughout the body, are an integral component of the immune system. They serve as a site for induction of adaptive immune response and therefore, the development of effector cells. As such, LNs are key to fighting invading pathogens and maintaining health. The choice of LN to study is dictated by accessibility and the desired model; the inguinal lymph node is well situated and easily supports studies of biologically relevant models of skin and genital mucosal infection.The inguinal LN, like all LNs, has an extensive microvascular network supplying it with blood. In general, this microvascular network includes the main feed arteriole of the LN that subsequently branches and feeds high endothelial venules (HEVs). HEVs are specialized for facilitating the trafficking of immune cells into the LN during both homeostasis and infection. How HEVs regulate trafficking into the LN under both of these circumstances is an area of intense exploration. The LN feed arteriole, has direct upstream influence on the HEVs and is the main supply of nutrients and cell rich blood into the LN. Furthermore, changes in the feed arteriole are implicated in facilitating induction of adaptive immune response. The LN microvasculature has obvious importance in maintaining an optimal blood supply to the LN and regulating immune cell influx into the LN, which are crucial elements in proper LN function and subsequently immune response. The ability to study the LN microvasculature in vivo is key to elucidating how the immune system and the microvasculature interact and influence one another within the LN. Here, we present a method for in vivo imaging of the inguinal lymph node. We focus on imaging of the microvasculature of the LN, paying particular attention to methods that ensure the study of healthy vessels, the ability to maintain imaging of viable vessels over a number of hours, and quantification of vessel magnitude. Methods for perfusion of the microvasculature with vasoactive drugs as well as the potential to trace and quantify cellular traffic are also presented. Intravital microscopy of the inguinal LN allows direct evaluation of microvascular functionality and real-time interface of the direct interface between immune cells, the LN, and the microcirculation. This technique potential to be combined with many immunological techniques and fluorescent cell labelling as well as manipulated to study vasculature of other LNs.     

A Novel Scoring System for the Risk of Papillary Thyroid Cancer Metastases in Lymph Nodes Posterior to the Right of the Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve

ObjectiveSome surgeons believe that dissection posterior to the right recurrent laryngeal nerve lymph node (PRRLN-LN) is unnecessary for the low metastasis rate and high complication risk. However, persistent metastatic lymph nodes may have a higher recurrence rate, surgical risk, and complications. Thus, it is important to distinguish patients who require PRRLN-LN dissection. To identify the risk factors for lymph nodes posterior to the right recurrent laryngeal nerve metastasis (LN-prRLN) and establish a scoring system to help determine whether PRRLN-LN dissection is required in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma.Methods821 participants were randomly allocated to the development and validation cohorts in a 2:1 ratio. A nomogram-based predictive model for LN-prRLN was established based on the risk factors identified in the development cohort.ResultsLN-prRLN was diagnosed pathologically in 124 of 821 patients (15.1%) from the entire cohort. Multivariate analysis identified age (odds ratio [OR], 0.964; 95% CI, 0.945-0.983; P < .001), tumor size (OR, 1.536; 95% CI, 1.135-2.079; P = .005), extrathyroidal extension (OR 2.271, 95% CI, 1.368-3.770; P = .002), clinically involved right central compartment lymph node metastasis (OR 1.643, 95% CI, 1.055-2.559; P = .028), and right lateral lymph node metastasis (OR 4.271, 95% CI, 2.325-7.844; P < .001) as the predictors of LN-prRLN. A risk model was established and well validated. Calibration curves to evaluate the nomogram in both the development and validation cohorts revealed a concordance index of 0.756 ± 0.058 and 0.745 ± 0.042, respectively.ConclusionOur scoring system may be useful for helping the surgeons decide which patients should undergo the dissection of PRRLN-LN.