Lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymphadenectomy is becoming an important surgical technique for assessing axillary status in breast cancer. In experienced hands, it can be successfully performed in >90% of cases. The morbidity of sentinel lymphadenectomy is minimal, considerably less than the 15%-20% rate of complications associated with axillary lymph node dissection. Moreover, excision of the ...

Cancer patients with lymph node (LN) metastases have a worse prognosis than those without nodal disease. However, why LN metastases correlate with reduced patient survival is poorly understood. Recent findings provide insight into mechanisms underlying tumor growth in LNs. Tumor cells and their secreted molecules engage stromal, myeloid, and lymphoid cells within primary tumors and in the lymph...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The Japanese protocol considers metastases to retroperitoneal or lateral pelvic lymph nodes (RLPNs) as regional lymphatic dissemination in rectal adenocarcinoma patients and recommends total mesorectal excision (TME) plus retroperitoneal and lateral pelvic lymphadenectomy (RLPL). Western protocols consider RLPN metastases to indicate advanced disease. METHODS All out...

OBJECTIVE Patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with metastases to ipsilateral mediastinal lymph nodes (N2) are an heterogeneous group of patients as regard to prognosis and treatment. Indication and timing of surgery remain controversial. The present study investigates the prognostic factors, in order to identify homogenous subgroups of patients. METHODS Histologically proven N2-N...

Ten years ago the relationship between tumors and the lymphatic system was perceived to be rather passive. Since then, the dramatic increase in our understanding of the molecular biology of lymphatic endothelial cells and the regulation of lymphangiogenesis has revealed that tumors can actively interact with the lymphatics by inducing lymphangiogenesis. In turn, this interaction promotes the en...

BACKGROUND To study the distribution pattern of lymph node metastases of stage IA to IIA cervical cancer and to clarify the individualized clinical target volume delineation of regional lymph nodes (CTVn). METHODS A total of 665 cases with International Federation Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IA to IIA cervical cancer who underwent radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy were retro...

Cholangiocarcinoma is uncommon cancer with an incidence 1-2/100 000 in the USA. Predisposing diseases for developing of cholangiocarcinoma include primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), congenital biliary cystic disease and hepatolithiasis with biliary infestations by Clonorchis siniensis, also called recurrent pyogenic cholangiohepatatis ( mainly encountered in Japan and Southwest Asia). The ma...

Alterations to drainage pathways in the head and neck as a result of surgical manipulation are not well understood. We present two unusual cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma metastatic to the level 6 nodal compartment following extensive treatment. Both oral squamous cell carcinoma cases exhibited metastases to the central neck compartment following extensive surgery and radiation. Each pati...