Assessment of lymph node status in gallbladder cancer: location, number, or ratio of positive nodes

World Journal of Surgical Oncology

Katsuyoshi Hatakeyama²  Yoichi Ajioka¹  Taku Ohashi²  Toshifumi Wakai²  Jun Sakata²  Yoshio Shirai² 

[1] Division of Molecular and Diagnostic Pathology, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Niigata City 951-8510, Japan;Division of Digestive and General Surgery, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Niigata City 951-8510, Japan

关键词: Prognosis;    Lymph node excision;    Lymph node ratio;    Lymphatic metastasis;    Gallbladder neoplasms;   

Others  :  827763
DOI  :  10.1186/1477-7819-10-87

 received in 2012-01-05, accepted in 2012-03-25,  发布年份 2012

【 摘 要 】

Background

Assessment of lymph node status is a critical issue in the surgical management of gallbladder cancer. The aim of this study was to compare the anatomical location of positive nodes, number of positive nodes, and lymph node ratio (LNR) as prognostic predictors in gallbladder cancer.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis of 135 patients with gallbladder cancer who underwent a radical resection with regional lymphadenectomy. A total of 2,245 regional lymph nodes were retrieved (median, 14 per patient). The location of positive nodes was classified according to the AJCC staging manual (7th edition). ‘Optimal’ cutoff values were determined for the number of positive nodes and LNR based on maximal χ² scores calculated with the Cox proportional hazards regression model.

Results

Lymph node metastasis was found histologically in 59 (44%) patients. The ‘optimal’ cutoff values for the number of positive nodes and LNR were determined to be three nodes and 10%, respectively. Univariate analysis identified location of positive nodes (pN0, pN1, pN2; P < 0.001), number of positive nodes (0, 1 to 3, ≥4; P < 0.001), and LNR (0%, 0 to 10%, >10%; P < 0.001) as significant prognostic factors. Multivariate analysis identified number of positive nodes as an independent prognostic factor ( P = 0.004); however, location of positive nodes and LNR failed to remain as an independent variable.

Conclusions

The number of positive lymph nodes better predicts patient outcome after resection than either the location of positive lymph nodes or LNR in gallbladder cancer. Dividing the number of positive lymph nodes into three categories (0, 1 to 3, or ≥4) is valid for stratifying patients based on the prognosis after resection.

【 授权许可】

   
2012 Shirai et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

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