Pathological evaluation of the accuracy of a fluorescence spectroscopy system for detecting parathyroid glands

Purpose A fluorescence-based technique for the detection of parathyroid glands (PGs) intraoperatively was previously reported. The technique was based on the phenomenon in which PGs emit autofluorescence when exposed to near-infrared light and we undertook an evaluation to consider the pathological accuracy of the method. Methods The study comprised 17 patients (18 specimens) who underwent thyroid surgery at Kushiro City General Hospital between November 2018 and June 2019. We searched for PGs intraoperatively using a fluorescence spectroscopy system and evaluated the pathological accuracy of the system. We statistically evaluated the clinical factors associated with the accuracy of the system, including age, gender, body mass index, laterality, disease state, renal function, and comorbidity. Results Eighteen specimens were evaluated pathologically, with 13 specimens confirmed as PGs. These were evaluated as "true positive," giving a positive predictive value of 72.2% (13/18). Among the false-negative cases, one specimen was a metastatic lymph node in a patient with papillary thyroid carcinoma. There was a significant difference in the true-positive rates between malignant (25%) and benign (85.7%) disease (P = 0.044). Conclusion We consider that this technique is useful, however, we have to exercise care in malignant cases as the true-positive rate may be low

Confirmation of the 8th edition of the AJCC/UICC TNM staging system for HPV-mediated oropharyngeal cancer in Japan

Background: Several studies have demonstrated that the 7th edition of the AJCC/UICC TNM staging classification system does not consistently distinguish between prognostic subgroups for human papillomavirus (HPV)-mediated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). The 8th edition of the AJCC/UICC TNM staging came into effect for use with HPV-mediated OPSCC on or after January 1, 2017. This study confirms that the 8th edition of the AJCC/UICC TNM staging system for HPV- mediated OPSCC accurately reflects disease outcomes. Patients and methods:We retrospectively analyzed 195 patients with OPSCC treated at Hokkaido University Hospital, Sapporo, Japan between 1998 and 2015. HPV status was evaluated by immunohistochemical analysis of p16. Results: Of the 195 OPSCC patients, 111 (56.9%) were p16 positive, and 84 (43.1%) were p16 negative. The 3-year overall survival rate (OS) was significantly lower in the p16-negative patients with stage III-IV in comparison with those with stage I-II (55.0% vs 93.1%, p<0.01). The 3-year OS did not differ significantly between stage I-II and stage III-IV in the p16-positive patients (86.7% vs 87.7%). According to the 8th edition of the AJCC/UICC TNM staging system, stage I-II and stage III could be differentiated on the basis of the 3-year OS in the p16-positive patients (90.9% vs 70.2%, p<0.01). Conclusions: The 7th edition of the AJCC/UICC TNM staging system is suitable for use with p16-negative patients; however, it does not effectively discriminate between p16-positive patients. Therefore, the 8th edition of the AJCC/UICC TNM staging system is more suitable for HPV-mediated OPSCC in Japan

Residual tumour detection in post-treatment granulation tissue by using advanced diffusion models in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients

Purpose: To evaluate the detectability of the residual tumour in post-treatment granulation tissue using parameters obtained with an advanced diffusion model in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) treated by chemoradiation therapy. Materials and methods: We retrospectively evaluated 23 patients with HNSCC after the full course of chemoradiation therapy. The diffusion-weighted image (DWI) acquisition used single-shot spin-echo echo-planar imaging with 11 b-values (0-1000). We calculated 10 DWI parameters using a mono-exponential model, a bi-exponential model, a stretched exponential model (SEM), a diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) model and a statistical diffusion model (SDM) in the region of interest (ROI) placed on the post-treatment granulation tissue. The presence of residual tumour was determined by histological findings or clinical follow-up. Results: Among the 23 patients, seven patients were revealed to have residual tumour. The univariate analysis revealed significant differences in six parameters between the patients with and without residual tumour. From the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the highest area under curve was detected in the center of the Gaussian distribution of diffusion coefficient (Ds) obtained by the SDM. The multivariate analysis revealed that the Ds and diffusion heterogeneity (α) obtained by the SEM were predictors for the presence of residual tumour. Conclusion: DWI parameters obtained by advanced fitting models will be one of the diagnostic tools for the detection of residual tumour

Lymph node metastasis in the suprasternal space from thyroid papillary cancer

The suprasternal space is a narrow space between the superficial and deep layers of the investing layers of the deep cervical fascia above the manubrium of the sternum. The suprasternal space has been paid little attention as a space with the potential for lymph node metastasis from both thyroid cancer and head and neck cancer. We experienced 2 patients who were found to have a lymph node in the suprasternal space preoperatively. Both of them had well-differentiated thyroid papillary carcinomas and level III and IV lymph node metastases as well as metastasis in the suprasternal space. We have not previously dissected the suprasternal space prophylactically in other patients with thyroid papillary cancer, but no patient has developed metastasis in this space to date. The suprasternal space is not usually dissected in atients with thyroid cancer. However, suprasternal space metastasis has been reported to occur occasionally in patients with lymph node metastases in levels III and IV. We consider that dissection of the suprasternal space, which is not routinely performed, should be done when preoperative examination suggests lymph node metastasis in the suprasternal space as dissection of this space is less invasive, easy to achieve, and is not time consuming. Greater attention should be paid to the suprasternal space as an area with the otential for lymph node metastasis from thyroid cancer

Prognostic value of cyclin D1 expression in tumor-free surgical margins in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas

Conclusion: It was proved that cyclin D1-positive status in surgical margins was an independent prognostic indicator of local recurrence. The expression of cyclin D1 in tumor-free surgical margins may better predict local recurrence in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) after surgical treatment with curative intent. Objective: This retrospective study aimed to determine the prognostic indicators for local recurrence in HNSCC. Methods: A total of 116 HNSCC patients who underwent surgical treatment with curative intent and had histopathologically tumor-free margins were eligible for this study. The expression of p53 and cyclin D1 was assessed by immunohistochemical staining in surgical margins as well as in tumor specimens. Results: In all, 63 patients (54.3%) had p53-positive tumor specimens and 34 patients (29.3%) had p53-positive margins. Seventy-six patients (65.6%) had cyclin D1-positive tumor specimens and 54 patients (46.6%) had cyclin D1-positive margins. A significant difference in local control rates was observed between patients with cyclin D1-positive and -negative margins (77.2% vs 91.5%, log rank test, p = 0.0139). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards testing indicated that the hazard ratio of cyclin D1-positive margins for local recurrence was 4.58 (95% confidence interval 1.14–21.69, p = 0.0304)

Validation of the 8th edition of the AJCC/UICC TNM staging system for tongue squamous cell carcinoma

Background: The revised 8th edition of the AJCC/UICC staging system was released in January 2017, and depth of invasion (DOI) was added to the new criteria for T classification in oral cavity cancer. In this study, we evaluated whether the 8th edition presents the prognosis and risk of nodal metastasis in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of tongue more accurately than did the 7th edition. Methods: The data for 112 patients were obtained and reclassified based on the criteria presented in the 8th edition. Results: Seven patients previously staged as T1 based on the criteria in the 7th edition were reclassified as T2 based on the 8th edition, while 19 T2 patients were reclassified as T3, and 9 T4a patients were reclassified as T3. T3 in the 8th edition represents a homogenous population showing the same prognosis, while T2 in the 8th edition represents a heterogenous population. Nodal metastasis was significantly correlated with T classification in both editions and DOI. However, neither the T classification in the 7th or 8th edition, nor DOI could predict the probability of potential nodal metastasis in patients with cN0 disease. Conclusions: The classification on T3 in the 8th edition can be seen as reasonable with regard to prognosis. Nodal metastasis was significantly correlated with T classification and DOI; however, the probability of subsequent nodal metastasis in patients with T2N0 was almost same for the criteria in the 7th and 8th editions, therefore, the same careful management as before is required for patients with N0 disease

Non-invasive prediction of the tumor growth rate using advanced diffusion models in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients

We assessed parameters of advanced diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) models for the prediction of the tumor growth rate in 55 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients. The DWI acquisition used single-shot spin-echo echo-planar imaging with 12 b-values (0-2000). We calculated 14 DWI parameters using mono-exponential, bi-exponential, tri-exponential, stretched exponential and diffusion kurtosis imaging models. We directly measured the tumor growth rate from two sets of different-date imaging data. We divided the patients into a discovery group (n = 40) and validation group (n = 15) based on their MR acquisition dates. In the discovery group, we performed univariate and multivariate regression analyses to establish the multiple regression equation for the prediction of the tumor growth rate using diffusion parameters. The equation obtained with the discovery group was applied to the validation group for the confirmation of the equation's accuracy. After the univariate and multivariate regression analyses in the discovery-group patients, the estimated tumor growth rate equation was established by using the significant parameters of intermediate diffusion coefficient D2 and slow diffusion coefficient D3 obtained by the tri-exponential model. The discovery group's correlation coefficient between the estimated and directly measured tumor growth rates was 0.74. In the validation group, the correlation coefficient (r = 0.66) and intra-class correlation coefficient (0.65) between the estimated and directly measured tumor growth rates were respectively good. In conclusion, advanced DWI model parameters can be a predictor for determining HNSCC patients' tumor growth rate