Objective To analyze the rule of lymph node metastasis, compare the preoperative computed tomographic findings with pathological diagnosis in thoracic esophageal carcinoma and to evaluate the clinical value. Methods Six hundred and eighteen patients with esophageal carcinoma after radical resection were enrolled. All patients did not receive any preoperative radiotherapy or chemotherapy, having complete information of postoperative pathological reports. CT scanning were applied to all patients in our hospital. The CT image were transmitted to the three-dimensional treatment planning system via the network at digital format and be reconstructed. In which system the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy rates in diagnosis of lymph node metastasis of the preoperative CT image were observed, measured and recorded. x2 test or Fisdher's statistical methods was adopted for comparing the concord rate of preoperative CT scanning with postoperative pathological diagnosis. Results Lymph nodes metastasis were defected in 242 of the 618 treated patients(39.2%), The rate of lymph node metastasis present in lower neck, upper-mediastinum,middle-mediastinum, lower-mediastinum, and superior abdomen regions in upper-thoracic esophageal carcinoma were 3.2% ,20.8% ,6.4% ,2.4% and 8.0%, in middle-thoracic esophageal carcinoma 1.5%,7.8% ,22.0% ,3.5% and 22.8%, and in lower-thoracic esophageal carcinoma 0% ,2.0% ,21.4% ,6.1% and 32.7%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value,younden index and accuracy rates of diagnosis of lymph node metastasis with preoperative CT scan were 58.3%, 70.7%, 56.2%, 72.5%, 29.0% and 65.9%, respectively. The concordance rate of 0, 1, 2 and ≥ 3 lymph node metastasis by preoperative CT scanning with postoperative pathological diagnosis were 72.4%, 32.2% , 58.3% and 73.1%, respectively in whole group(x2 = 82. 61, P = 0.000). The concordance rate of no lymph node metastasis by CT scan comparing with that by postoperative pathological diagnosis was higher than that of the 1 lymph node metastasis in upper-thoracic esophageal carcinoma 3 lymph node metastasis were 71.1%, 30.1%, 55.6% and 77.8%, respectively(x2 =55.14,P =0.000.Conclusions Preoperative CT image can accurately predict the distribution patterns of the lymph node metastasis in esophageal carcinoma. The concordance rate was the highest in diagnosis of 0 and ≥3 lymph node metastasis, the lowest in diagnosis of one lymph node metastasis. These findings are valuable for definition of the target range of radiotherapy after radical resection of esophageal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the CT and pathological features of head and neck pilomatricoma.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the CT findings of 13 patients with head and neck pilomatricoma which were pathologically confirmed. Of them 7 patients received plain CT, 2 patients received contrast-enhancement, and 4 patients received plain CT plus contrast-enhancement.

RESULTSAll the patients presented with solitary tumors, 9 of them occurred in the parotid gland region, one in the left occipital, one in the right forehead, one in the right parietal, and another one in the left eyelid. The maximal diameter of the tumors ranged from 0.6 to 2.3 cm with a mean of 1.5 cm. All lesions were well-circumscribed, with partial attachment to the overlying skin. Most of lesions were isodense relative to adjacent skeletal muscle on non-enhanced CT scans, sand-like or nodular calcifications within the masses were showed in 8 cases, and no cystic degeneration was found. On contrast-enhanced imaging, mild to moderate homogenous enhancement was showed in 3 cases, heterogeneous moderate enhancement with patchy nonenhancing necrosis area in one case, marked enhancement in one case, and complete calcification with no enhancement in one case.

CONCLUSIONHead and neck pilomatricoma presents with certain characteristics on CT, which are useful in the clinical diagnosis and differential diagnosis.

Diagnosis, Differential ; Hair Diseases ; diagnosis ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Pilomatrixoma ; diagnosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of cancer, including lung cancer. However, the exact underlying mechanism and therapeutic potential are largely unknown. Here we report that protein arginine methyltransferase 6 (PRMT6) is highly expressed in lung cancer and is required for cell metabolism, tumorigenicity, and cisplatin response of lung cancer. PRMT6 regulated the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) flux and glycolysis pathway in human lung cancer by increasing the activity of 6-phospho-gluconate dehydrogenase (6PGD) and α-enolase (ENO1). Furthermore, PRMT6 methylated R324 of 6PGD to enhancing its activity; while methylation at R9 and R372 of ENO1 promotes formation of active ENO1 dimers and 2-phosphoglycerate (2-PG) binding to ENO1, respectively. Lastly, targeting PRMT6 blocked the oxidative PPP flux, glycolysis pathway, and tumor growth, as well as enhanced the anti-tumor effects of cisplatin in lung cancer. Together, this study demonstrates that PRMT6 acts as a post-translational modification (PTM) regulator of glucose metabolism, which leads to the pathogenesis of lung cancer. It was proven that the PRMT6-6PGD/ENO1 regulatory axis is an important determinant of carcinogenesis and may become a promising cancer therapeutic strategy.