Objective To investigate the clinicopathologic features,the complications of splenectomy and the survival of epithelial ovarian cancer patients with splenic metastasis.Methods A retrospective study was performed of 32 pailents with epithelial ovarian cancer who underwent splenectomy for tumor cytoreduction at Zhejiang Cancer Hospital between Jan 1998 and Jun 2006.Results Of 32 patients,23 patients(72%)were serous adenocarcinoma and 9 were non-serous adenocarcinoma.According to pathological grade,none was of G1,11 were of G2,21 were of G3.Postoperatively,20 patients were left with no residual tumor.7 were with≤2 cm and 5 were with＞2 cm residual tumor.Postoperative complications developed in 8 patients(25%),including subphrenic abscess,wound infection,gastric perforation,gastrorrhagia,phlebothrombosis,and bowel obstruction.The median follow up was 38 months,estimated 2-year and 5-year overall survival were 70%and 36%.Univariate analysis revealed that histological grade,residual tumor and courses of chemotherapy were influencing factors of the survival(P＜0.05),but multivariate analysis indicated that only residual tumor and courses of chemotherapy independently influenced survival(P＜0.05).Conclusions In epithelial ovarian cancer patients with splenic metastasis,low grade serous adenocarcinoma is most common.Splenectomy as part of cytoreductive surgery is associated with modest morbidity and mortality.Residual tumor and courses of chemotherapy are independent factors associated with the prognosis of the patients.

Objective To assess the value of blood perfusion of thyroid nodules using contrastenhanced ultrasonography(CEUS). Methods Blood perfusion parameters of 78 preoperative patients with thyroid nodule were examined using CEUS. Microvessel density(MVD) in the thyroid nodule specimens was calculated by immunohistochemical staining using anti-factor CD34. Results Compared to papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and nodular goiter (NG), there was significant differences in peak value(PEAK),maximum value of video signal intensity(Slmax), and mean value of video signal intensity(SImean) in thyroid nodule with diameter ＜ 1 cm ( P ＜ 0. 05 ), the MVD of thyroid nodules was not statistically significant ( P ＞ 0.05). There were significant differences in regional blood volume and MVD in thyroid nodule with diameter ≥ 1 cm between two groups ( P ＜ 0.05). Conclusions The characteristics of blood perfusion are dissimilar for thyroid nodules with different sizes and properties. The quantitative analysis with CEUS can provide valuable information for clinical diagnosis.