ObjectiveTo explore the association between dietary retinol intake and prognosis of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. MethodsThe study enrolled 388 cases with primary esophageal squamous cell carcinoma that was pathologically diagnosed in the first affiliated hospital of Fujian medical university and the cancer hospital of Fujian medical university from July 2014 to August 2019. Chi-square test was used to determine the relationship between retinol and patients' characteristics. Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test was used to analyze the relationship between retinol and multiple nutrients. Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to explore the association between dietary retinol and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. ResultsPatients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma did not significantly differ in gender， age， TNM stage， tumor length or nutrient intake by different retinol intakes （P>0.05）. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the high retinol intake group had a better prognosis （overal survial：HR=0.279，95%CI：0.150‒0.520，P<0.001；disease-free survival：HR=0.306，95%CI：0.181‒0.516，P<0.001）. ConclusionHigh dietary retinol intake may improve the prognosis of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective To compare the advantages and disadvantages of 3D BRAVO and TRICKS for detecting cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) and to explore the MR scanning methods on CVST.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 40 patients who were diagnosed with CVST in the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University from January 2011 to June,2014.All the patients underwent TRICKS scan and 3D BRAVO examination and were classified into 3 groups based on dural venous sinuses,deep cerebral vein and superficial cerebral vein.Detection rates of TRICKS and BRAVO were evaluated and the results were analyzed.Result Detection rates of dural venous sinuses by TRICKS and BRAVO were 98.0％ and 100％ respectively.Detection rates of deep cerebral vein were 92.9％ and 100％ respectively.No significant difference was found (P＞0.05).Detection rates of superficial cerebral vein were 66.7％ and 100％ respectively.Significant difference was found between the two (P＜0.05) Conclusion BRAVO technology can clearly demonstrate the details of CVST,especially in superficial cerebral vein.With the combination use of TRICKS sequences,it will be of higher diagnostic value.

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between the lymph node metastasis and clinicopathological features in patients with clinical stage T1a non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODSClinicopathological data of a total of 418 patients who underwent lobectomy and systematic lymph node dissection were retrospectively analyzed. Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between lymph node metastasis and clinicopathological features.

RESULTSLymph node metastasis was observed in 25 patients. There were 122 patients who were diagnosed as ground glass opacity with no lymph node metastasis. 399 patients had subcarinal dissection, among them 7 patients were found to have lymph node metastasis. Univariate analysis showed that gender, smoking history, diameter of lymph node, ground glass opacity (GGO), differentiation of the tumor and tumor site were the factors affecting lymph node metastasis (all P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that diameter of lymph node, differentiation of the tumor and the site of lesion were independent risk factors for lymph node metastasis of NSCLC.

CONCLUSIONSTumor in the left lung, poor differentiation, and diameter of lymph nodes ≥ 1 cm on the preoperative CT image are independent risk factors for lymph node metastasis of NSCLC, hence we should pay attention before surgery and systematic lymph node dissection should be done. For patients with poor differentiation and lymph nodes ≥ 1 cm, subcarinal lymph nodes dissection is recommended for the sake of higher possibility of lymph node metastasis. For patients with ground glass opacity ≤ 2 cm, the lymph node metastasis is extremely rare, therefore, selective lymph node dissection is reconmmended.

Analysis of Variance ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; pathology ; secondary ; surgery ; Cell Differentiation ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sex Factors ; Smoking

OBJECTIVEVideo-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) esophagectomy has been performed for more than 10 years in China. However, compared with the conventional esophagectomy via right thoracotomy, whether VATS esophagectomy has more advantages or not in the lymph node (LN) dissection and prevention of perioperative complications is still controversial and deserves to be further investigated. The aim of this study was to explore whether there are significant differences in this issue between the two surgical modalities or not.

METHODSThe results of lymph node dissection and perioperative complications as well as other parameters in the patients treated by VATS esophagectomy and those by conventional esophagectomy via right thoracotomy at our department from May 1, 2009 to July 30, 2013 were compared using SPSS 16.0 in order to investigate whether there was any significant difference between these two treatment modalities in the learning curve stage of VATS esophagectomy.

RESULTSOne hundred and twenty-nine cases underwent VATS esophagectomy between May 1, 2009 and July 30, 2013, and another part 129 cases with the same preoperative cTNM stage treated by conventional esopahgectomy via right thoracotomy were selected in order to compare the results of lymph node dissection and perioperative complications as well as other parameters between those two groups of patients. There were no significant differences in the sex, age, lesion locations and cTNM stage between these two groups. The total LN metastatic rate in the VATS esophagectomy group was 35.7% and that of the conventional esophagectomy group was 37.2% (P > 0.05). The total average number of dissected lymph nodes was 12.1 vs. 16.2 (P < 0.001). The average dissected LN stations was 3.2 vs. 3.6 (P = 0.038). The total average number of dissected LN along the left recurrent laryngeal nerve was 2.0 vs. 3.7 (P = 0.012). The total average number of dissected LN along the right recurrent laryngeal nerve was 2.9 vs. 3.4 (P = 0.231). However, there was no significant difference in the total average number of dissected LN in the other thoracic LN stations, and in the perioperative complications between the two groups. The total postoperative complication rate was 41.1% in the VATS group versus 42.6% in the conventional group (P = 0.801). The cardiopulmonary complication rate was 25.6% vs. 27.1% (P = 0.777). The death rate was the same in the two groups (0.8%). The VATS group had less blood infusion (23.2% vs. 41.8%, P = 0.001) and shorter hospital stay (15.9 days vs. 19.2 days, P = 0.049) but longer operating time (161.3 min vs. 127.8 min, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSIn the learning curve stage of VATS esophagectomy, compared with the conventional esophagectomy, less LN number and stations can be dissected in the VATS group due to un-skillful VATS manipulation, especially it is more difficult in the LN dissection along the left recurrent laryngeal nerve. Therefore, it is more suitable to select patients with early esophageal cancer without obvious enlarged lymph nodes for VATS esophagectomy in the learning curve stage.

China ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Humans ; Learning Curve ; Length of Stay ; Lymph Node Excision ; adverse effects ; methods ; statistics & numerical data ; Lymph Nodes ; Operative Time ; Postoperative Complications ; epidemiology ; Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; adverse effects ; Thoracotomy

Objective To explore the relationship between the lymph node metastasis and clinicopathological features in patients with clinical stage T1a non-small cell lung cancer ( NSCLC ) . Methods Clinicopathological data of a total of 418 patients who underwent lobectomy and systematic lymph node dissection were retrospectively analyzed.Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between lymph node metastasis and clinicopathological features.Resulst Lymph node metastasis was observed in 25 patients.There were 122 patients who were diagnosed as ground glass opacity with no lymph node metastasis.399 patients had subcarinal dissection, among them 7 patients were found to have lymph node metastasis.Univariate analysis showed that gender, smoking history, diameter of lymph node, ground glass opacity ( GGO ) , differentiation of the tumor and tumor site were the factors affecting lymph node metastasis ( all P<0.05) .Logistic regression analysis showed that diameter of lymph node, differentiation of the tumor and the site of lesion were independent risk factors for lymph node metastasis of NSCLC. Conclusions Tumor in the left lung, poor differentiation, and diameter of lymph nodes ≥1 cm on the preoperative CT image are independent risk factors for lymph node metastasis of NSCLC, hence we should pay attention before surgery and systematic lymph node dissection should be done.For patients with poor differentiation and lymph nodes≥1 cm, subcarinal lymph nodes dissection is recommended for the sake of higher possibility of lymph node metastasis.For patients with ground glass opacity≤2 cm, the lymph node metastasis is extremely rare, therefore, selective lymph node dissection is reconmmended.

Objective Video?assisted thoracoscopic ( VATS ) esophagectomy has been performed for more than 10 years in China. However, compared with the conventional esophagectomy via right thoracotomy, whether VATS esophagectomy has more advantages or not in the lymph node ( LN) dissection and prevention of perioperative complications is still controversial and deserves to be further investigated. The aim of this study was to explore whether there are significant differences in this issue between the two surgical modalities or not. Methods The results of lymph node dissection and perioperative complications as well as other parameters in the patients treated by VATS esophagectomy and those by conventional esophagectomy via right thoracotomy at our department from May 1,2009 to July 30,2013 were compared using SPSS 16.0 in order to investigate whether there was any significant difference between these two treatment modalities in the learning curve stage of VATS esophagectomy. Results One hundred and twenty?nine cases underwent VATS esophagectomy between May 1, 2009 and July 30, 2013, and another pared 129 cases with the same preoperative cTNM stage treated by conventional esopahgectomy via right thoracotomy were selected in order to compare the results of lymph node dissection and perioperative complications as well as other parameters between those two groups of patients. There were no significant differences in the sex, age, lesion locations and cTNM stage between these two groups. The total LN metastatic rate in the VATS esophagectomy group was 35.7% and that of the conventional esophagectomy group was 37.2% (P>0.05). The total average number of dissected lymph nodes was 12.1 vs. 16.2 ( P<0.001) . The average dissected LN stations was 3.2 vs. 3.6 ( P=0.038) . The total average number of dissected LN along the left recurrent laryngeal nerve was 2.0 vs. 3.7 ( P=0.012) . The total average number of dissected LN along the right recurrent laryngeal nerve was 2.9 vs. 3.4 (P=0.231). However, there was no significant difference in the total average number of dissected LN in the other thoracic LN stations, and in the perioperative complications between the two groups. The total postoperative complication rate was 41. 1% in the VATS group versus 42. 6% in the conventional group ( P=0.801) . The cardiopulmonary complication rate was 25.6% vs. 27.1% ( P=0.777) . The death rate was the same in the two groups (0.8%). The VATS group had less blood infusion (23.2% vs. 41.8%, P=0.001) and shorter hospital stay (15.9 days vs. 19.2 days, P=0.049) but longer operating time (161.3 min vs. 127.8 min, P<0.01). Conclusions In the learning curve stage of VATS esophagectomy, compared with the conventional esophagectomy, less LN number and stations can be dissected in the VATS group due to unskillful VATS manipulation, especially it is more difficult in the LN dissection along the left recurrent laryngeal nerve. Therefore, it is more suitable to select patients with early esophageal cancer without obvious enlarged lymph nodes for VATS esophagectomy in the learning curve stage.

Objective To explore the relationship between the lymph node metastasis and clinicopathological features in patients with clinical stage T1a non-small cell lung cancer ( NSCLC ) . Methods Clinicopathological data of a total of 418 patients who underwent lobectomy and systematic lymph node dissection were retrospectively analyzed.Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between lymph node metastasis and clinicopathological features.Resulst Lymph node metastasis was observed in 25 patients.There were 122 patients who were diagnosed as ground glass opacity with no lymph node metastasis.399 patients had subcarinal dissection, among them 7 patients were found to have lymph node metastasis.Univariate analysis showed that gender, smoking history, diameter of lymph node, ground glass opacity ( GGO ) , differentiation of the tumor and tumor site were the factors affecting lymph node metastasis ( all P<0.05) .Logistic regression analysis showed that diameter of lymph node, differentiation of the tumor and the site of lesion were independent risk factors for lymph node metastasis of NSCLC. Conclusions Tumor in the left lung, poor differentiation, and diameter of lymph nodes ≥1 cm on the preoperative CT image are independent risk factors for lymph node metastasis of NSCLC, hence we should pay attention before surgery and systematic lymph node dissection should be done.For patients with poor differentiation and lymph nodes≥1 cm, subcarinal lymph nodes dissection is recommended for the sake of higher possibility of lymph node metastasis.For patients with ground glass opacity≤2 cm, the lymph node metastasis is extremely rare, therefore, selective lymph node dissection is reconmmended.

Objective Video?assisted thoracoscopic ( VATS ) esophagectomy has been performed for more than 10 years in China. However, compared with the conventional esophagectomy via right thoracotomy, whether VATS esophagectomy has more advantages or not in the lymph node ( LN) dissection and prevention of perioperative complications is still controversial and deserves to be further investigated. The aim of this study was to explore whether there are significant differences in this issue between the two surgical modalities or not. Methods The results of lymph node dissection and perioperative complications as well as other parameters in the patients treated by VATS esophagectomy and those by conventional esophagectomy via right thoracotomy at our department from May 1,2009 to July 30,2013 were compared using SPSS 16.0 in order to investigate whether there was any significant difference between these two treatment modalities in the learning curve stage of VATS esophagectomy. Results One hundred and twenty?nine cases underwent VATS esophagectomy between May 1, 2009 and July 30, 2013, and another pared 129 cases with the same preoperative cTNM stage treated by conventional esopahgectomy via right thoracotomy were selected in order to compare the results of lymph node dissection and perioperative complications as well as other parameters between those two groups of patients. There were no significant differences in the sex, age, lesion locations and cTNM stage between these two groups. The total LN metastatic rate in the VATS esophagectomy group was 35.7% and that of the conventional esophagectomy group was 37.2% (P>0.05). The total average number of dissected lymph nodes was 12.1 vs. 16.2 ( P<0.001) . The average dissected LN stations was 3.2 vs. 3.6 ( P=0.038) . The total average number of dissected LN along the left recurrent laryngeal nerve was 2.0 vs. 3.7 ( P=0.012) . The total average number of dissected LN along the right recurrent laryngeal nerve was 2.9 vs. 3.4 (P=0.231). However, there was no significant difference in the total average number of dissected LN in the other thoracic LN stations, and in the perioperative complications between the two groups. The total postoperative complication rate was 41. 1% in the VATS group versus 42. 6% in the conventional group ( P=0.801) . The cardiopulmonary complication rate was 25.6% vs. 27.1% ( P=0.777) . The death rate was the same in the two groups (0.8%). The VATS group had less blood infusion (23.2% vs. 41.8%, P=0.001) and shorter hospital stay (15.9 days vs. 19.2 days, P=0.049) but longer operating time (161.3 min vs. 127.8 min, P<0.01). Conclusions In the learning curve stage of VATS esophagectomy, compared with the conventional esophagectomy, less LN number and stations can be dissected in the VATS group due to unskillful VATS manipulation, especially it is more difficult in the LN dissection along the left recurrent laryngeal nerve. Therefore, it is more suitable to select patients with early esophageal cancer without obvious enlarged lymph nodes for VATS esophagectomy in the learning curve stage.

OBJECTIVETo explore the pattern of lymph node metastasis and evaluate the modes and extent of mediastinal lymph node dissection in patients with ≤ 3 cm, clinical stage I primary non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODSData of 270 eligible patients who underwent pulmonary resection with systematic lymph node dissection in our hospital between March 2012 and August 2013 were retrospectively analyzed in order to investigate the relationship between the clinicopathological features and lymph node metastatic patterns. Patients with multiple primary carcinomas or non-primary pulmonary malignancies and those who received any chemotherapy or radiotherapy or did not undergo systematic nodal dissection were excluded. The criteria of systematic nodal dissection included the removal of at least six lymph nodes from at least three mediastinal stations, one of which must be subcarinal. The data were analyzed and compared using Chi-square test.

RESULTSThe postoperative morbidity rate was 14.8% and no death occurred in this series. The imaging findings showed 34 cases of pure ground glass opacity lesions, 47 partial solid nodules, and 189 solid nodules. Apart from 34 p-GGO lesions, among the other 236 cases, ≤ 1 cm lesions were in 22 cases, 1 cm- ≤ 2 cm lesions in 138 cases, and >2 cm- ≤ 3 cm lesions in 76 cases based on radiologic findings. The pathological types included adenocarcinoma (n = 245), squamous cell carcinoma (n = 18) and other rare types (n = 7). The overall lymph node metastasis rate was 18.9% (51/270), and the incidence of lymph node involvement was 0(0/34) in cancers with p-GGO, 2.1% (1/47) in mixed solid nodules, 26.5% (50/189) in solid nodules, 18.2% (4/22) in nodules ≤ 1 cm, 14.5% (20/138) in 1 cm < nodules ≤ 2 cm, and 35.5% (27/76) in 2 cm < nodules ≤ 3 cm. The metastasis rates of non-specific tumor-draining region lymph nodes detected in the patients with positive and negative lobe-specific lymph node involvement were 20.0%-50.0% vs. 0-2.9% (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSUsually NSCLC with p-GGO nodules has no lymph node metastasis, therefore, systematic nodal dissection may be not necessary. The larger the tumor size is, the higher the lymph node metastatic rate is for mixed or solid nodules. Intraoperative frozen-section examination of the lobe-specific lymph nodes should be performed routinely in patients with ≤ 2 cm stage I NSCLC, and systematic nodal dissection should be done if positive, but it may be not necessary if negative. However, the effectiveness of the systematic selective lymph node dissection still needs to be further confirmed.

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; methods ; Lymph Nodes ; surgery ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; diagnosis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Retrospective Studies