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01-05-2014 | Pancreatic Tumors

Revisiting the Concept of Lymph Node Metastases of Pancreatic Head Cancer: Number of Metastatic Lymph Nodes and Lymph Node Ratio According to N Stage

Authors: Mee Joo Kang, MD, PhD, Jin-Young Jang, MD, PhD, Ye Rim Chang, MD, Wooil Kwon, MD, Woohyun Jung, MD, Sun-Whe Kim, MD, PhD, FACS

Published in: Annals of Surgical Oncology | Issue 5/2014

Abstract

Background

Some suggest that metastatic lymph node ratio (LNR) may be prognostic of survival in patients with pancreatic cancer. However, this phenomenon was confused by inclusion of node-negative patients in the analysis. The present study was designed to evaluate the prognostic impact of metastatic LNR and the absolute number of metastatic LNs in patients resected for pancreatic cancer.

Methods

Data were collected from 398 patients who underwent curative surgery for pancreatic head cancer at Seoul National University Hospital. Long-term survival was analyzed according to LNR and absolute number of metastatic LNs.

Results

Of the patients, 227 (57.0 %) had LN metastasis. The mean numbers of total retrieved and metastatic LNs were 19.5 and 1.9, respectively, and the mean LNR was 0.11. Median overall survival (OS) of patients was significantly higher in N0 than in N1 patients after curative resection (25.4 vs. 14.8 months, p < 0.001). Median OS was significantly lower in patients with 1 than in those with 0 positive LNs (17.3 vs. 25.4 months, p = 0.001). Among N1 patients, those with 0 < LNR ≤ 0.2 had comparable prognosis than those with >0.2 LNR (median OS 17.2 vs. 12.8 months, p = 0.096), and the number of metastatic LNs did not correlate with median OS (p = 0.365).

Conclusions

The presence of a single positive metastatic LN was associated with significantly poorer OS in patients with pancreatic cancer. When LN metastasis was present, the number of metastatic LNs and LNR had limited prognostic relevance.

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Title: Revisiting the Concept of Lymph Node Metastases of Pancreatic Head Cancer: Number of Metastatic Lymph Nodes and Lymph Node Ratio According to N Stage
Authors: Mee Joo Kang, MD, PhD
Jin-Young Jang, MD, PhD
Ye Rim Chang, MD
Wooil Kwon, MD
Woohyun Jung, MD
Sun-Whe Kim, MD, PhD, FACS
Publication date: 01-05-2014
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Annals of Surgical Oncology / Issue 5/2014
Print ISSN: 1068-9265
Electronic ISSN: 1534-4681
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-013-3473-9

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Revisiting the Concept of Lymph Node Metastases of Pancreatic Head Cancer: Number of Metastatic Lymph Nodes and Lymph Node Ratio According to N Stage

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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