• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.478-486
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• 2000

Purpose: The sentinel lymph node is defined as the first draining node from a primary tumor and reflects the histologic feature of the remainder of the lymphatic basin status. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of lymphoscintigraphy and intraoperative radioguided gamma probe for identification and removal of sentinel lymph node in breast cancer. Materials and Methods: Lymphoscintigraphy was performed preoperatively in 15 patients with biopsy proven primary breast cancer. Tc-99m antimony sulfide colloid was injected intradermally at four points around the tumor. Imaging acquisition included dynamic imaging, followed by early and late static images at 2 hours. The sentinel lymph node criteria on lymphoscintigraphy is the first node of the highest uptake in early and late static images. We tagged the node emitting the highest activity both in vivo and ex vivo. Histologic study for sentinel and axillary lymph node investigation was done by Hematoxylin-Eosin staining. Results: On lymphoscintigraphy, three of 15 patients had clear lymphatic vessels in dynamic images, and 11 of 15 patients showed sentinel lymph node in early static image and three in late static 2 hours image. Mean detection time of sentinel lymph node on lymphoscintigraphy was $33.5{\pm}48.4$ minutes. The sentinel lymph node localization and removal by lymphoscintigraphy and intraoperative gamma probe were successful in 14 of 15 patients (detection rate: 93.3%). On lymphoscintigraphy, 14 of 15 patients showed $2.47{\pm}2.00$ sentinel lymph nodes. On intraoperative gamma probe, $2.36{\pm}1.96$ sentinel lymph nodes were detected. In 7 patients with positive results of sentinel lymph node metastasis, 5 patients showed positive results of axillary lymph node (sensitivity: 72%) but two did not. In 7 patients with negative results of sentinel lymph node metastasis, all axillary nodes were free of disease (specificity: 100%). Conclusion: Sentinel lymph node biopsy with lymphoscintigraphy and intraoperative gamma probe is a reliable method to predict axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer, and unnecessary axillary lymph node dissection can be avoided.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.24 no.11
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• pp.1142-1150
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• 2023

Objective: To evaluate ^99mtechnetium-three polyethylene glycol spacers-arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (^99mTc-3PRGD₂) single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/computed tomography (CT) imaging for diagnosing lymph node metastasis of primary malignant lung neoplasms. Materials and Methods: We prospectively enrolled 26 patients with primary malignant lung tumors who underwent ^99mTc-3PRGD₂ SPECT/CT and ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (¹⁸F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/CT imaging. Both imaging methods were analyzed in qualitative (visual dichotomous and 5-point grades for lymph nodes and lung tumors, respectively) and semiquantitative (maximum tissue-to-background radioactive count) manners for the lymph nodes and lung tumors. The performance of the differentiation of lymph nodes with and without metastasis was determined at the per-lymph node station and per-patient levels using histopathological results as the reference standard. Results: Total 42 stations had metastatic lymph nodes and 136 stations had benign lymph nodes. The differences between metastatic and benign lymph nodes in the visual qualitative and semiquantitative analyses of ^99mTc-3PRGD₂ SPECT/CT and ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT were statistically significant (all P < 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) in the semi-quantitative analysis of ^99mTc-3PRGD₂ SPECT/CT was 0.908 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.851-0.966), and the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 0.86 (36/42), 0.88 (120/136), 0.69 (36/52), and 0.95 (120/126), respectively. Among the 26 patients (including two patients each with two lung tumors), 15 had pathologically confirmed lymph node metastasis. The difference between primary lung lesions in patients with and without lymph node metastasis was statistically significant only in the semi-quantitative analysis of ^99mTc-3PRGD₂ SPECT/CT (P = 0.007), with an AUC of 0.807 (95% CI, 0.641-0.974). Conclusion: ^99mTc-3PRGD₂ SPECT/CT imaging may notably perform in the direct diagnosis of lymph node metastasis of primary malignant lung tumors and indirectly predict the presence of lymph node metastasis through uptake in the primary lesions.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.321-329
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• 1997

Purpose : It is well known that the risk of lymph nodes metastases to head and neck cancers are influenced by the location and size of the Primary tumor. as well as the degree and types of histological differentiation. However, data on the statistical analyses of lymph node metastases from the head and neck cancers among Korean Population are not available at present. In order to obtain current status of such data, we have analyzed cancer patients at the department of radiation oncology, korea universityhospital for radiation treatment. Materials and Methods : We have evaluated nine-hundred and ninetyseven (997) head and neck cancer Patients who visited to the Department of radiation oncology, between November 1981 to December 1995. After careful physical examinations and CAT scan, Patients were divided into two groups, those with positive lymph node metastases and with negative lymph node metastases. The nodal status were classified according to the TNM system of American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) Besults : Four-hundred and sixteen Patients out of the 997 patients were lymph node positive $(42\%)$ and 581 patients were lymph node negative $(58\%)$ when they were first presented at the department of radiation oncelogy. According to the AJCC classification, the distribution of positive lymph node is as follow: Nl:106 $(25.5\%),\;N2a:100\;(24\%),\;N2b:68\;(16.4\%),\;N2c:69\;(16.6\%),\;3:73\;(15\%).$ respectively. The frequency of lymph node metastases according to the primary sites is as follow : larynx 283 $(28.5\%)$, paranasal sinuses: 182 $(18\%),\;oropharynx:144\;(14.5\%)\;nasopharynx:122(12\%),\;oral\;cavity\;92\;(9\%),\;hypopharynx:71\;(7\%),\;falivary\;gland:58\;(6\%)$ unknown primary:31 $(3\%),\;skin:\;14(2\%)$,. The most frequent Primary site for the positive Iymph node metastases was nasopharynx $(71\%)$ followed by hypopharynx $(69\%),\;oropharynx\;(64\%),\;oral\;cavity\;(39\%)$ The most common histologic type was squamous cell carcinoma (652/997: $65.4\%$). followed by malignant lymphoma $(109/997:11\%)$. Conclusion : Statistical results of lymph node metastases from head and neck cancer at our department were very similar to those obtained from other countries. It is concluded that the location of Primary cancer influences sites of metastases on head and neck, and stage of the primary cancer also influences the development of metastatic lesions. Since the present study is limited on the data collected from one institute. further statistical analyses on Korean cancer Patients are warrented.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.287-292
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• 2013

Background: Low tyrosine-protein phosphatase nonreceptor type 12 (PTPN12) expression may be associated with breast cancer growth, proliferation, and metastasis. However, the prognostic value of PTPN12 in breast cancer has not been clearly identified. Patients and Methods: 51 triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients and 83 non-TNBC patients with a histopathology diagnosis from October 2001 to September 2006 were included in this study. Immunohistochemical staining for PTPN12 on tissue microarrays was conducted. Results: High PTPN12 expression was seen in 39.2% of TNBC and 60.2 % of non-TNBC cases. Low PTPN12 expression was associated with lymph node status (p = 0.002) and distant metastatic relapse (p = 0.002) in TNBC patients. Similarly, low PTPN12 expression in non-TNBC patients was significantly correlated with lymph node status (p = 0.002), stage (p = 0.002) and distant metastatic relapse (p = 0.039). The high PTPN12 expression group was associated with longer DFS and OS compared with low PTPN12 expression group only in TNBC cases (p = 0.005, p = 0.015), according to univariate Cox regression analysis. Conclusion: These findings provide evidence that low expression of PTPN12 is associated with worse prognosis and may be used as a potential prognostic biomarker in TNBC patients.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.269-277
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• 2005

Purpose: This study evaluated the diagnostic value of $^{18}F-FDG$ PET/CT in detecting cervical lymph node metastases in head and neck cancer patients. Materials & Methods: The patients were divided into two groups, 46 patients underwent PET/CT scan for initial staging before surgery, and 20 patients for restaging of recurrence after primary treatment. Increased FDG uptakes in cervical lymph nodes were evaluated retrospectively and correlated with the histopathologic results. Results: In the initial staging group, 21 lymph nodes were detected by PET/CT in 15 patients. 20 lymph nodes were confirmed as metastases with a mean peak SUV of 5.84, and the remaining one lymph node was an inflammatory lesion, with a peak SUV of 2.75. Seven metastatic lymph nodes were reported only by histopatholoay. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 74.0%, 99.6%, 95.2% and 97.3%, respectively. In the recurrence group, 11 lymph nodes were detected in 9 patients, and 8 nodes were true positive, with a mean peak SUV of 5.65. The other three were inflammatous lymph nodes, and the peak SUVs were 2.16, 2.94 and 3.53. One false negative lymph node was reported. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 88.8%, 97.7%, 72.7% and 92.9%, respectively. Conclusions: FDG-PET/CT shows higher positive predictive value in the initial staging group, and better sensitivity in the recurrence group. Therefore PET/CT could be useful for both initial staging and restaging of recurrent cervical lymph node metastases.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.91-100
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• 2019

Purpose: Internal mammary lymph node (IMN) involvement is associated with poor prognosis in breast cancer. This study investigated the treatment outcomes of initial clinically IMN-positive breast cancer patients who received adjuvant radiotherapy (RT), including IMN irradiation, following primary breast surgery. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data of 95 breast cancer patients with clinically detected IMNs at diagnosis treated with surgery and RT between June 2009 and December 2015. Patients received adjuvant RT to the whole breast/chest wall and regional lymph node (axillary, internal mammary, and supraclavicular) areas. Twelve patients received an additional boost to the IMN area. Results: The median follow-up was 43.2 months (range, 4.5 to 100.5 months). Among 77 patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy, 52 (67.5%) showed IMN normalization and 19 (24.6%) showed a partial response to IMN. There were 3 and 24 cases of IMN failure and any recurrence, respectively. The 5-year IMN failure-free survival, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) were 96%, 70%, and 84%, respectively. IMN failure-free survival was significantly affected by resection margin status (97.7% if negative, 87.5% for close or positive margins; p = 0.009). All three patients with IMN failure had initial IMN size ≥1 cm and did not receive IMN boost irradiation. The median age of the three patients was 31 years, and all had hormone receptor-negative tumors. Conclusion: RT provides excellent IMN control without the support of IMN surgery. Intensity-modulated radiotherapy, including IMN boost for breast cancer patients, is a safe and effective technique for regional lymph node irradiation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.1347-1350
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• 2016

Background: Breast cancer prognosis is influenced by several histopathology and clinical factors including expression of Ki67 which may have a predictive role in lymph node negative breast cancer patients. The aim of this study was to assess Ki67 expression in breast cancers without axillary lymph node involvement and to evaluate its prognostic value with regard to disease-free survival. Materials and Methods: Subjects were selected from non-metastatic invasive breast cancer patients who were referred to the oncology department of Ghaem hospital during 1 April 2001 to 1 April 2008. Ki67 levels were measured using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and compared with clinicopathological features. The relation of Ki67 expression with disease-free survival was also analysed. Results: A total of 106 women with a mean age of 49 were examined. Some 94.3% were classified as having invasive ductal carcinomas and the mean tumour diameter at the time of diagnosis was 2.8 cm. Some 50.9% of cases were ER positive and 47.2% were PR positive. P53 expression was positive in 48.1% of the cases. According to the IHC results, only 8.5% of the patients were Her2/neu positive. Ki67 was positive in 66 (62.3%) with a significant relation to lower age (p=0.0229) and P53 positivity (p=0.005). After an average of 40-months follow up, 13 (12.3%) demonstrated recurrence, most commonly systemic. Of 13 cases with relapse, 10 patients (77%) were Ki67 positive. Conclusions: In our population Ki67 appeared to be an independent prognostic factor for three-year survival. However, we stress that a survival study with a bigger sample size would help to support this conclusion.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.73-77
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• 2020

Ovarian cancer is common malignant disease with high mortality in the female. However, lymph node metastasis in the head and neck of ovarian cancer is very rare than in para-aortic, pelvic lymph node. A 49-year-old female patient came to our clinic with a left neck mass. After total thyroidectomy and left selective neck dissection for the cervical neck level II, III, IV, V, VI for ovarian cancer and thyroid cancer, she had already undergone chemotherapy (Paclitaxel+Carboplatin) 18 month ago. CT scan showed only lymph node enlargement in left neck level II. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) revealed a hypermetabolic lesion in same area but no other hypermetabolic lesion, especially in the pelvic and abdominal cavity. Fine needle aspiration cytology revealed metastatic carcinoma. The serum level of CA-125 was elevated to 43.8U/mL, whereas other tumor markers (CA 19-9, CEA) were in the normal range. She underwent a revision of selective neck lymph node dissection for the cervical neck levels I, II, and III, and on the review of surgical pathology, metastatic carcinoma was suspected. Thus, we performed immunohistochemical staining for the tissue; as a result, it was finally diagnosed as metastatic ovarian cancer (positive for CK7, ER and PR, and negative for CK20). Adjuvant chemotherapy (Paclitaxel+Carboplatin) was planned on the tumor board, and the patient successfully received chemotherapy.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.302-307
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• 2020

Background: This study evaluated the usefulness of judgment of central lymph node (LN) metastasis by surgeon's palpation in papillary thyroid cancer. Methods: This study included 127 patients who underwent thyroidectomy and central compartment node dissection between October 2014 and February 2015. The criterion for suspicious LNs was hardness. Results: Of the 20.5% (28/127) of suspicious for metastatic LNs according to surgeon determination, 92.8% (26/28) were confirmed to be metastatic in the final pathological examinations. Metastatic LNs were found in 38 (38.3%) of 99 patients without suspicious LNs, 29 of whom (76.3%) had micrometastases. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for the determination of LN metastasis by a surgeon were 40.6%, 96.8%, 92.9%, and 61.6%, respectively. Conclusion: Determination of central LN metastasis by a surgeon's palpation may be useful to evaluate LNs owing to the high specificity and positive predictive values, especially in macrometastasis or high-risk LN disease.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.5517-5523
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• 2012

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonograph and fine-needle aspiration cytologic examination (USG-FNAC) in the staging of axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer patients.Methods: We conducted an electronic search of the literature addressing the performance of USG-FNAC in diagnosis of axillary lymph node metastasis in databases such as Pubmed, Medline, Embase, Ovid and Cochrane library. We introduced a series of diagnostic test indices to evaluate the performance of USG-FNAC by the random effect model (REM), including sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratios, and diagnostic odds ratios and area under the curve (AUC). Results: A total of 20 studies including 1371 cases and 1289 controls were identified. The pooled sensitivity was determined to be 0.66 (95% CI 0.64-0.69), specificity 0.98 (95% CI 0.98-0.99), positive likelihood ratio 22.7 (95% CI 15.0-34.49), negative likelihood ratio 0.32 (95% CI 0.25-0.41), diagnostic OR 84.2 (95% CI 53.3-133.0). Due to the marginal threshold effect found in some indices of diagnostic validity, we used a summary SROC curve to aggregate data, and obtained a symmetrical curve with an AUC of 0.942. Conclusion: The results of this meta-analysis indicated that the USG-FNAC techniques have acceptable diagnostic validity indices and can be used for early staging of axillary lymph node in breast cancer patients.