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Sylla P, Berho M, Sands D, Ricardo A, Bonaccorso A, Moshier E, Hain E, Letchinger R, Marks J, Whiteford M, Mclemore E, Maykel J, Alavi K, Zaghiyan K, Chadi S, Shawki SF, Steele S, Pigazzi A, Albert M, DeBeche-Adams T, Polydorides A, Wexner S. Discordance in Total Mesorectal Excision Specimen Grading in a Prospective Phase 2 Multicenter Rectal Cancer Trial: Are We Overestimating the Quality of Our Resections? Ann Surg 2023; 278:452-463. [PMID: 37450694 DOI: 10.1097/sla.0000000000005948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To report the results of a rigorous quality control (QC) process in the grading of total mesorectal excision (TME) specimens during a multicenter prospective phase 2 trial of transanal TME. BACKGROUND Grading of TME specimens is based on the macroscopic assessment of the mesorectum and standardized through synoptic pathology reporting. TME grade is a strong predictor of outcomes with incomplete (IC) TME associated with increased rates of local recurrence relative to complete or near complete (NC) TME. Although TME grade serves as an endpoint in most rectal cancer trials, in protocols incorporating centralized review of TME specimens for quality assurance, discordance in grading and the management thereof has not been previously described. METHODS A phase 2 prospective transanal TME trial was conducted from 2017 to 2022 across 11 North American centers with TME quality as the primary study endpoint. QC measures included (1) training of site pathologists in TME protocols, (2) blinded grading of de-identified TME specimen photographs by central pathologists, and (3) reconciliation of major discordance before trial reporting. Cohen Kappa statistic was used to assess agreement in grading. RESULTS Overall agreement in grading of 100 TME specimens between site and central reviewer was rated as fair, (κ = 0.35; 95% CI: 0.10-0.61; P < 0.0001). Concordance was noted in 54%, with minor and major discordance in 32% and 14% of cases, respectively. Upon reconciliation, 13/14 (93%) major discordances were resolved. Pre versus postreconciliation rates of complete or NC and IC TME are 77%/16% and 7% versus 69%/21% and 10%. Reconciliation resulted in a major upgrade (IC-NC; N = 1) or major downgrade (NC/C-IC, N = 4) in 5 cases overall (5%). CONCLUSIONS A 14% rate of major discordance was observed in TME grading between the site and central reviewers. The resolution resulted in a major change in final TME grade in 5% of cases, which suggests that reported rates or TME completeness are likely overestimated in trials. QC through a central review of TME photographs and reconciliation of major discordances is strongly recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Sylla
- Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY
| | - Mariana Berho
- Executive Administration Florida, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston, FL
| | - Dana Sands
- Department of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston, FL
| | - Alison Ricardo
- Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY
| | | | - Erin Moshier
- Department of Population Health Sciences and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY
| | - Elisabeth Hain
- Department of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY
| | - Riva Letchinger
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY
| | - John Marks
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Lankenau Medical Center, Wynnewood, PA
| | - Mark Whiteford
- Gastrointestinal and Minimally Invasive Surgical Division, the Oregon Clinic Providence Cancer Center, Portland, OR
| | - Elisabeth Mclemore
- Department of Surgery, Division of Colorectal Surgery, Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Justin Maykel
- Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, UMass Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, MA
| | - Karim Alavi
- Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, UMass Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, MA
| | - Karen Zaghiyan
- Division of Colorectal Surgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Sami Chadi
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Scott Steele
- Department of Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
| | - Alessio Pigazzi
- Department of Surgery, Division of Colorectal Surgery, New York-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY
| | - Matthew Albert
- Department of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Advent Health Orlando, Orlando, FL
| | | | | | - Steven Wexner
- Ellen Leifer Shulman and Steven Shulman Digestive Disease Center, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston, FL
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Uimonen M, Helminen O, Böhm J, Mrena J, Sihvo E. Standard Lymphadenectomy for Esophageal and Lung Cancer: Variability in the Number of Examined Lymph Nodes Among Pathologists and Its Survival Implication. Ann Surg Oncol 2023; 30:1587-1595. [PMID: 36434484 PMCID: PMC9908682 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-022-12826-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
AIM We compared variability in number of examined lymph nodes between pathologists and analyzed survival implications in lung and esophageal cancer after standardized lymphadenectomy. METHODS Outcomes of 294 N2 dissected lung cancer patients and 132 2-field dissected esophageal cancer patients were retrospectively examined. The primary outcome was difference in reported lymph node count among pathologists. Secondary outcomes were overall and disease-specific survival related to this count and survival related to the 50% probability cut-off value of detecting metastasis based on the number of examined lymph nodes. RESULTS The median number of examined lymph nodes in lung cancer was 13 (IQR 9-17) and in esophageal cancer it was 22 (18-29). The pathologist with the highest median number of examined nodes had > 50% higher lymph node yield compared with the pathologist with the lowest median number of nodes in lung (15 vs. 9.5, p = 0.003), and esophageal cancer (28 vs. 17, p = 0.003). Survival in patients stratified by median reported lymph node count in both lung (adjusted RMST ratio < 14 vs. ≥ 14 lymph nodes 0.99, 95% CI 0.88-1.10; p = 0.810) and esophageal cancer (adjusted RMST ratio < 25 vs. ≥ 25 lymph nodes 0.95, 95% CI 0.79-1.15, p = 0.612) was similar. The cut-off value for 50% probability of detecting metastasis by number of examined lymph nodes in lung cancer was 15.7 and in esophageal cancer 21.8. When stratified by this cut-off, no survival differences were seen. CONCLUSION The quality of lymphadenectomy based on lymph node yield is susceptible to error due to detected variability between pathologists in the number of examined lymph nodes. This variability in yield did not have any survival effect after standardized lymphadenectomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikko Uimonen
- Department of Surgery, Central Finland Hospital Nova, Jyväskylä, Finland.
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Techologies, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.
| | - Olli Helminen
- Surgery Research Unit, Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Jan Böhm
- Department of Pathology, Central Finland Hospital Nova, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Johanna Mrena
- Department of Surgery, Central Finland Hospital Nova, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Eero Sihvo
- Department of Surgery, Central Finland Hospital Nova, Jyväskylä, Finland
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Grass F, Zhu E, Brunel C, Hübner M, Schoepfer A, Demartines N, Hahnloser D. Crohn's versus Cancer: Comparison of Functional and Surgical Outcomes after Right-Sided Resections. Dig Dis 2020; 39:106-112. [PMID: 32599599 DOI: 10.1159/000509748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The objective of this study was to compare functional and surgical outcomes of patients undergoing ileocecal resection for Crohn's disease (CD) to patients undergoing oncological right colectomy. METHODS Retrospective single-center cohort study including consecutive patients undergoing right colectomy for adenocarcinoma (oncological resection) or CD (mesentery-sparing resection) between July 2011 and November 2017. Outcome measures were pathological details (lymph node yield), postoperative recovery (pain levels, return to flatus and stool, intake of fluids, weight change, and mobilization), and early (30-day) outcomes (surgical/medical complications, hospital stay, readmissions). RESULTS A total of 195 patients (153 [78%] with cancer and 42 [22%] with CD) were included. Overall compliance with the institutional enhanced recovery protocol was comparable between the 2 groups (compliance ≥70%: 60% in CD patients vs. 62% in cancer, p = 0.458). The adenocarcinoma group had a larger lymph node yield than the CD group (26 ± 13 vs. 2.4 ± 5, respectively, p < 0.001). While the CD group experienced significantly more pain (3.7 ± 1.9/10 vs. 2.8 ± 2.5/10, p = 0.007, patients requiring opioids: 65 vs. 28%, p = 0.001), return of flatus (2.3 ± 1.2 days vs. 2.4 ± 2.8 days, p = 0.642) and stool (4.1 ± 6.0 vs. 3.0 ± 1.8 days, p = 0.292) was no different in both groups. No difference was observed regarding postoperative complications, length of stay, and readmission rate. CONCLUSION This study revealed no differences in both functional and surgical outcomes in CD and cancer patients undergoing mesentery-sparing or formal oncological right colectomy, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Grass
- Department of Visceral Surgery, Lausanne University Hospital CHUV, University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Emilie Zhu
- Department of Visceral Surgery, Lausanne University Hospital CHUV, University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Christophe Brunel
- Institute of Pathology, Lausanne University Hospital CHUV, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Martin Hübner
- Department of Visceral Surgery, Lausanne University Hospital CHUV, University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alain Schoepfer
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Lausanne University Hospital CHUV, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Demartines
- Department of Visceral Surgery, Lausanne University Hospital CHUV, University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland,
| | - Dieter Hahnloser
- Department of Visceral Surgery, Lausanne University Hospital CHUV, University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
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Kanters AE, Cleary RK, Obi SH, Asgeirsson T, Evilsizer SK, Fasbinder LG, Campbell DA, Hendren SK. Uptake of Total Mesorectal Excision and Total Mesorectal Excision Grading for Rectal Cancer: A Statewide Study. Dis Colon Rectum 2020; 63:53-59. [PMID: 31633602 PMCID: PMC6895431 DOI: 10.1097/dcr.0000000000001526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Total mesorectal excision is associated with decreased local recurrence and improved disease-free survival following rectal cancer resection. The extent to which total mesorectal excision has been adopted in the United States is unknown. OBJECTIVE We sought to assess trends in total mesorectal excision performance and grading in Michigan hospitals. DESIGN This is a retrospective cohort study from the Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative. Trends in total mesorectal excision performance and grade assignment were analyzed by using χ tests and linear regression. SETTINGS Participating hospitals (initially 14 hospitals, now 38) abstracted medical records data for rectal cancer cases from 2007 to 2016. PATIENTS Patients who underwent rectal cancer resection were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE The main outcome measures were surgeon-documented total mesorectal excision performance and pathologist-reported total mesorectal excision grade. RESULTS Of 510 rectal cancer cases, 367 (72.0%) had surgeon-reported total mesorectal excision performance and 78 (15.3%) had pathologist-reported total mesorectal excision grade. Between-hospital variability in total mesorectal excision performance ranged from 0% to 97% and total mesorectal excision grading ranged from 0% to 90%. Total mesorectal excision grading was associated with a higher likelihood of also having adequate lymph node assessment (88.5% versus 71.9%, p = 0.002). There has been a statistically significant trend toward an increase in total mesorectal excision grading in the original 14 hospitals (p = 0.001), but not in the complete cohort of all hospitals (p = 0.057). LIMITATIONS This is a retrospective cohort design with sampled rectal cancer cases. In addition, there is insufficient granularity to capture all factors associated with total mesorectal excision performance or grade assignment. CONCLUSIONS The rates of total mesorectal excision performance and grade assignment are widely variable throughout the state of Michigan. Overall, grade assignment remains very low. This suggests an opportunity for quality improvement projects to increase total mesorectal excision performance and grading, involving both the surgeons and pathologists for effective implementation. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/B53. IMPLEMENTACIÓN DE LA ESCISIÓN MESORRECTAL TOTAL Y LA CLASIFICACIÓN POR ESCISIÓN MESORRECTAL TOTAL PARA EL CÁNCER RECTAL: UN ESTUDIO A NIVEL ESTATAL.: La escisión mesorrectal total se asocia con una menor recurrencia local y una mejor supervivencia libre de enfermedad después de la resección del cáncer rectal. Se desconoce hasta que punto se ha adoptado la escisión mesorrectal total en los Estados Unidos.Se intento evaluar las tendencias en el rendimiento y la clasificación de la escisión mesorrectal total en los hospitales de Michigan.Este es un estudio de cohorte retrospectivo de la "Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative". Las tendencias en el rendimiento de la escisión mesorrectal total y la asignación de grado se analizaron mediante pruebas de chi-cuadrada y regresión lineal.Los hospitales participantes (inicialmente 14 hospitales, ahora 38) extrajeron datos de registros médicos de los casos de cáncer rectal desde 2007 hasta 2016.Pacientes que se sometieron a resección de cáncer rectal.Las principales medidas de resultado fueron el rendimiento de la escisión mesorrectal total documentado por el cirujano y el grado de escisión mesorrectal total informada por el patólogo.De 510 casos de cáncer rectal, 367 (72.0%) tenían un rendimiento de escisión mesorrectal total reportado por el cirujano y 78 (15.3%) tenían un grado de escisión mesorrectal total reportado por el patólogo. La variabilidad entre hospitales en el rendimiento de la escisión mesorrectal total varió del 0 al 97% y la clasificación de la escisión mesorrectal total varió del 0 al 90%. La clasificación de la escisión mesorrectal total se asoció con una mayor probabilidad de tener también una evaluación adecuada de los ganglios linfáticos (88.5% versus 71.9%, p = 0.002). Ha habido una tendencia estadísticamente significativa hacia un aumento en la clasificación de la escisión mesorrectal total en los 14 hospitales originales (p = 0.001), pero no en la cohorte completa de todos los hospitales (p = 0.057).Diseño de cohorte retrospectivo con casos de cáncer rectal muestreados. Además, no hay suficiente granularidad para capturar todos los factores asociados con el rendimiento de la escisión mesorrectal total o la asignación de grados.Las tasas de rendimiento de escisión mesorrectal total y asignación de grado son muy variables en todo el estado de Michigan. En general, la asignación de calificaciones sigue siendo muy baja. Esto sugiere una oportunidad para que los proyectos de mejora de la calidad aumenten el rendimiento y la clasificación de la escisión mesorrectal total, involucrando tanto a los cirujanos como a los patólogos para una implementación efectiva. Vea el resumen del video en http://links.lww.com/DCR/B53.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arielle E. Kanters
- Department of Surgery, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI,Center for Health Outcomes and Policy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI,Correspondence: Arielle Kanters, MD, Center for Healthcare Outcomes and Policy, 2800 Plymouth Road Building 16, Office 016-168C, Ann Arbor, MI 48105. . Twitter: arikanters, Presentation of work, Telephone: 734-998-7470, Fax: 734-998-7473
| | - Robert K. Cleary
- Department of Surgery, St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Shawn H. Obi
- Department of Surgery, Henry Ford Allegiance, Jackson, MI
| | | | | | | | - Darrell A. Campbell
- Department of Surgery, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI,Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Samantha K. Hendren
- Department of Surgery, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI,Center for Health Outcomes and Policy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
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Van de Putte D, Van Daele E, Willaert W, Pattyn P, Ceelen W, Van Nieuwenhove Y. Effect of abdominopelvic sepsis on cancer outcome in patients undergoing sphincter saving surgery for rectal cancer. J Surg Oncol 2017. [PMID: 28628734 DOI: 10.1002/jso.24706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In rectal cancer, the significance of abdominopelvic sepsis (APS) on metastatic tumor growth remains uncertain. We aimed to analyze the effect of abdominopelvic sepsis on long-term survival in patients undergoing restorative rectal cancer surgery. METHODS Data were used from the Belgian PROCARE rectal cancer registry. The effect of abdominopelvic infection on survival was assessed in uni- and multivariable Cox regression models. The effect of clinical and pathological covariates was controlled by propensity score-based matching of cases with controls. The effect of abdominopelvic sepsis on the rate of local and metastatic recurrence was evaluated using crosstabulation and the Pearson χ2 test. RESULTS In univariable analysis, the presence of APS was associated with significantly worse overall survival (HR 1.3, P = 0.025). After propensity score matching including age, BMI, tumor level, pTstage, pN stage, CRM, tumor grade, number of lymph nodes, and presence of lymphovascular invasion, the association of APS with OS was no longer significant (HR 1.26, 95%CI 0.92-1.74, P = 0.15). No differences were observed in the risk of local or metastatic recurrence (3.6% vs 2.9% and 13% vs 16.5%). CONCLUSIONS In this analysis APS after rectal cancer resection was not significantly associated with OS, metastatic, or local recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dirk Van de Putte
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Elke Van Daele
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Wouter Willaert
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Piet Pattyn
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Wim Ceelen
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Yves Van Nieuwenhove
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
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Hall MD, Schultheiss TE, Smith DD, Fakih MG, Wong JY, Chen YJ. Effect of increasing radiation dose on pathologic complete response in rectal cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy. Acta Oncol 2016; 55:1392-1399. [PMID: 27762654 DOI: 10.1080/0284186x.2016.1235797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (CRT) increases pathological complete response (pCR) rates compared to radiotherapy alone in patients with stage II-III rectal cancer. Limited evidence addresses whether radiotherapy dose escalation further improves pCR rates. Our purpose is to measure the effects of radiotherapy dose and other factors on post-therapy pathologic tumor (ypT) and nodal stage in rectal cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant CRT followed by mesorectal excision. MATERIAL AND METHODS A non-randomized comparative effectiveness analysis was performed of rectal cancer patients treated in 2000-2013 from the National Oncology Data Alliance™ (NODA), a pooled database of cancer registries from >150 US hospitals. The NODA contains the same data submitted to state cancer registries and SEER combined with validated radiotherapy and chemotherapy records. Eligible patients were treated with neoadjuvant CRT followed by proctectomy and had complete data on treatment start dates, radiotherapy dose, clinical tumor (cT) and ypT stage, and number of positive nodes at surgery (n = 3298 patients). Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the predictive value of independent variables on achieving a pCR. RESULTS On multivariable regression, radiotherapy dose, cT stage, and time interval between CRT and surgery were significant predictors of achieving a pCR. After adjusting for the effect of other variates, patients treated with higher radiotherapy doses were also more likely to have negative nodes at surgery and be downstaged from cT3-T4 and/or node positive disease to ypT0-T2N0 after neoadjuvant CRT. CONCLUSION Our study suggests that increasing dose significantly improved pCR rates and downstaging in rectal cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant CRT followed by surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D. Hall
- Department of Radiation Oncology, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
- University of Florida, UF Health Proton Therapy Institute, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | | | - David D. Smith
- Division of Biostatistics, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
- Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Queensland, Australia
| | - Marwan G. Fakih
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Jeffrey Y.C. Wong
- Department of Radiation Oncology, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Yi-Jen Chen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
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Significant Individual Variation Between Pathologists in the Evaluation of Colon Cancer Specimens After Complete Mesocolic Excision. Dis Colon Rectum 2016; 59:953-61. [PMID: 27602926 DOI: 10.1097/dcr.0000000000000671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND After the introduction of complete mesocolic excision, a new pathological evaluation of the resected colon cancer specimen was introduced. This concept has quickly gained acceptance and is often used to compare surgical quality. The grading of colon cancer specimens is likely to depend on both surgical quality and the training of the pathologist. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to validate the principles of the pathological evaluation of colon cancer specimens. DESIGN This was an exploratory study. SETTINGS The study was conducted in Aarhus, Denmark, and Leeds, United Kingdom. PATIENTS Colon cancers specimens were used. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The agreement of gradings between participants was of interest. Four specialist GI pathologists and 2 abdominal surgeons evaluated 2 rounds of colon cancer specimens, each at 2 separate time points. Each round contained 50 specimens. After the first round, a protocol of detailed principles for the grading procedure was agreed on. Results from an experienced pathologist were considered as the reference results. RESULTS In the first round, the distribution of gradings between participants showed substantial variation. In the second round, the variation was reduced. Intraobserver agreement was mostly fair to good, whereas interobserver agreement was frequently poor. This did not significantly change from round 1 to round 2. LIMITATIONS The small sample size of 100 specimens provided a very small number of specimens resected in the muscularis propria plane, which renders the evaluation of this group potentially unreliable. The evaluations were made on photos and not on fresh specimens. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates significant variation in the pathological evaluation of colon cancer specimens. It demonstrates that it cannot be used in clinical studies, and care should be taken when comparing results between different hospitals.
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Demetter P, Jouret-Mourin A, Silversmit G, Vandendael T, Sempoux C, Hoorens A, Nagy N, Cuvelier C, Van Damme N, Penninckx F. Review of the quality of total mesorectal excision does not improve the prediction of outcome. Colorectal Dis 2016; 18:883-8. [PMID: 27586703 DOI: 10.1111/codi.13254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2015] [Accepted: 10/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
AIM A fair to moderate concordance in grading of the total mesorectal excision (TME) surgical specimen by local pathologists and a central review panel has been observed in the PROCARE (Project on Cancer of the Rectum) project. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the difference, if any, in the accuracy of predicting the oncological outcome through TME grading by local pathologists or by the review panel. METHOD The quality of the TME specimen was reviewed for 482 surgical specimens registered on a prospective database between 2006 and 2011. Patients with a Stage IV tumour, with unknown incidence date or without follow-up information were excluded, resulting in a study population of 383 patients. Quality assessment of the specimen was based on three grades including mesorectal resection (MRR), intramesorectal resection (IMR) and muscularis propria resection (MPR). Using univariable Cox regression models, local and review panel histopathological gradings of the quality of TME were assessed as predictors of local recurrence, distant metastasis and disease-free and overall survival. Differences in the predictions between local and review grading were determined. RESULTS Resection planes were concordant in 215 (56.1%) specimens. Downgrading from MRR to MPR was noted in 23 (6.0%). There were no significant differences in the prediction error between the two models; local and central review TME grading predicted the outcome equally well. CONCLUSION Any difference in grading of the TME specimen between local histopathologists and the review panel had no significant impact on the prediction of oncological outcome for this patient cohort. Grading of the quality of TME as reported by local histopathologists can therefore be used for outcome analysis. Quality control of TME grading is not warranted provided the histopathologist is adequately trained.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Demetter
- Department of Pathology, Erasme University Hospital, ULB, Brussels, Belgium
| | - A Jouret-Mourin
- Department of Pathology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, UCL, Brussels, Belgium
| | - G Silversmit
- Foundation Belgian Cancer Registry, Brussels, Belgium
| | - T Vandendael
- Foundation Belgian Cancer Registry, Brussels, Belgium
| | - C Sempoux
- Department of Pathology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, UCL, Brussels, Belgium
| | - A Hoorens
- Department of Pathology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, VUB, Brussels, Belgium
| | - N Nagy
- Department of Pathology, CHU de Charleroi, Charleroi, Belgium
| | - C Cuvelier
- Department of Pathology, UG, Ghent, Belgium
| | - N Van Damme
- Foundation Belgian Cancer Registry, Brussels, Belgium
| | - F Penninckx
- Department of Abdominal Surgery, UZ Gasthuisberg, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Ceelen W, Willaert W, Varewyck M, Libbrecht S, Goetghebeur E, Pattyn P. Effect of Neoadjuvant Radiation Dose and Schedule on Nodal Count and Its Prognostic Impact in Stage II-III Rectal Cancer. Ann Surg Oncol 2016; 23:3899-3906. [PMID: 27380639 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-016-5363-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is unknown how neoadjuvant treatment schedule affects lymph node count (LNC) and lymph node ratio (LNR) and how these correlate with overall survival (OS) in rectal cancer (RC). METHODS Data were used from the Belgian PROCARE rectal cancer registry on RC patients treated with surgery alone, short-term radiotherapy with immediate surgery (SRT), or chemoradiation with deferred surgery (CRT). The effect of neoadjuvant therapy on LNC was examined using Poisson log-linear analysis. The association of LNC and LNR with overall survival (OS) was studied using Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS Data from 4037 patients were available. Compared with surgery alone, LNC was reduced by 12.3 % after SRT and by 31.3 % after CRT (p < 0.001). In patients with surgery alone, the probability of finding node-positive disease increased with LNC, while after SRT and CRT no increase was noted for more than 12 and 18 examined nodes, respectively. Per node examined, we found a decrease in hazard of death of 2.7 % after surgery alone and 1.5 % after SRT, but no effect after CRT. In stage III patients, the LNR but not (y)pN stage was significantly correlated with OS regardless of neoadjuvant therapy. Specifically, a LNR > 0.4 was associated with a significantly worse outcome. CONCLUSIONS Nodal counts are reduced in a schedule-dependent manner by neoadjuvant treatment in RC. After chemoradiation, the LNC does not confer any prognostic information. A LNR of >0.4 is associated with a significantly worse outcome in stage III disease, regardless of neoadjuvant therapy type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wim Ceelen
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Wouter Willaert
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Machteld Varewyck
- Department of Applied Mathematics, Computer Science and Statistics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sasha Libbrecht
- Department of Applied Mathematics, Computer Science and Statistics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Els Goetghebeur
- Department of Applied Mathematics, Computer Science and Statistics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Piet Pattyn
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
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Completeness and registration bias in PROCARE, a Belgian multidisciplinary project on cancer of the rectum with participation on a voluntary basis. Eur J Cancer 2015; 51:1099-108. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2014.02.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2013] [Revised: 02/27/2014] [Accepted: 02/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Hall MD, Schultheiss TE, Smith DD, Fakih MG, Kim J, Wong JYC, Chen YJ. Impact of Total Lymph Node Count on Staging and Survival After Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation Therapy for Rectal Cancer. Ann Surg Oncol 2015; 22 Suppl 3:S580-7. [PMID: 25956577 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-015-4585-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2015] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Current guidelines recommend that a minimum of 12 lymph nodes (LNs) be dissected to accurately stage rectal cancer patients. Neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (CRT) decreases the number of LNs retrieved at surgery. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of the number of LNs dissected on overall survival (OS) for localized rectal cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant CRT. METHODS Treatment data were obtained on all patients treated for rectal cancer (2000-2013) in the National Oncology Data Alliance™, a proprietary database of merged tumor registries. Eligible patients were treated with neoadjuvant CRT followed by surgery and had complete data on number of positive LNs, number of LNs examined, and treatment dates (n = 4565). RESULTS Hazard ratios for OS decreased sequentially with increasing number of LNs examined until a maximum benefit was achieved with examination of eight LNs. On multivariate analysis, age, sex, race, marital status, grade, ypT stage, ypN stage, type of surgery, margin status, presence of pathologically confirmed metastasis at surgery, and number of LNs examined were significant predictors of OS. CONCLUSIONS Examination of eight or more LNs in rectal cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant CRT resulted in accurate staging and assignment into prognostic groups with an ensuing improvement in OS by stage. This study suggests that eight LNs is the threshold for an adequate lymph node dissection after neoadjuvant CRT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D Hall
- Department of Radiation Oncology, City of Hope National Medical Cancer, Duarte, CA, USA.
| | - Timothy E Schultheiss
- Department of Radiation Oncology, City of Hope National Medical Cancer, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - David D Smith
- Division of Biostatistics, City of Hope National Medical Cancer, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Marwan G Fakih
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope National Medical Cancer, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Joseph Kim
- Department of Surgery, City of Hope National Medical Cancer, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Jeffrey Y C Wong
- Department of Radiation Oncology, City of Hope National Medical Cancer, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Yi-Jen Chen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, City of Hope National Medical Cancer, Duarte, CA, USA
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Campa-Thompson M, Weir R, Calcetera N, Quirke P, Carmack S. Pathologic processing of the total mesorectal excision. Clin Colon Rectal Surg 2015; 28:43-52. [PMID: 25733973 DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1545069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Total mesorectal excision (TME) is the current optimal surgical treatment for patients with rectal carcinoma. A complete TME is related to lower local recurrence rates and increased patient survival. Many confounding factors in the patient's anatomy and prior therapy can make it difficult to obtain a perfect plane, and thus a complete TME. The resection specimen can be thoroughly evaluated, grossly and microscopically, to identify substandard surgical outcomes and increased risk of local recurrence. Complete and accurate data reporting is critical for patient care and helps surgeons improve their technique.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly Campa-Thompson
- Department of Pathology, Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas
| | - Robert Weir
- Department of Pathology, Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas
| | - Natalie Calcetera
- Department of Surgery, Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas
| | - Philip Quirke
- Department of Pathology and Tumor Biology, Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Susanne Carmack
- Department of Pathology, Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas
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Quirke P, Hutchins GGA, West NP. Commentary on Demetter et al. Colorectal Dis 2013; 15:1358-60. [PMID: 24192257 DOI: 10.1111/codi.12433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- P Quirke
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Tumour Biology, Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
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