The value of laparotomy and splenectomy in the staging of Hodgkin's disease

Sulfur Exafluoride Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Showing Early Wash-Out of Marked Degree Identifies Lymphoma Invasion of Spleen with Excellent Diagnostic Accuracy: A Monocentric Study of 260 Splenic Nodules

Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) use for detecting lymphoma in the spleen was questioned because of the risk of its inadequate diagnostic accuracy. The aim of the present study was to validate CEUS exam for the identification of spleen involvement by lymphoma in patients at risk. A total of 260 nodules from the spleens of 77 patients with lymph node biopsy-proven non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL; n = 44) or Hodgkin lymphoma (HL; n = 33) at staging (n = 56) or follow-up (n = 21) were collected in a hematology Italian center and retrospectively analyzed. Nodules were classified as malignant lymphoma if ≥0.5 cm (long axis) with arterial phase isoen-hancement and early (onset <60 s after contrast agent injection) wash-out of marked (≤120 s after contrast agent injection) degree. Other perfusional combinations at CEUS scans qualified lesions as benign or inconclusive. Diagnostic reference standard was clinical laboratory imaging monitoring for 230 nodules, and/or histology for 30 nodules. The median nodule size was 1.5 cm (range 0.5−7 cm). According to the reference standard, 204 (78%) nodules were lymphomas (aggressive-NHL (a-NHL), 122; classic-HL (c-HL), 65; indolent (i)-NHL, 17) and 56 (22%) were benign (inflammation, infection, and/or mesenchymal) lesions. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and overall diagnostic accuracy of CEUS for detecting lymphoma in the spleen were 95%, 100%, 100%, 85%, and 96%, respectively. Marked wash-out range of 55−90 s (median, 74 s), 92−120 s (median, 100 s), and 101−120 s (median, 114.5 s) was 100%, 96.6%, and 77% predictive of a-NHL, c-HL, and i-NHL splenic nodular infiltration, respectively. The CEUS perfusional pattern of arterial phase isoenhancement with early wash-out of marked degree was highly accurate for the detection of lymphomatous invasion of spleen in patients at risk, enabling its use for a confident non-invasive diagnosis.

The effect of surgery on primary splenic lymphoma: A study based on SEER database

BACKGROUND

Although primary splenic lymphoma (PSL) is rare, it ranks first among splenic primary malignant cancers, and the incidence of lymphoma of spleen has gradually increased in recent years. However, the efficacy of surgery for PSL has not been clinically verified by large sample data, which has affected the formulation of relevant guidelines.

AIM

To assess whether surgery can enhance the prognosis PSL patients.

METHODS

Extracted the data of patients with PSL from The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, and divided the patients into surgery and non-surgery group. Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests were used to compare the overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). The propensity score matching (PSM) was used to match the data, then compared the OS and CSS again. The COX proportional hazard regression model was used for univariate and multivariate analysis. Finally, we performed subgroup analysis in different Ahmann stages.

RESULTS

A sum of 2207 patients with PSL were enrolled, of which 1062 (48.1%) patients received surgery, and 1145 (51.9%) patients did not undergo surgery. Overall, patients in the surgery group had better OS and CSS. After the propensity scores matching, surgery was not statistically significant in OS and CSS. In the subgroup analysis, surgery was a protective factor for the OS and CSS in Ahmann I/II. However, surgery was no statistical significance in OS and CSS in Ahmann III. In patients with Ahmann Ⅰ/Ⅱ SMZL, surgery was a protective factor for OS and CSS. In patients with Ahmann Ⅲ SMZL, surgery was also statistically significant of OS and CSS.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgery can significantly improve the prognosis of patients with Ahmann Ⅰ/Ⅱ primary splenic lymphoma, but there was no survival difference in the Ahmann Ⅲ patients with or without surgery. For patients with SMZL, surgery was effective for improving OS and CSS.

FDG-PET/CT for the Management of Post-Chemotherapy Residual Mass in Hodgkin lymphoma

Simple Summary

In the present review the authors report the predictive value of FDG/PET-CT (PET) on treatment outcome of Hodgkin lymphoma patients showing a post-chemotherapy residual mass, based on the published reports of PET-guided consolidation radiotherapy after different-intensity chemotherapy regimens such as ABVD or BEACOPP_escalated. A special focus will be dedicated to the role of PET for assessing patients with a residual mass during and after immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Finally, the interpretation criteria of PET will be also reviewed, and the role of alternative imaging techniques discussed.

Abstract

In the present review, the authors report the published evidence on the use of functional imaging with FDG-PET/CT in assessing the final response to treatment in Hodgkin lymphoma. Despite a very high overall Negative Predictive Value of post-chemotherapy PET on treatment outcome ranging from 94% to 86%, according to different treatment intensity, the Positive Predicting Value proved much lower (40–25%). In the present review the Authors discuss the role of PET to guide consolidation RT over a RM after different chemotherapy regimens, both in early and in advanced-stage disease. A particular emphasis is dedicated to the peculiar issue of the qualitative versus semi-quantitative methods for End-of Therapy PET scan interpretation. A short hint will be given on the role of FDG-PET to assess the treatment outcome after immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Liver involvement in pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma: A systematic review by an international collaboration on Staging Evaluation and Response Criteria Harmonization (SEARCH) for Children, Adolescent, and Young Adult Hodgkin Lymphoma (CAYAHL)

Hepatic involvement in Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is uncommon (∼5% of patients) but always implies stage IV disease. Accurate staging is mandatory for making the appropriate risk assignment and treatment decisions. The Staging Evaluation and Response Criteria Harmonization for Childhood, Adolescent and Young Adult Hodgkin Lymphoma (SEARCH for CAYAHL) international working group conducted a systematic literature review of liver involvement in HL patients with the aim to propose a universally acceptable definition for liver involvement in pediatric HL. Thirty-three articles describing 6985 pediatric and adult HL patients were reviewed, of which 539 (7.7%) mentioned liver involvement. The literature did not provide a uniform definition of hepatic involvement and we propose consensus criteria derived from the EuroNet and Children's Oncology Group protocols, where liver involvement is defined as any hepatic lesion on computed tomography scan that correlates with ¹⁸ F-FDG uptake greater than background liver. A clear definition of liver lesions is necessary to consistently identify liver involvement and compare its impact on outcomes among protocols worldwide.

A 28-Year-Old Woman with Ascites and Multiple Focal Spleen Lesions

Serous effusions complicating the course of lymphomas occur commonly in the pleural space but seldom in the peritoneum, where they most often present as chylous ascites with diagnostic cytology. Almost invariably, in these rare cases, the serum to ascites albumin gradient is low. We describe a 28-year-old woman with anasarca, ascites and a serum to ascites albumin gradient of 1.1 g/dl, consistent with portal hypertension. No tumour cells were detected in the ascitic fluid. However, a CT scan of the chest and abdomen disclosed liver and spleen enlargement and multiple enlarged retroperitoneal lymph nodes, suspicious for a lymphoproliferative disorder. Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy were not diagnostic, so a decision was made to proceed with a splenectomy despite the onset of low-grade disseminated intravascular coagulation.

Surgery was uneventful. Diffuse large B cell lymphoma was diagnosed. A liver biopsy taken at the time of surgery demonstrated that the liver parenchyma was massively infiltrated by reactive T lymphocytes surrounding rare large CD20+ tumour cells. This infiltrate had likely led to increased portal pressure attended by ascites formation, which resolved completely after chemotherapy. The case emphasizes the rewards of pursuing a diagnosis supported by a high prior probability even in the presence of apparently discordant laboratory findings, as well as the importance of performing a diagnostic splenectomy in case of splenomegaly with unexplained focal lesions.

Liver and Spleen Scanning in the Study of Malignant Lymphomas

With the object of evaluating the diagnostic importance of liver and spleen scintigraphy in lymphoblastomas, the hepatic and splenic scintigraphic patterns and their actual conditions ascertained through surgical exploration have been compared. 112 scintigraphic tests of liver and 46 of spleen were performed on patients with lymphoma who afterwards underwent splenectomy and multiple hepatic biopsy. Liver scintigraphy provided reliable evidence on the anatomopatological situation of the liver in most cases but also a fair number of false positives, combined sometimes with false negatives, and a large number of doubtful cases. As for as splenic scintigraphy is concerned, there were no positives but a good percentage of false negatives, probably related to the size of the anathomical alterations. In the case of multiple micronodular lesions the limit of scintigraphic detection seems to be about 1 cm.

In conclusion, at present, in the case of lymphoblastomas, scintigraphic explorations cannot replace surgical exploration in the appraisal of the diffusion of the disese.

Assessment of Liver and Spleen Involvement in Hodgkin's Disease

Prognosis and proper treatment in Hodgkin's disease (HD) are strictly related to staging accuracy: liver and spleen involvement is of particular importance in this regard. We have evaluated, in 113 consecutive patients, the accuracy of clinical parameters to detect histologically documented HD involvement by comparing hepatosplenomegaly, liver function tests, liver and spleen scan, inspection of liver and spleen surface at laparoscopy with histologic findings. Our data suggest that of all the parameters studied, laparoscopy has the highest sensitivity and specificity values (about 100 %). Laparoscopy may precede laparotomy as a staging procedure in HD and may give, in patients not submitted to laparotomy whatever the reasons, very reliable information.

Indicazioni e Risultati Preliminari Della Laparotomia Diagnostica Nei Vari Tipi di Linfoma Maligno

From September 1970 to November 1971 83 unselected patients with malignant lymphomas (48 with Hodgkin's disease, 12 with lymphosarcoma and 23 with reticulum cell sarcoma) underwent diagnostic laparotomy with splenectomy and liver, retroperitoneal and mesenteric node biopsies. 19/83 cases (mostly referred from other hospitals) had received either local radiotherapy or a course of chemotherapy. In 79/83 with stages I, II and III the laparotomy was carried out to better define the extent of involvement below the diaphragm before therapy. In 4 patients with stage IV reticulum cell sarcoma (gastrointestinal involvement) laparotomy was indicated either because of bleeding (3) or because of bowel obstruction (1). Before sugery patients underwent accurate clinical, hematological, biochemical and radiological evaluation including scintiscan of liver as well as hepatic biopsy with Menghini's needle (table 1). After laparotomy patients were stages according to Rye's classification. The spleen was not removed in 3 cases because of technical difficulties. The overall incidence of splenic involvement (table 2) was found to be almost identical in Hodgkin's disease (29.5 %) and in lymphoreticular sarcomas (28.5%). The spleen was histologically positive in a high percent age of both groups of cases with disease above and below the diaphragm, as well as with lymphocyte depletion (7/14) and with systemic symptoms (78 %) in Hodgkin's disease (table 3). The mean weight of the involved spleen was 346 g (95–1050), that of the uninvolved spleen was 189 g (75–500). The overall incidence of histologic involvement of liver was (18.4%), 6.2% in Hodgkin's disease and 17.4 % in the group of lymphoreticular sarcomas (table 4). There were no patients with liver involvement without concomitant spleen involvement. When the patients with positive lymphangiograms and/or palpable spleen (1–3 cm below the costal margin) are excluded, diagnostic laparotomy detected occult intra-abdominal lesions in 13/48 (27 %) cases with Hodgkin's disease and, respectively, 5/35 (14.3 %) cases with lymphoreticular sarcomas (table 5). The overall incidence of occult lesions was 21.8%. Histology correlated with lymphography in 64/83 (77%) cases (table 6). In 3/4 patients with negative lymphography histologically abnormal nodes were found above LII. In 8/10 patients with positive lymphography and negative histology (5 sampled in lymphographically non suspicious area and 3 around the celiac axis) the post-laparotomy films confirmed the persistence of abnormal nodes. This was indirectly proved by an almost immediate progression in the para aortic lymph nodes in 1 case and by a marked regression in 7 cases after chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. Since laparotomy is not infallible in removing abnormal nodes one should rely on lymphographic findings in case of discrepancy to plan the appropriate therapy. Complications secondary to laparotomy were minimal and transient. The indications and advantages of this new useful procedure in all types of malignant lymphomas are discussed (table 7).

Long-term morbidity after staging laparotomy for Hodgkin lymphoma

BACKGROUND

A large cohort of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) survivors exist. With patients transitioning from pediatric to adult care, practitioners should be aware of potential complications. The aim of this study was to describe the long-term complications of patients who had staging laparotomy for the treatment of HL.

METHODS

After institutional review board approval, a retrospective review of hospital records at our institution was performed. Data extracted included demographics, treatment course and long-term postoperative complications.

RESULTS

24 patients with HL underwent staging laparotomy from 1971 to 1994 with median follow-up of 27.9years. Six (33%) had intraabdominal disease. Three patients (17%) required four repeat laparotomies for bowel obstruction. Of these, one had radiation to the inguinal region for local control, one had mantle radiation. Five patients developed a second malignancy. There were no documented cases of postsplenectomy sepsis. Other late effects that were unlikely related to surgery included pulmonary fibrosis (4), heart failure (2), hypothyroidism (4), and dysphagia (3). One patient died of metastatic adenocarcinoma.

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term follow-up of patients who underwent staging laparotomy for HL revealed an increased incidence of repeat laparotomy and secondary malignancy. This underscores the importance of a high index of suspicion and screening in this population.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III.

An Attempt to Characterize Malignant Lymphoma in Spleen, Liver and Lymph Nodes with Magnetic Resonance Imaging

An attempt was made to explore whether relaxation times and/or normalized image intensities obtained from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can separate malignant and non-malignant lymphomatous tissue. Spin-echo (SE) techniques with repetition times of 500 and 1500 ms and echo times of 35 and 70 ms were used for estimating T1 and T2. Estimation of T1 and T2 with such a low number of spin-echo sequences resulted in considerable variation in the data especially when T1 was long. Similar information was also extracted by normalizing the image intensities to the ‘proton density’ image (1500/35), and the spread of the data was then markedly reduced. Therefore, the method of normalizing was considered a more appropriate way of handling the image data when only a few sequences were available. No significant difference could be discerned in the MRI parameters between normal spleens and spleens infiltrated with malignant lymphoma, between normal livers and livers in patients with malignant lymphoma and between lymph nodes with low or high grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Lymphomatous tissue had similar MRI characteristics irrespectively of whether the cells were malignant or not, or located in spleens or in lymph nodes. The main biologic explanation for variation in data seems to be mostly the variable amounts of fibrosis, necrosis, oedema and/or iron content.

Improved survival time trends in Hodgkin's lymphoma

There have been dramatic changes in the staging and treatment of Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) over the past 30 years. We undertook this study to determine if a stage migration had occurred and also examined if treatment associated with later years has improved survival. Patients with stage I-IV HL between 1983 and 2011 were selected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Multivariable analysis (MVA) was performed using Cox proportional hazards modeling. The study cohort included 35,680 patients. The stage breakdown in 1983 according to A and B symptoms was follows: 18%, 21%, 12%, and 5% for stage IA, IIA, IIIA, and IVA disease, respectively, and 6%, 11%, 12%, and 15% for stage IB, IIB, IIIB, and IVB disease. The stage breakdown in 2011 according to A and B symptoms was follows: 9%, 29%, 10%, and 6% for stage IA, IIA, IIIA, and IVA disease, respectively, and 4%, 16%, 12%, and 13% for stage IB, IIB, IIIB, and IVB disease. The median follow-up for the entire cohort is 6.1 years. On MVA, the HR for mortality of patients diagnosed in 2006 was 0.60 (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.52-0.70) compared to 1983. For stage I and II patients diagnosed in 2006 the HR was 0.62 (95% CI: 0.44-0.87) and 0.40 (95% CI: 0.30-0.55), respectively, compared to patients diagnosed in 1983. For stage III and IV patients diagnosed in 2006 the HR was 0.72 (95% CI: 0.53-0.98) and 0.74 (95% CI: 0.56-0.99), respectively, compared to patients diagnosed in 1983. This is the first study to demonstrate a significant stage migration in early stage Hodgkin's lymphoma. Furthermore, these results demonstrate an improvement in survival over time for patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma which was particularly notable for those with early stage disease.

Contrast-enhanced harmonic compound US of the spleen to increase staging accuracy in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma: a prospective study

PURPOSE

To prospectively compare contrast material-enhanced harmonic compound ultrasonography (US), computed tomography (CT), and fluorine 18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) in detecting nodular infiltration in the spleen of patients with newly diagnosed Hodgkin lymphoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

After institutional review board approval and informed consent, 100 consecutive patients with Hodgkin lymphoma during pretreatment staging were prospectively investigated for possible spleen involvement by comparing harmonic compound US (integrated with intravenous infusion of microbubbles in 33 patients) with CT and FDG PET. Findings indicative of malignant nodules with the imaging procedures were regarded as lymphoma infiltration; in case of discrepancy, response to treatment was regarded as evidence of lymphoma.

RESULTS

Malignant nodules were detected with CT in 13 patients, with FDG PET in 13 patients, and with contrast-enhanced harmonic compound US in 30 patients. Coincidental findings of malignancy with all three imaging techniques occurred in 13 patients; 17 patients had only US-detectable malignant nodules, which showed disappearance or relevant decrease after chemotherapy. Overall, the spleen had nodular infiltration in 30 patients (13 for imaging finding concordance; 17 for typical contrast-enhanced harmonic compound US findings and chemotherapy-related nodule size modifications). Thus, both CT and FDG PET provided false-negative results in 17 of 30 patients compared with contrast-enhanced harmonic compound US, the results of which translated into disease upstaging in 13 patients.

CONCLUSION

Harmonic compound US with contrast enhancement for the characterization of possible nodules provides a higher sensitivity than does CT or FDG PET in the detection of splenic involvement by Hodgkin lymphoma.

Prognostic influence of early diagnostic splenectomy in Hodgkin's disease. A long-term follow-up

The influence of early laparotomy with splenectomy on prognosis in patients with Hodgkin's disease who were regarded as having uncertain prognostic indices (all patients except those with lymphocytic predominance and nodular sclerosis stages IA and IIA with right-sided presentation, stage IV disease, splenomegaly or age greater than 65 years) was evaluated in a randomized trial initiated in Jan. 1973. The patients were treated with total nodal irradiation (excluding the splenic and hepatic areas) and 33 of 69 patients were randomized to laparotomy with splenectomy. No significant difference in relapse-free or overall survival was found between the two groups after a median observation time of 85 months. Progressive or recurrent disease was as common in splenectomized as in non-splenectomized patients. Splenectomized patients with splenic tumour involvement fared worse than those without. It is concluded that diagnostic laparotomy with splenectomy is of no benefit in this clinical setting.

Routine laboratory tests in relation to spleen size and tumour involvement in untreated Hodgkin's disease

A number of routine laboratory tests were studied in 39 untreated patients with Hodgkin's disease with respect to size and tumour involvement of the spleen. Eighteen patients with tumour-engaged spleens had lower total lymphocyte counts and IgG and IgM levels than patients with non-involved spleens. However, no significant differences in these respects were found between patients with tumour-involved spleens weighing less than 500 g and patients without splenic tumour involvement. Hemoglobin values were inversely and reticulocyte counts positively correlated with the weight of involved spleens. Remaining laboratory variables under study, e.g. total granulocyte counts, platelet counts, ESR and liver enzymes, were not associated with the size or tumour involvement of the spleen. It may be concluded that routine laboratory tests yield no specific information as to splenic tumour involvement or size.

On the size and tumor involvement of the spleen in Hodgkin's disease

Fifty-four untreated patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD) subjected to splenectomy were studied with respect to preoperatively assessed spleen size compared to postoperative findings. Before splenectomy, nine patients had "normal sized" spleens, 18 patients had spleens weighing greater than or equal to 200 g and 14/39 spleens were tumor-involved. Nine patients had "enlarged" but unpalpable spleens. Eight of these weighed greater than 200 g and 3/9 spleens showed tumor involvement. Six patients with preoperatively palpable spleens showed tumor involvement, their spleens weighed greater than 660 g. The results confirm the inaccuracy of non-invasive procedures in prediction of spleen size and tumor involvement in HD.

Does the surgeon still have a role to play in the diagnosis and management of lymphomas?

BACKGROUND

Over the course of the past 40 years, there have been a significant number of changes in the way in which lymphomatous disease is diagnosed and managed. With the advent of computed tomography, there is little role for staging laparotomy and the surgeon's role may now more diagnostic than therapeutic.

AIMS

To review all cases of lymphoma diagnosed at a single institution in order determine the current role of the surgeon in the diagnosis and management of lymphoma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Computerized pathology records were reviewed for a five-year period 1996 to 2000 to determine all cases of lymph node biopsy (incisional or excisional) in which tissue was obtained as part of a planned procedure. Cases of incidental lymphadenopathy were thus excluded.

RESULTS

A total of 297 biopsies were performed of which 62 (21%) yielded lymphomas. There were 22 females and 40 males with a median age of 58 years (range: 19-84 years). The lymphomas were classified as 80% non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, 18% Hodgkin's lymphoma and 2% post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder. Diagnosis was established by general surgeons (n = 48), ENT surgeons (n = 9), radiologists (n = 4) and ophthalmic surgeons (n = 1). The distribution of excised lymph nodes was: cervical (n = 23), inguinal (n = 15), axillary (n = 11), intra-abdominal (n = 6), submandibular (n = 2), supraclavicular (n = 2), periorbital (n = 1), parotid (n = 1) and mediastinal (n = 1). Fine needle aspiration cytology had been performed prior to biopsy in only 32 (52%) cases and had suggested: lymphoma (n = 10), reactive changes (n = 13), normal (n = 5), inadequate (n = 4). The majority (78%) of cervical lymph nodes were subjected to FNAC prior to biopsy whilst this was performed in only 36% of non-cervical lymphadenopathy.

CONCLUSION

The study has shown that lymphoma is a relatively common cause of surgical lymphadenopathy. Given the limitations of FNAC, all suspicious lymph nodes should be biopsied following FNAC even if the FNAC is reported normal or demonstrating reactive changes only. With the more widespread application of molecular techniques, and the development of improved minimally-invasive procedures, percutaneous and endoscopic techniques may come to dominate, however, at present; the surgeon still has an important role to play in the diagnosis if not treatment of lymphomas.

Port site metastasis of B-cell lymphoma: a first occurrence or an underreported complication?

Minimally invasive techniques have been accepted as safe and reliable in the work-up of patients with lymphoproliferative disorders. As the oncologic indications of laparoscopy expand, many authors have raised concerns regarding the occurrence of port site metastases after minimally invasive procedures for a multiform array of neoplastic diseases. A review of the existing literature demonstrates no mention of port site occurrence following staging laparoscopy for malignant hematologic disorders. We report the first case of port site metastasis after diagnostic laparoscopy in a patient with large B-cell lymphoma. As these procedures become more common, we may be exposed to the increasing numbers of patients with this clinical presentation. A clear knowledge of the technical steps to minimize risk of port site metastasis is mandatory for any advanced laparoscopic surgeon.

Poor antibody response to pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccination suggests increased susceptibility to pneumococcal infection in splenectomized patients with hematological diseases

Patients with hematological diseases undergoing diagnostic or therapeutic splenectomy are at increased risk of pneumococcal infections. Vaccination is a straightforward option in preventing these infections. A well-defined cohort of splenectomized patients with hematological disorders was followed according to response to 23-valent pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide (Pneumovax N) vaccination. A total of 76 splenectomized patients (Hodgkin lymphoma, HL 26, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, NHL 19, immune-mediated cytopenias 28, and others 3) with a median age of 52 years (range 18-82 years) were included. Pneumococcal polysaccharide (PS) antibodies were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay before vaccination, at peak, and follow-up. A poor response to vaccination was observed in 21 (28%) patients and a good response in 55 (72%), respectively. During the follow-up period of 7.5 years (range 3.5-10.5 years) after vaccination, and despite repeated revaccination in many cases, a total of five episodes (in three patients) of pneumococcal infections were reported, all confined to the poor responder group. Revaccination did not improve antibody levels in this group. The median age at vaccination was significantly higher in the group of poor responders (p=0.0006). None of the following factors could predict a poor antibody response: gender, disease activity or aggressiveness in hematological malignancies, previous radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy, time between splenectomy and pneumococcal vaccination, time between chemotherapy/radiotherapy and study pneumococcal vaccination (1 year), or the presence of hypogammaglobulinemia. In conclusion, a substantial proportion of splenectomized patients with hematological diseases mounted a poor PS antibody response and remained at risk for pneumococcal infections despite vaccination. In the absence of apt indirect clinical predictors of antibody response, with the exception of age, measurement of antibody levels seems to be a feasible method for early identification of this patient subgroup. Poor responders do not benefit from revaccination, and should be offered other prophylactic measures.

Substantial impact of FDG PET imaging on the therapy decision in patients with early-stage Hodgkin's lymphoma

This prospective study assessed the impact of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) on the staging and possible consequential changes of treatment regimen in patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL). A total of 88 consecutive patients with histologically verified Hodgkin's lymphoma underwent a PET scan in addition to conventional staging procedures. Treatment was based on the conventional staging only, and the results of the FDG-PET did not affect the treatment strategy. The evaluation focused on the suggested change in clinical stage according to the Ann Arbor classification and on the suggested change in treatment strategy rather than on a lesion-by-lesion analysis. Using all the methods performed as the standard of reference, (18)F-FDG-PET staging was concordant with conventional staging in 70 out of 88 patients (80%). (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography suggested a change to a different clinical stage in 18 patients (20%). Management would have been changed in 16 patients (18%): intensification of treatment in nine patients (10%) and minimisation of treatment in seven patients (8%). In the 44 patients with early disease (stage IA-IIB), treatment would have been intensified in nine out of 44 patients (20%). (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography is a relevant noninvasive method that supplements conventional staging procedures and should therefore be used routinely to stage Hodgkin's lymphoma, particularly in patients with an early stage.

Accuracy of laparoscopy in the diagnosis and staging of lymphoproliferative diseases

Laparoscopy seems to be playing an emerging role in the management of lymphoproliferative diseases. The aim of this study was to prospectively analyze personal experience evaluating the role and limits of laparoscopy in the management of lymphomas. From July 1993 to December 2000, 131 consecutive patients were referred to our institution for primary diagnosis (group A, n = 70), suspected relapse (reassessment) (group B, n = 54), or staging/restaging of lymphoproliferative diseases (group C, n = 7). Diagnostic and/or operative laparoscopy was performed in all patients. To assess the accuracy of laparoscopy, the results were analyzed according to the indications for surgery. In all, 128 procedures were completed laparoscopically (95.5%). Conversion was required in 7 cases (5.1%). Causes of the conversions were severe obesity (body mass index 62.5), uncontrolled intraoperative bleeding (HIV+), nondiagnostic tissue sampling (2 cases), perisplenic inflammation and perisplenic abscesses (3 cases). The results of this study highlight the safety of diagnostic and staging laparoscopy and laparoscopic splenectomy in patients with lymphoproliferative diseases (major complications 2.9%, perioperative mortality 0%). In all, 96.4% of patients from group A and 100% of patients from group B were treated on the basis of laparoscopic findings. No false negative diagnosis occurred. Laparoscopy may become the "gold standard" in the management of lymphoproliferative disease in the following settings: for the differential diagnosis of hepatic and/or splenic focal lesions; when percutaneous needle biopsy fails and/or genetic analysis is needed for therapeutic decision; for the primary diagnosis and abdominal staging of patients with diffuse retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy in the absence of peripheral lymphadenopathy; for cases of abdominal restaging after concurrent chemoradiotherapy and in cases of suspected relapse when percutaneous biopsy is not technically possible; and for patients with lymphoproliferative disease when splenectomy is required. Marked splenomegaly with perisplenic inflammatory reaction and lymphadenopathy in HIV+ patients should be considered possible causes of failure of the laparoscopic approach.

F-18 FDG versus Ga-67 for detecting splenic involvement in Hodgkin's disease

PURPOSE

The objectives of this investigation were to characterize splenic uptake patterns of F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and Ga-67 in newly diagnosed Hodgkin's disease, to correlate these uptake patterns with the presence or absence of splenic disease, and to compare the accuracy of these two studies for detecting splenic disease.

METHODS

FDG positron emission tomography and Ga-67 whole-body and SPECT imaging were performed in 32 patients with previously untreated Hodgkin's disease. Two readers, blinded to clinical information and final diagnoses, independently reviewed the study results. For both FDG and Ga-67, the intensity of splenic uptake was compared with the intensity of hepatic uptake and graded as follows: 0, less than liver uptake; 1, equal to liver uptake; and 2, greater than liver uptake. Differences in interpretation were resolved by consensus.

RESULTS

Twelve (38%) of 32 patients had splenic disease. Using splenic uptake greater than hepatic uptake as the criterion for a positive study, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of FDG were 92%, 100%, and 97%, respectively. Using splenic uptake at least as intense as hepatic uptake as the criterion for a positive study, the sensitivity specificity, and accuracy of Ga-67 were 50%, 95%, and 78%, respectively. The differences in sensitivity and accuracy of FDG and Ga-67 were significant (P = 0.04, and 0.03, respectively).

CONCLUSION

In newly diagnosed Hodgkin's disease, FDG accurately diagnoses splenic involvement and is significantly more sensitive and accurate than Ga-67 for this purpose.

Hodgkin's lymphoma: basing the treatment on the evidence

This paper examines the evidence available to guide treatment decisions in three areas of Hodgkin's lymphoma management. In Section I Dr. Evert Noordijk describes evolving strategies for patients with early stage disease outlining the eras during which the focus has changed from initially accomplishing cure through refining and intensifying the treatment to one of maximizing cure rates and finally into a patient-oriented era in which the twin goals of maintaining high rates of cure and minimizing late toxicity are being achieved. In Section II Dr. Sandra Horning reviews the way in which the cooperative groups of North America and Europe have built upon initial observations from single centers to assemble the trials that have defined the treatment for advanced stage Hodgkin's lymphoma. Over a period of almost three decades, these well-constructed trials have defined a current standard of treatment, ABVD chemotherapy and are now investigating innovative approaches to move beyond this standard. She also indicates the need to appreciate diagnostic factors and the implications of prognostic factor models for the design and interpretation of clinical trials. In Section III Dr. Joseph Connors summarizes the evidence available to inform our choice of treatment for the uncommon but important entity of lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin's lymphoma. Once again, the guidance that can be derived from carefully conducted clinical investigation is used to address the issues surrounding choice of treatment, reasonable monitoring in long term follow-up and the clear-cut need to base diagnosis on objective immunohistochemical evidence.

Phase III randomized intergroup trial of subtotal lymphoid irradiation versus doxorubicin, vinblastine, and subtotal lymphoid irradiation for stage IA to IIA Hodgkin's disease

PURPOSE

The management of early-stage Hodgkin's disease in the United States is controversial. To evaluate whether staging laparotomy could be safely avoided in early-stage Hodgkin's disease and whether chemotherapy should be a part of the treatment of nonlaparotomy staged patients, a phase III intergroup trial was performed.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Three hundred forty-eight patients with clinical stage IA to IIA supradiaphragmatic Hodgkin's disease were randomized without staging laparotomy to treatment with either subtotal lymphoid irradiation (STLI) or combined-modality therapy (CMT) consisting of three cycles of doxorubicin and vinblastine followed by STLI.

RESULTS

The study was closed at the second, planned, interim analysis because of a markedly superior failure-free survival (FFS) rate for patients on the CMT arm (94%) compared with the STLI arm (81%). With a median follow-up of 3.3 years, 10 patients have experienced relapse or died on the chemoradiotherapy arm, compared with 34 on the radiotherapy arm (P <.001). Few deaths have occurred on either arm (three deaths on CMT and seven deaths on STLI). Treatment was well tolerated, with only one death on each arm attributed to treatment.

CONCLUSION

These results demonstrate that it is possible to obtain a high FFS rate in a large group of stage IA to IIA patients without performing staging laparotomy and that three cycles of chemotherapy plus STLI provide a superior FFS compared with STLI alone. Extended follow-up is necessary to assess freedom from second relapse, overall survival, late toxicities, patterns of treatment failure, and quality of life.

Treatment of nonlaparotomized (clinical) stage I and II Hodgkin's disease patients by extended field and splenic irradiation

PURPOSE

At the New York Presbyterian Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, patients with unequivocal clinical stage I and IIA Hodgkin's disease (HD) have been treated with mantle, splenic, and extended field radiation therapy (EFRT) (without surgical staging). A 24-year retrospective review was conducted to determine the effectiveness of our patient selection on the outcome of patients treated with this modality.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

During the period 1971 to 1994, 94 patients with clinically staged HD, with favorable prognostic factors, were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with pathological or equivocal staging, "B" symptoms, bulk disease, history of previous chemotherapy, and/or Stage III or IV disease were excluded from our analysis. There were 27 Stage IA and 67 Stage IIA patients. All patients were treated to 3600 cGy with a 400 cGy boost to the involved field. The median follow-up was 52 months, mean of 62.1 months.

RESULTS

Ten of 94 patients (10.5%) relapsed. Seven of the relapses were in the pelvis, one submandibularily, one in the tonsil, and one in the axilla. Nine of the relapses had nodular sclerosis histology, one had lymphocyte predominance, and none had mixed cellularity. The median time to relapse was 38 months; mean time 42. 3 months. All patients are alive, well and free of disease, including nine who received subsequent chemotherapy and one who underwent autotransplantation.

CONCLUSIONS

Careful clinical staging of early, asymptomatic HD patients treated with mantle, splenic, and EFRT may obviate the need for exploratory laparotomy.

Determination of spleen size by scintigraphy

Methods for determining spleen size in vivo have many clinical applications. Spleen size can be estimated accurately in vivo from measurements of length (L) and width (W) of the spleen silhouette as visualized by a scintillation camera after administration of technetium-99m (99mTc) sulfur colloid to the patient. Assuming mass and volume are proportional, spleen weight will depend on (L x W)3/2. Estimates of spleen size using these parameters obtained from scintigraphs were compared to actual determinations following splenectomy. Within the range of observations, the method had a standard deviation of 45 grams. It is safe, fast, and inexpensive.

Hodgkin's disease: correlation of clinical characteristics with probabilities for negative lymphangiogram vs. negative laparotomy findings in patients with Stage I supradiaphragmatic presentations vs. those in patients with Stage II

PURPOSE

At a time both when late complications and second malignancies have become a growing concern and when staging laparotomy has been largely abandoned and comparative studies for staging Hodgkin's disease by state of the art computed tomography (CT) vs. lymphangiography have revealed minimal differences in results for these procedures, our purpose for undertaking this study was twofold. Our initial reason was to determine and compare probabilities for negative abdominal findings for patients with Stage I presentations with those for patients with Stage II as determined by lymphangiography and subsequently by laparotomy for those patients who had negative lymphangiograms. Our second reason, being an extension of the first, was to create a resource that can be used in conjunction with other information for arriving at appropriate treatment decisions including giving either more or particularly less than standard institutional therapy and especially with respect to the abdomen.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Data on 714 patients with prelymphangiogram Stage I-II upper torso presentations of Hodgkin's disease were entered prospectively in our database between 1968 and 1987. Twenty-eight with lymphocyte predominant disease, who had both negative lymphangiogram and negative laparotomy findings and 17 with questionable diagnoses of lymphocyte-depleted or unclassified disease were excluded from subsequent analyses of 669 patients with nodular sclerosis (NS) and mixed cellularity (MC) diagnoses.

RESULTS

Stage I: in final logistic models, negative lymphangiogram findings were associated strongly with a combination of no constitutional symptoms and nodular sclerosis histology, whereas negative laparotomy findings correlated strongly with a combination of no constitutional symptoms and female sex. Predicted probabilities depended on the ratios of favorable to unfavorable characteristics. Stage II: in final logistic models, negative lymphangiogram findings were associated strongly with a combination of no constitutional symptoms, nodular sclerosis histology, age <40 years, and <4 involved sites, whereas negative laparotomy findings correlated strongly with a combination of <4 involved sites and mediastinal disease. Predicted probabilities again depended on the ratios of favorable to unfavorable characteristics.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that probabilities for negative abdominal findings for patients with supradiaphragmatic presentations of NS and MC Hodgkin's disease depended on: 1) whether the disease presented as Stage I or as Stage II; 2) whether staging was limited to a lymphangiogram or whether it included a laparotomy; and 3) or whether the clinical features associated with the presenting stage and methods of staging were favorable or unfavorable.

Laparoscopic staging of Hodgkin's disease

With recent advances in laparoscopy, specifically the development of laparoscopic splenectomy, a complete laparoscopic Hodgkin's staging procedure is now possible. Using five trocars and the patient in the right semidecubitus position, six laparoscopic staging procedures were performed. All were stages IIA or IIB pre-operatively, and none were upgraded to stage III or IV as a result of the procedure. Operative time was from 185-255 min. (mean 210 min.) There were no operative morbidities or mortalities associated with the procedure. We believe this procedure will be adopted by more surgeons as they become more comfortable in performing laparoscopic splenectomies.

Treatment of children and adolescents with Hodgkin's disease: the experience of the German-Austrian Paediatric Study Group

In treatment strategies adapted to the specific problems in children with Hodgkin's disease (HD) high priority has been given to the reduction of late effects caused by radio- and chemotherapy, without sacrificing high survival rates. Combined modality treatment, as a standard option, has enabled reduced doses and fields of radiotherapy and lower cumulative total doses of critical cytotoxic agents. In Germany and Austria 1242 children and adolescents with HD have been treated in five consecutive multicentre studies since 1978. The main general objectives were to determine the extent to which radio- and chemotherapy can be reduced within a combined modality treatment concept and to find an effective chemotherapy of low long-term toxicity. Mechlorethamine in MOPP was replaced by adriamycin (OPPA) in the first 2 cycles of CT and by cyclophosphamide (COPP) in the additional cycles. The total number of cycles was reduced for early and intermediate stages. From the second study (HD-82) onward, patients were allocated to three treatment groups (2, 4 or 6 cycles, respectively) according to disease stage, and involved-field instead of extended-field irradiation was given. With radiation doses of 35, 30 and 25 Gy, high rates for event-free survival (97, 92 and 85%, respectively) at 14 years were achieved, demonstrating that microfoci in adjacent fields are safely eradicated by the chemotherapy used. Late effects of OPPA and OPPA/COPP: the cumulative risk of secondary leukaemias in 686 patients after 15 years was 0.9% for all patients and 0.8% for those who remained in first remission. Cardiomyopathies have not been observed (cumulative total dose of adriamycin 160 mg/m2). Increased FSH-levels indicating impaired spermatogenesis were found in 40% of the male patients without relapse. The prevalence was related to the number of procarbazine containing cycles (29% after 2 cycles, 46% after 4, and 63% after 6). In study HD-90, procarbazine in OPPA was replaced by etoposide (OEPA) for the boys (cumulative dose 1000 mg/m2), whereas girls received OPPA again. In TGs 2 and 3, both boys and girls received an additional 2 or 4 COPP cycles. Standard doses of involved-field irradiation were reduced to 25, 25 and 20 Gy. The preliminary evaluation after nearly 5 years reveals that the reduction in radiation doses did not affect the results with OPPA and OPPA/COPP chemotherapy. In localized stages, 2 OEPA (boys) and 2 OPPA (girls) cycles produced identical results. An additional objective of the German-Austrian trials was to re-evaluate the relevance of exploratory laparotomy and splenectomy within a combined modality treatment concept for all patients. While all children were laparotomized and splenectomized in the first study, the frequency of splenectomy and laparotomy was reduced step by step on the basis of retrospective analyses of the study data regarding infra-diaphragmatic involvement. Splenectomy has been completely abandoned since 1990. In conclusion, the ratio of cure rates and late effects has been favourably balanced with OPPA and OPPA/COPP plus low-dose involved-field irradiation, especially in female patients. In boys, the risk of testicular dysfunction can be further reduced by substituting OEPA for OPPA. Age up to 18 years does not appear to bear any prognostic significance for the treatment results under the conditions of the therapy concept described.

Hodgkin's disease. Diagnostic procedures

The current movement towards "minimal' staging may induce an unexpected movement, calling for "more intensive' treatments. Indeed, some of the changes, such as the renunciation of the staging laparotomy and the lymphangiogram, make the final stage less secure and require reassuring treatments, i.e. more extensive radiotherapy or chemotherapy. This is not surprising when one considers the importance of the information that was brought by the laparotomy and the fact that laparotomy could not be replaced by any other procedure with comparable yield. The use of powerful initial prognostic factors, together with objective biological parameters, either non-specific ones coupled with long-term and adequate testing such as the ESR, albumin, blood counts, or new and promising tests such as for the soluble CD30 antigen, should make up for the loss. In addition, a dynamic approach to the disease, i.e. the repetition at reasonable intervals of initially abnormal biological, functional or imaging tests may provide the most reliable information to ensure the patient's safety.

Laparoscopy for staging and palliation of gastrointestinal malignancy

The use of laparoscopy in the treatment of malignant diseases is one of the great advances of surgery in the last few decades. Its roles as a diagnostic modality, a staging tool, and a therapeutic avenue for the various malignancies of the abdominal cavity continue to expand. The benefits to cancer patients with regard to reduced morbidity and shorter hospitalizations are well established. As video, optical, insufflation, and instrumentation technologies advance further, laparoscopic techniques for the treatment of cancer can only multiply in depth and breadth.