Preoperative endoscopic localization of colorectal cancer and tracing lymph nodes by using carbon nanoparticles in laparoscopy

Nanocarbon localization and 68Ga-DOTA-NOC scan in the diagnosis and management of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs): A case report

INTRODUCTION

Reports of rectal neuroendocrine tumor (R-NET) are relatively rare. There is a lack of experience in how to accurately locate and resect metastatic lateral lymph nodes.

CASE PRESENTATION

We present a challenging case. The patient was diagnosed with rectal neuroendocrine tumor. After endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), this patient came to hospital for reexamination. The imaging results indicated the presence of left lateral lymph node metastasis, so total mesorectal excision (TME) plus lateral lymph node dissection(LLND) was performed. One year later, PET-CT was reexamined again, using a contrast agent targeted at somatostatin receptor. The result showed residual metastatic lymph nodes. We used nanocarbon combined with coil to accurately locate the metastatic lymph nodes and finally successfully resected the lymph node. The patient recovered and was discharged 5 days after the operation.

DISCUSSION

Surgery is the most effective method for treating rectal neuroendocrine tumors. However, it is still challenging to accurately detect and locate metastatic lymph nodes after surgery. 68Ga-DOTA-NOC is a special contrast agent that targets somatostatin receptors, and somatostatin receptors are highly expressed in NETs. Using it can clearly trace whether the lateral lymph nodes are metastasized. Nanocarbon localization has been used for the localization of various tumors. We combined it with coils and effectively located the metastatic lymph nodes. This localization method has great potential.

CONCLUSION

Surgical resection is the most effective way to treat rectal neuroendocrine tumors. Nanocarbon combined with coils can effectively locate metastatic lymph nodes, which is helpful for accurate resection later. And 68Ga-DOTA-NOC can assist in detection of metastatic lymph nodes.

Tissue palpation in endoscopy using EIT and soft actuators

The integration of soft robots in medical procedures has significantly improved diagnostic and therapeutic interventions, addressing safety concerns and enhancing surgeon dexterity. In conjunction with artificial intelligence, these soft robots hold the potential to expedite autonomous interventions, such as tissue palpation for cancer detection. While cameras are prevalent in surgical instruments, situations with obscured views necessitate palpation. This proof-of-concept study investigates the effectiveness of using a soft robot integrated with Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) capabilities for tissue palpation in simulated in vivo inspection of the large intestine. The approach involves classifying tissue samples of varying thickness into healthy and cancerous tissues using the shape changes induced on a hydraulically-driven soft continuum robot during palpation. Shape changes of the robot are mapped using EIT, providing arrays of impedance measurements. Following the fabrication of an in-plane bending soft manipulator, the preliminary tissue phantom design is detailed. The phantom, representing the descending colon wall, considers induced stiffness by surrounding tissues based on a mass-spring model. The shape changes of the manipulator, resulting from interactions with tissues of different stiffness, are measured, and EIT measurements are fed into a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) classifier. Train and test datasets are collected as temporal sequences of data from a single training phantom and two test phantoms, namely, A and B, possessing distinctive thickness patterns. The collected dataset from phantom B, which differs in stiffness distribution, remains unseen to the network, thus posing challenges to the classifier. The classifier and proposed method achieve an accuracy of 93 % and 88.1 % on phantom A and B, respectively. Classification results are presented through confusion matrices and heat maps, visualising the accuracy of the algorithm and corresponding classified tissues.

Clinical value of nano-carbon lymphatic tracer for regional lymph node dissections of rectal cancer after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy

OBJECTIVES

Regional lymph node (LN) volume decreases after neoadjuvant therapy, requiring a tracer for more accurate detection. Nano-carbon tracer is a third-generation tracer with several advantages, but its use for LN detection after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for middle and low rectal cancer remains unclear. Therefore, this study investigated the effects and safety of anoscope-guided subrectal injections of nano-carbon suspension in this patient population.

METHODS

This study retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 45 patients with middle and low rectal cancer admitted to our institution from March 2019 to March 2022. All patients received preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy and were divided into nano-carbon injection (n = 23; anoscope-guided injections of nano-carbon suspension in the rectal submucosa 2 cm above the dentate line 24 h preoperatively) and control (n = 22; directly underwent surgery) groups. The LN detection and complication rates were compared between the groups.

RESULTS

The total and mean numbers of LNs and small LNs and the number of patients with > 12 LNs were significantly higher in the nano-carbon injection group than in the control group. The total number of positive LNs and LN metastasis did not differ between the groups, nor did the anastomotic leakage, bleeding, stenosis, and abscess occurrence rates.

CONCLUSIONS

Anoscope-guided nano-carbon lymphatic tracing increased the LN detection rate, caused less trauma, and resulted in fewer postoperative complications than the direct surgical procedure. Thus, it is an effective, safe, and practical method that may improve dissections and the postoperative pathological staging accuracy.

A retrospective study analyzing if lymph node ratio carbon nanoparticles predict stage III rectal cancer recurrence

Background

Lymph node ratio has garnered increasing attention as a prognostic marker for rectal cancer; however, few studies have investigated the relationship between lymph node ratio and rectal cancer recurrence. Additionally, Carbon Nanoparticle tracking is a safe and effective strategy for locating tumors and tracking lymph nodes. However, no studies have reported the relationship between Carbon Nanoparticles and rectal cancer recurrence.

Methods

Patients with stage III rectal cancer who underwent radical resection between January 2016 and 2020 were analyzed. The primary outcome was tumor recurrence. 269 patients with stage III rectal cancer were included in this study. The effects of lymph node ratio, Carbon Nanoparticles, and other clinicopathological factors on rectal cancer recurrence were assessed using univariate, multivariate analyses and the t-test.

Results

Univariate analysis determined tumor recurrence using cytokeratin 19 fragment, CA-199, CEA, N-stage, positive lymph nodes, total lymph nodes, and lymph node ratio(positive/total); with the lymph node ratio being the most relevant. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis determined lymph node ratio =0.38 as the optimal cutoff value. The analysis of lymph node ratio ≥0.38 and <0.38 showed statistical differences in three indicators: tumor recurrence, CEA, and use of Carbon Nanoparticles.

Conclusion

Lymph node ratio is a strong predictor of stage III rectal cancer recurrence and may be considered for inclusion in future tumor-node-metastasis staging and stage III rectal cancer stratification. In addition, we found that Carbon Nanoparticles use significantly increased total lymph nodes and decreased lymph node ratio.

The Role of Carbon Nanoparticles as Lymph Node Tracers in Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Colorectal malignancies are the third-most common malignancies worldwide, with a rising incidence. Surgery remains the treatment of choice and adequate lymph node dissection is required for accurate staging. The objective of this study is to assess the use of carbon nanoparticles in lymph node tracing and resection in cases of colorectal cancer. For that purpose, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies included in Medline, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases. In the end, ten studies with a total number of 1418 patients were included in the final statistical analysis. The meta-analysis carried out showed that the use of carbon nanoparticles results in an increased number of lymph nodes harvested (WMD 6.15, 95% CI 4.14 to 8.16, p < 0.001) and a higher rate of cases with more than 12 lymph nodes harvested (OR 9.57, 95% CI 2.87 to 31.96, p = 0.0002). As a consequence, we suggest that carbon nanoparticles are used on a wider scale and that future research focuses on assessing the association between their use and overall patient survival. This study is limited by the fact that all included studies originate from China and by the fact that certain oncologic parameters and long-term outcomes have not been taken into account in the analysis.

Current Status and Emerging Trends in Colorectal Cancer Screening and Diagnostics

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a prevalent and potentially fatal disease categorized based on its high incidences and mortality rates, which raised the need for effective diagnostic strategies for the early detection and management of CRC. While there are several conventional cancer diagnostics available, they have certain limitations that hinder their effectiveness. Significant research efforts are currently being dedicated to elucidating novel methodologies that aim at comprehending the intricate molecular mechanism that underlies CRC. Recently, microfluidic diagnostics have emerged as a pivotal solution, offering non-invasive approaches to real-time monitoring of disease progression and treatment response. Microfluidic devices enable the integration of multiple sample preparation steps into a single platform, which speeds up processing and improves sensitivity. Such advancements in diagnostic technologies hold immense promise for revolutionizing the field of CRC diagnosis and enabling efficient detection and monitoring strategies. This article elucidates several of the latest developments in microfluidic technology for CRC diagnostics. In addition to the advancements in microfluidic technology for CRC diagnostics, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) holds great promise for further enhancing diagnostic capabilities. Advancements in microfluidic systems and AI-driven approaches can revolutionize colorectal cancer diagnostics, offering accurate, efficient, and personalized strategies to improve patient outcomes and transform cancer management.

Application of Nanoparticles in the Diagnosis of Gastrointestinal Diseases: A Complete Future Perspective

The diagnosis of gastrointestinal (GI) diseases currently relies primarily on invasive procedures like digestive endoscopy. However, these procedures can cause discomfort, respiratory issues, and bacterial infections in patients, both during and after the examination. In recent years, nanomedicine has emerged as a promising field, providing significant advancements in diagnostic techniques. Nanoprobes, in particular, offer distinct advantages, such as high specificity and sensitivity in detecting GI diseases. Integration of nanoprobes with advanced imaging techniques, such as nuclear magnetic resonance, optical fluorescence imaging, tomography, and optical correlation tomography, has significantly enhanced the detection capabilities for GI tumors and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This synergy enables early diagnosis and precise staging of GI disorders. Among the nanoparticles investigated for clinical applications, superparamagnetic iron oxide, quantum dots, single carbon nanotubes, and nanocages have emerged as extensively studied and utilized agents. This review aimed to provide insights into the potential applications of nanoparticles in modern imaging techniques, with a specific focus on their role in facilitating early and specific diagnosis of a range of GI disorders, including IBD and colorectal cancer (CRC). Additionally, we discussed the challenges associated with the implementation of nanotechnology-based GI diagnostics and explored future prospects for translation in this promising field.

Carbon-Based Nanomaterials as Drug Delivery Agents for Colorectal Cancer: Clinical Preface to Colorectal Cancer Citing Their Markers and Existing Theranostic Approaches

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the universally established cancers with a higher incidence rate. Novel progression toward cancer prevention and cancer care among countries in transition should be considered seriously for controlling CRC. Hence, several cutting edge technologies are ongoing for high performance cancer therapeutics over the past few decades. Several drug-delivery systems of the nanoregime are relatively new in this arena compared to the previous treatment modes such as chemo- or radiotherapy to mitigate cancer. Based on this background, the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, treatment possibilities, and theragnostic markers for CRC were revealed. Since the use of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for the management of CRC has been less studied, the present review analyzes the preclinical studies on the application of carbon nanotubes for drug delivery and CRC therapy owing to their inherent properties. It also investigates the toxicity of CNTs on normal cells for safety testing and the clinical use of carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) for tumor localization. To conclude, this review recommends the clinical application of carbon-based nanomaterials further for the management of CRC in diagnosis and as carriers or therapeutic adjuvants.

The effect of carbon nanoparticles staining on lymph node tracking in colorectal cancer: A propensity score matching analysis

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of carbon nanoparticles staining (CNS) on colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery, lymph node tracing and postoperative complications using propensity score matching (PSM).

Method

Patients who were diagnosed with CRC and underwent surgery were retrospectively collected from a single clinical center from Jan 2011 to Dec 2021. Baseline characteristics, surgical information and postoperative information were compared between the CNS group and the non-CNS group. PSM was used to eliminate bias.

Results

A total of 6,886 patients were enrolled for retrospective analysis. There were 2,078 (30.2%) patients in the CNS group and 4,808 (69.8%) patients in the non-CNS group. After using 1: 1 ratio PSM to eliminate bias, there were 2,045 patients left in each group. Meanwhile, all of their baseline characteristics were well matched and there was no statistical significance between the two groups (P > 0.05). In terms of surgical information and short-term outcomes, the CNS group had less intraoperative blood loss (P < 0.01), shorter operation time (P < 0.01), shorter postoperative hospital stay (P < 0.01), less metastatic lymph nodes (P = 0.013), more total retrieved lymph nodes (P < 0.01), more lymphatic fistula (P = 0.011) and less postoperative overall complications (P < 0.01) than the non-CNS group before PSM. After PSM, the CNS group had less intraoperative blood loss (P = 0.004), shorter postoperative hospital stay (P < 0.01) and more total retrieved lymph nodes (P < 0.01) than the non-CNS group. No statistical difference was found in other outcomes (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

Preoperative CNS could help the surgeons detect more lymph nodes, thus better determining the patient's N stage. Furthermore, it could reduce intraoperative blood loss and reduce the hospital stay.

En bloc mesoesophageal esophagectomy through thoracoscopy combined with laparoscopy based on the mesoesophageal theory

PURPOSE

To investigate the effectiveness and clinical significance of thoracolaparoscopic esophagectomy with mesoesophagus excision.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients who underwent en bloc mesoesophageal esophagectomy through thoracoscopy combined with laparoscopy were retrospectively enrolled. Carbon nanoparticles were used in some patients to label the esophageal drainage lymph nodes. The clinical data were analyzed.

RESULTS

En bloc mesoesophageal esophagectomy was successfully performed in 135 patients (100%). The carbon nanoparticles were used in 10 patients, among which the left gastric arterial lymph nodes were labeled in all patients and excised together with the left gastric mesentery, mesoesophagus, esophageal cancer, lymph nodes, vessels, nerves, and adipose tissues as one intact package. The mean operation time was 182.5 ± 26.4 min, intraoperative blood loss 45.9 ± 17.6 ml, mean number of lymph nodes dissected 20.9 ± 8.12, extubation time of drainage tubes 7.5 ± 3.8 days, first oral feeding time 7.5 ± 1.8 days, and postoperative hospital stay 13 ± 5.11 days. Postoperatively, anastomotic leakage occurred in six patients (4.4%), anastomotic stenosis in eight (5.9%), hoarseness in seven (5.2%), and inflammation of the remnant stomach in four (3.0%), with a complication rate of 18.5%. Patients were followed up for 13-34 months (median 23). Eighteen patients presented with organ metastasis. No local recurrence or death during follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Based on the membrane anatomy or mesoesophagus theory, thoracolaparoscopic en bloc mesoesophageal esophagectomy is safe, with decreased blood loss, and it is necessary to resect the left gastric artery lymph nodes together with the left gastric mesentery and its contents to completely remove the cancer.

Clinical analysis of metastatic characteristics of infrapyloric lymph nodes (No.206) and terminal ileum lymph nodes in patients with right colon cancer

BACKGROUND

D3 or complete mesocolic excision (CME) surgery has become a common surgical procedure for the treatment of colon cancer metastasis. Clinical misuse and overuse of lymph node dissection bring unnecessary burdens to patients. A detailed guidance for lymph node dissection in patients with T3 and T4 stage right colon cancer at different locations is urgently needed.

METHODS

A retrospective study was performed. Patients received D3 or CME surgery were divided into ileocecal group, ascending colon group, and hepatic flexure group according to the 9th edition of the Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum guidelines. The distributions of lymph node metastases were analyzed according to tumor infiltration depth (T stage) and tumor location.

RESULTS

The incidence of metastases in the paracolic area (or station), intermediate area, and main (or central) area was 38.4% (139/362), 12.7% (46/362), and 9.7% (35/362), respectively. The proportion of patients having No.206 and terminal ileum lymph nodes metastases was 7.7% (14/181) and 3.7% (9/244), respectively. No.206 lymph node metastasis is related to tumor location (χ² = 7.955, p = 0.019) and degree of differentiation (χ² = 18.99, p = 0.000), and terminal ileum lymph node metastasis is related to tumor location (χ² = 6.273, p = 0.043). Patients with T3/T4 hepatic flexure cancer received radical right hemicolectomy in addition to No.206 lymph node dissection.

CONCLUSION

Radical right hemicolectomy and No.206 group lymph node dissection are necessary for T3 and T4 stage colon cancer therapy.

Tattooing or Metallic Clip Placement? A Review of the Outcome Surrounding Preoperative Localization Methods in Minimally Invasive Anterior Resection Performed at a Single Center

BACKGROUND

For minimally invasive colorectal surgery, preoperative localization is a typical procedure. We here aimed to analyze compared 2 different localization methods in terms of short-term outcomes, like the operative outcome and postoperative complication rates based on real-world data.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a retrospective analysis study conducted at a medical center. We enrolled patients who were presented with colonic tumor between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2019, and they had undergone laparoscopic anterior resection in a single institution. Data included patient characteristics, operative outcome, length of hospital stay, and postoperative complications.

RESULTS

The preoperative localization group had a better resection margin (4 vs. 3 cm; P<0.001) and fewer procedures of intraoperative colonoscopy (4.67% vs. 18.22%; P=0.002). Lymph node harvest occurred more in patients with endoscopic tattooing procedures than with metallic clip procedures (25 vs. 20; P=0.031). No significant difference was found regarding postoperative complications and the length of hospital stay.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative localization in a laparoscopic anterior resection led to better surgical planning and resection margin. The metallic clip placement was helpful in the preoperative localization and setting. The endoscopic tattooing method had a larger lymph node harvest and with fewer intraoperative colonoscopy.

Carbon nanoparticle suspension could help get a more accurate nodal staging for patient with rectal cancer

This study aimed to evaluate whether carbon nanoparticles could improve the accuracy of nodal staging in colorectal cancer (CRC). We performed a randomized controlled trial with CRC at the department of general surgery, the affiliated hospital of Nanjing University Medical School. A total of 160 patients were recruited in this research and 132 patients were included in the safety analyses. Among these patients, 72 cases were classified into control group and 60 cases into study group. The mean number of lymph nodes harvested from patients in study group was 19.3 ± 6.7 (range from 4 to 38), which was higher than that in control group (15.1 ± 5.7 (range from 3 to 29)) (p < 0.001). The mean number of positive lymph nodes got from patients in study group was 1.7 ± 3.5 (range from 0 to 22), which was also higher than that in control group (0.7 ± 1.4 (range from 0 to 7)) (p = 0.045). In study group, there were 30 patients (50%) proved to be N0, and remaining 30 patients (50%) were N1 or N2. However, 50 patients (69.4%) were N0 and 22 patients (30.6%) were N1 or N2 in control group. The rate of N0 in control group was significantly higher than that in study group (p = 0.023). Injecting carbon nanoparticle suspension could get a more accurate nodal staging to receive enough chemoradiotherapy, improving prognosis. Besides, injecting carbon nanoparticles suspension at four points 5 cm, 10 cm, 15 cm and 20 cm away from the anus by “sandwich” method was a new try.

Trial registration: This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number ChiCTR1900025127 on 12/8/2019.

Application of Carbon Nanoparticles in Tracing Lymph Nodes and Locating Tumors in Colorectal Cancer: A Concise Review

Background

Accurate lymph node (LN) staging has considerably prognostic and therapeutic value in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of applying carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) to track LN metastases in CRC.

Methods

Two researchers independently screened publications in PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane and Ovid MEDLINE databases. The keywords were (carbon nanoparticles OR activated carbon nanoparticles) AND (colon cancer OR rectal cancer OR colorectal cancer). Titles and abstracts of the articles were meticulously read to rule out potential publications. Next, full texts of the ultimately obtained eligible publications were retrieved and analyzed in detail.

Results

The search produced 268 publications, and 140 abstracts were identified after a bibliographic review. Finally, 20 studies relevant to our subject were obtained; however, only 14 papers met our inclusion criteria and were included for final review. All studies included have compared the control group with carbon nanoparticles group (control group, defined as nontattooed group; and carbon nanoparticles group, defined as administering carbon nanoparticles during surgery) for their efficacy in intraoperative detecting and positioning. After analysis, appreciably less amount of bleeding (3/5 trials), shorter operation time (2/4 trials), and shorter time to detect lesions and dissect LNs (2/2 trials) were revealed in CNPs group compared to control group. Thirteen studies have recorded the numbers of the harvested LNs in both groups; meanwhile, CNPs group shows superiority to control group in LN retrieval as well (11/13 trials), which also could effectively aid in locating and harvesting more LNs with diameter below 5 mm.

Conclusion

The tracing technique for CNPs is a safe and useful strategy both in localizing tumor and tracing LNs in CRC surgery. But there is still a need for more randomized controlled trials to further establish its contribution to patient survival.

The safety and effectiveness of carbon nanoparticles suspension in tracking lymph node metastases of colorectal cancer: a prospective randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

This study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of carbon nanoparticles suspension in tracking lymph node metastases of colorectal cancer.

METHODS

Eligible patients diagnosed with stages I-III colorectal cancer in Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center between 1 May 2017 and 31 May 2018 fulfilling the inclusion criteria were included in this prospective randomized controlled study. All the patients were randomly allocated to two groups: the nanocarbon group and the control group. Patients' clinicopathological characteristics were compared between the nanocarbon group and the control group. For continuous variables, data were presented as mean (±SD) and differences between the two groups were compared by the Mann-Whitney U test; for categorical variables, data was presented as frequency (%) and the Pearson's chi-squared test was used to compare the differences between two groups.

RESULTS

All the patients' characteristics between two groups did not achieve statistical significance (P > 0.05). Patients in nanocarbon group were more likely to be associated with more lymph nodes retrieved totally compared with control group (19.84 ± 6.428 vs. 17.41 ± 7.229, P < 0.001). The number of lymph nodes retrieved in nanocarbon group were more likely to be ≥12 than that in the control group (P = 0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study confirmed the safety of using carbon nanoparticles suspension as a tracer in colorectal cancer. More importantly, nanocarbon could significantly increase the detected number of lymph nodes in colorectal cancer, which can help improve the accuracy of lymph node staging and even improve patients' survival.

Endoscopic Preoperative Tattooing and Marking in the Gastrointestinal Tract: A Systematic Review of Alternative Methods

Background: An accurate and reliable localization of endoluminal gastrointestinal (GI) lesions is crucial, particularly during minimally invasive surgery. As an extreme consequence, a misdetected GI lesion can lead to the resection of the wrong segment, especially in colorectal surgery. A preoperative endoscopic marking is recommended in case of GI lesions, which are expected to be difficult to detect from the serosal side. In clinical practice, three preoperative endoscopic marking methods are currently used: India ink, SPOT™, and endoclips with intraoperative fluoroscopy. All of them have substantial limitations. This has encouraged research on alternative solutions. Methods: In the current systematic review, animal and clinical studies about alternative preoperative endoscopic marking methods of GI lesions were analyzed using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Results: Thirty studies were found using PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE/Ovid, and the Cochrane Library for the qualitative analysis. Conclusion: Although several smart solutions have been proposed and tested successfully, all of them seem to have a substantial drawback related either to scarce stability on the marking site or potential spreading on the bowel wall or diffusion into the surgical planes.

The effect of pericolic lymph nodes metastasis beyond 10 cm proximal to the tumor on patients with rectal cancer

Background

This study aims to determine the real incidence of pericolic lymph nodes metastasis beyond 10 cm proximal to the tumor (pPCN) and its prognostic significance in rectal cancer patients.

Methods

Consecutive patients with rectal cancer underwent curative resection between 2015 and 2017 were included. Margin distance was marked and measured in vivo and lymph nodes were harvested on fresh specimens. Clinicopathological characteristics and oncological outcomes (3-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS)) were analyzed between patients with pPCN and patients without pPCN (nPCN).

Results

There were 298 patients in the nPCN group and 14 patients (4.5%) in pPCN group. Baseline characteristics were balanced except more patients received preoperative or postoperative chemoradiotherapy in pPCN group. Preoperative more advanced cTNM stage (log-rank p = 0.005) and intraoperative more pericolic lymph nodes beyond 10 cm proximal to the tumor (PCNs) (log-rank p = 0.002) were independent risk factors for pPCN. The maximum short-axis diameter of mesenteric lymph nodes ≥8 mm was also contributed to predicting the pPCN. pPCN was an independent prognostic indicator and associated with worse 3-year OS (66% vs 91%, Cox p = 0.033) and DFS (58% vs 92%, Cox p = 0.012).

Conclusion

The incidence of pPCN was higher than expected. Patients with high-risk factors (cTNM stage III or more PCNs) might get benefits from an extended proximal bowel resection to avoid residual positive PCNs.

A case-control study of using carbon nanoparticles to trace decision-making lymph nodes around inferior mesenteric artery in rectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Accurate identification of lymph nodes localized around inferior mesenteric artery (IMA), with or without metastasis, is of crucial importance for surgeons when dissecting D2 or D3 lymph nodes in patients with rectal cancer (RC). The following study evaluates whether carbon nanoparticles can be used for detection of decision-making lymph nodes (DLNs) in station 253 lymph nodes found around IMA during RC surgery.

METHODS

A total of 66 patients with rectal adenocarcinomas were recruited between January 2014 and August 2017. Patients were divided into carbon nanoparticle (CN) group and control (CL) group; for the CN group, 1 ml nanoparticles were endoscopically injected into submucosal layer of primary tumor 1 day before surgery. DLNs were defined as black-dyed nodes in CN group or macroscopic lymph nodes in CL group localized along the IMA, proximal to the origin of the left colic artery. D3 lymph nodes were dissected using laparoscopic radical resection, and then examined using pathological approach. Intra-operative and post-operative data were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

In CN group, black-dyed DLNs were easily found under laparoscopy; the median number of DLNs was 3 (range 1-9). In CL group, the median number of DLNs was 0 (range 0-3). Consistency between intra-operative DLNs and post-operative station 253 nodes were confirmed by pathological examination. Significant higher number of DLNs in station 253 nodes (2.91 ± 2.47 vs 0.58 ± 0.75, p < 0.001), number of station 251 nodes (12.85 ± 8.99 vs 8.09 ± 5.85, p = 0.014), number of station 253 nodes (5.21 ± 5.26 vs 3.15 ± 2.32, p = 0.045), and the number of total lymph nodes (24.06 ± 13.20 vs 16.21 ± 9.09, p = 0.007) were found in the CN group compared to CL group.

CONCLUSIONS

Carbon nanoparticles are useful for identifying DLNs in station 253 LNs around IMA in RC. It is not necessary to perform D3 lymph node dissection if there are no intra-operative DLNs metastases in RC.

Short and Long-Term Potential Role of Carbon Nanoparticles in Total Thyroidectomy with Central Lymph Node Dissection

Whether we should use carbon nanoparticle (CN) routinely in thyroid surgery is still controversial. 406 papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) patients who underwent total thyroidectomy (TT) with bilateral central lymph node dissection (CLND) from January 2010 to December 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. The incidence of transient hypoparathyroidism and hypocalcemia in CN group was significantly lower than the control group at second, fifth day after surgery (P = 0.004, 0.042, 0.002 and 0.045 respectively). However, no significant difference existed between the two groups about the permanent hypoparathyroidism and hypocalcemia (P = 1.000). Total number of central lymph nodes and metastatic lymph nodes in CN group were more than those in control group (P = 0.031 and 0.038 respectively). However, recurrence was not significantly different between the two groups after at least 5-year follow up (P = 0.7917). In the subgroup of prophylactic and therapeutic CLND study, no significant difference existed between the two groups (P = 0.5295 and 0.8459 respectively). CN significantly help in identifying the parathyroid glands in surgery and increased the number of lymph nodes in central compartment. However, we should not exaggerate the function of CN since it couldn’t improve the permanent hypoparathyroidism and recurrence in PTC patients who underwent TT with bilateral CLND.

Instrumental Mechanoreceptoric Palpation in Gastrointestinal Surgery

Background and Aims

Small gastric or colorectal tumours can be visually undetectable during laparoscopic surgeries, and available methods still do not provide a 100% localisation rate. Thus, new methods for further improvements in tumour localisation are highly desirable. In this study, we evaluated the usage of the Medical Tactile Endosurgical Complex (MTEC) in gastrointestinal surgery for localisation of tumours. The MTEC provides the possibility of instrumental mechanoreceptoric palpation, which serves as an analogue of conventional manual palpation.

Methods

Ninety-six elective surgeries were performed, including 48 open surgeries, 43 laparoscopies, and 5 robot-assisted surgeries. The 20 mm version of the MTEC tactile mechanoreceptor was used in open surgeries, and the 10 mm version in laparoscopic and robot-assisted surgeries.

Results

The mean time of instrumental mechanoreceptoric palpation was 3 minutes 12 seconds for open surgeries, which constituted the early stage of the learning curve, and 3 minutes 34 seconds for laparoscopic surgeries. No side effects or postoperative complications related to instrumental mechanoreceptoric palpation were observed, and this procedure provided data sufficient for tumour localisation in more than 95% of cases.

Conclusion

Instrumental mechanoreceptoric palpation performed using MTEC is a simple, safe, and reliable method for tumour localisation in gastrointestinal laparoscopic surgery.

Clinical application of carbon nanoparticles in curative resection for colorectal carcinoma

Purpose

To explore the potential of carbon nanoparticles (CNs) for the intraoperative detection of positive and negative lymph nodes in the treatment of colorectal cancer.

Patients and methods

The clinical data of 470 patients undergoing surgical procedures for colorectal cancer from June 2010 to February 2013 were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were divided into the CN group (183 males and 161 females; mean age, 58.6±12.4 years), who were given a CN suspension, and the control group (78 males and 48 females; mean age, 59.1±12.2 years), who were not given a CN suspension. The operative time, blood loss, number of lymph nodes detected/positive lymph nodes, and prevalence of postoperative complications were compared between the two groups. Three years after surgery, 444 cases (327 cases in the CN group and 117 cases in the control group) were interviewed, with the remaining 26 cases lost to follow-up. With regard to tumor, node, metastasis staging, the survival and prevalence of recurrence in each group at 3 years were analyzed.

Results

The number of positive lymph nodes was higher and the prevalence of blood loss was lower in the CN group than in the control group (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in the operative time, number of lymph nodes detected, or the prevalence of postoperative complications, survival, metastasis, or recurrence between the two groups at 3 years (p>0.05).

Conclusion

The application of CNs is convenient for the detection of lymph nodes to reduce blood loss and increase the probability of detecting positive lymph nodes accurately and rapidly.

Preoperative endoscopic titanium clip placement facilitates intraoperative localization of early-stage esophageal cancer or severe dysplasia

Background

Accurate intraoperative localization of esophageal lesions is essential for successful surgical resection. We tested whether preoperative endoscopic placement of titanium clips could facilitate intraoperative localization of early-stage esophageal cancer or severe dysplasia.

Methods

A prospective randomized clinical trial was performed between May 2012 and July 2014. All enrolled patients received preoperative endoscopy and esophageal endoscopic ultrasound, as well as pathological study on the biopsy specimen, to confirm early stage esophageal cancer or severe dysplasia. One day before the surgical operation, patients in the experimental group received the preoperative endoscopic titanium labeling of esophageal lesions. Then, during the surgical operation, palpitation of titanium clips was used to localize the lesions in these patients. In patients in the control group, palpitation of nodules or esophageal wall mucosal thickening, together with the consideration of the results from preoperative endoscopic and ultrasound studies, was applied to estimate the location of the esophageal lesions. Study outcomes included the proportions of patients having successful intraoperative pre-resection lesion localization, post-esophagectomy lesion visualization, negative upper surgical margin, change of surgical approaches, and positive postoperative pathological diagnosis.

Results

A total of 27 patients were enrolled into the study, with 14 in the experimental group and 13 in the control group. Compared to the patients in the control group, a higher proportion of patients in the experimental group had statistically significant successful intraoperative esophageal lesion localization (100 versus 15.3% in the experimental versus control group).

Conclusions

Preoperative endoscopic titanium clip placement could facilitate intraoperative localization of early-stage esophageal cancer or severe dysplasia.

Trial registration

Current study was registered in Chinese Clinical Trial Registry and World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, ChiCTR-INR-17010949. Registered 22 March 2017, retrospectively registered.