Lee J. McGhan

Validation of the Updated 7th Edition AJCC TNM Staging Criteria for Gastric Adenocarcinoma

IntroductionThe recently published 7th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) TNM staging criteria for gastric adenocarcinoma contains important revisions to T and N classifications, as well as overall stage grouping. Our goal was to validate the new staging system using a cancer registry.MethodsRetrospective review of gastric cancer patients from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry data (2004–2007). Patients were staged according to both 6th and 7th edition criteria, and 3-year disease-specific survival was compared.ResultsThirteen thousand five hundred forty-seven patients with gastric adenocarcinoma were identified with complete staging information. When using 7th edition criteria, there was an increase in the number of patients classified as stage III (23% vs. 13%), and a decrease in patients classified as stage IV (47% vs. 53%). Statistically significant differences in 3-year disease-specific survival were observed for all T and N categories and re-staging the same population according to the 7th edition criteria improved survival discrimination. Multivariate analysis revealed statistically significant differences in survival and linear progression of hazard ratios for each stage grouping.ConclusionsThe 7th edition AJCC staging criteria for gastric adenocarcinoma demonstrate better survival discrimination and risk stratification than previous criteria.

The changing landscape of axillary surgery: Which breast cancer patients may still benefit from complete axillary lymph node dissection?

Many breast cancer patients undergoing completion axillary lymph node dissection (CALND) for sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastases have no further disease. Predicting patients at high risk of non‐sentinel lymph node (NSLN) metastasis may help guide effective utilization of CALND.

Granular Cell Tumor of the Anterior Abdominal Wall

We report a case of granular-cell tumor (GCT) arising in the subcutaneous tissue of the abdominal wall and describe its radiologic and histologic characteristics. The differential diagnosis of a mass in this site may include multiple benign and malignant stromal lesions. In this case, the presentation, location, and radiological features suggested a desmoid tumor (aggressive fibromatosis). Treatment of the mass involved surgical excision with negative margins, and histological analysis confirmed the presence of a benign GCT. We report a case of this rare, benign tumor to allow the radiologist and pathologist to consider this disease in the differential diagnosis when presented with similar cases.

The impact of breast reconstruction on the decision to undergo contralateral prophylactic mastectomy.

96 Background: In the last decade there has been an increase in the incidence of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) for unilateral breast cancer. Although many factors have been proposed to explain this trend, the impact of breast reconstruction on the decision to undergo CPM has not been extensively studied. METHODS A retrospective review of breast cancer patients from Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) registry data (2004-2008) was conducted. Characteristics of patients undergoing CPM were evaluated. RESULTS 71,176 patients with a diagnosis of stage I-III infiltrating ductal or lobular breast cancer underwent mastectomy for their primary lesion. Among these, 10,558 patients (15%) underwent a CPM. A significantly higher proportion of women undergoing CPM had reconstruction performed (44%) than those patients not undergoing CPM (13%), p<0.001. On multivariate analysis (Table), significant variables predicting CPM included age <50 years (OR 10.12), breast reconstruction (OR 3.58), and lobular histology (OR 1.41), all p<0.001. Of the 12,466 patients (18%) who underwent reconstruction, 4,636 (37%) had implant reconstruction, 4,498 (36%) had tissue reconstruction, and 1,122 (9%) had combined tissue/implant reconstruction (no data for 18%). On multivariate analysis, predictors of reconstruction included age <50 years (OR 20.5; CI 18.5-22.7), year of surgery (2008 vs. 2004; OR 1.60; CI 1.49-1.71), low tumor grade (OR 1.19; CI 1.13-1.25) and ER+ status (OR 1.16; 95% CI 1.10-1.23). The use of radiation therapy was associated with a lower likelihood of pursuing reconstruction (OR 0.61; CI 0.58-0.65). CONCLUSIONS Apart from age, the factor most strongly associated with CPM is the decision to have reconstructive surgery performed. This suggests that CPM may not be purely associated with risk-reduction but also with treatment factors such as cosmesis. [Table: see text].