Verification of the Efficacy of New Diagnostic Criteria for Retropharyngeal Nodes in a Cohort of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients.
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SUBMITTER: Tu DG
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8436115 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:PurposeMinimal axial diameter (MIAD) in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was recognized as the most useful parameter in diagnosing lateral retropharyngeal lymph (LRPL) nodes in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). This study aims to explore the additional nodal parameters in MRI and positron emission tomography-computed tomography for increasing the prediction accuracy.Materials and methodsA total of 663 LRPL nodes were retrospectively collected from 335 patients with NPC. The LRPL nodes ascertained on follow-up MRI were considered positive for metastases. First, the optimal cutoff value of each parameter was derived for each parameter. In addition, neural network (NN) nodal evaluation was tested for all combinations of three parameters, namely MIAD, maximal axial diameter (MAAD), and maximal coronal diameter (MACD). The optimal approach was determined through brute force attack, and the results of two methods were compared using a bootstrap sampling method. Second, the mean standard uptake value (NSUVmean) was added as the fourth parameter and tested in the same manner for 410 nodes in 219 patients.ResultsIn first and second analysis, the accuracy rate (percentage) for the MIAD was 89.0% (590/663) and 89.0% (365/410), with the optimal cutoff values being 6.1 mm and 6.0 mm, respectively. With the combination of all three and four parameters, the accuracy rate of the NN was 89% (288/332) and 88.8% (182/205), respectively. In prediction, the optimal combinations of the three and four parameters resulted in correct identification of three (accuracy: 593/663, 89.4%) and six additional nodes (371/410, 90.5%), representing 4% (3/73) and 13.3% (6/45) decreases in incorrect prediction, respectively.ConclusionNPC LRPL nodes with an MIAD ? 6.1 mm are positive. Among nodes with an MIAD < 6.1 mm, if the NSUVmean ? 2.6 or MACD ? 25 mm and MAAD ? 8 mm, the nodes are positive; otherwise, they are negative.
| S-EPMC5063369 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BACKGROUND:Enlarged retropharyngeal lymph nodes (RLNs) are very common in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) undergoing radiotherapy. The most suitable treatment option for enlarged RLNs depends on the pathological results. However, RLN sampling is difficult and imminent in the clinic setting. We recently developed a novel minimally invasive technique termed endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) for sampling RLN tissues sufficient for pathological or cytological diagnosis. METHODS:We enrolled 30 post-radiotherapy patients with NPC with suspected RLN metastasis detected via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The EUS probe was introduced into the nasopharynx via the nostrils, and EUS was then used to scan the retropharyngeal space and locate the RLN in the anterior carotid sheath. EUS-FNA was subsequently performed. The safety and efficacy of using EUS-FNA to sample the RLN tissues were assessed. RESULTS:Strips of tissue were successfully sampled from all patients using EUS-FNA. Of the 30 patients, 23 were confirmed to have cancer cells in the biopsied tissues via pathology or cytology examinations with 1 EUS-FNA biopsy session. The seven cases without confirmed cancer cells were subsequently reanalyzed by using another EUS-FNA biopsy session, and two more cases were confirmed possessing cancer cells. The other five patients without confirmed cancer cells were closely followed with MRI every month for 3 months. After follow-up for 3 months, three patients were still considered cancer-free due to the presence of RLNs with stable or shrinking diameters. The rest two patients who showed progressive disease underwent a third EUS-FNA biopsy procedure and were further confirmed to be cancer cell-positive. In the whole cohort reported here, the EUS-FNA procedure was not associated with any severe complications. CONCLUSION:EUS-FNA is a safe and effective diagnostic approach for sampling tissues from the RLNs in patients with suspected recurrent NPC.
| S-EPMC5993149 | biostudies-literature
Project description:PurposesTo evaluate retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis on N stage of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).MethodsNPC patients were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database between 2004 and 2016. Pathologically confirmed patients with complete data of retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis were investigated. The included patients were divided into N1a and N1b groups. Overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method and propensity score matching (PSM) analyses.ResultsThis retrospective cohort study examined 759 patients: 70 who were stage N1a and 689 who were stage N1b. Before PSM, N1a group was associated with similar 5-year OS (77.7% vs. 72.4%; P = 0.15) and CSS (85.6% vs. 79.9%; P = 0.09) compared to N1b group. After PSM, a similar OS (75.0% vs. 60.7%; P = 0.12) was found between the radiotherapy and chemoradiotherapy groups. However, N1a group showed a better 5-year CSS (83.8% vs. 71.1%; P = 0.04) compared to N1b group. Stage N1b was an independent risk prognostic factor for CSS (hazard ratio = 2.54, 95% confidence interval: 1.02-6.34; P = 0.04).ConclusionsOS was not different between N1a and N1b groups. Retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis defined as stage N1 of the 8th edition American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system is reasonable.
| S-EPMC8211178 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a disease that is highly associated with the latent infection of Epstein-Barr virus. The absence of obvious clinical signs at the early stage of the disease has made early diagnosis practically impossible, thereby promoting the establishment and progression of the disease. To enhance the stride for a reliable and less invasive tool for the diagnosis and prognosis of NPC, we synopsize biomarkers belonging to the two most implicated biological domains (oncogenes and tumor suppressors) in NPC disease. Since no single biomarker is sufficient for diagnosis and prognosis, coupled with the fact that the known established methods such as methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR), multiplex methylation-specific PCR, microarray assays, etc., can only accommodate a few biomarkers, we propose a 10-biomarker panel (KIT, LMP1, PIKC3A, miR-141, and miR-18a/b (oncogenic) and p16, RASSF1A, DAP-kinase, miR-9, and miR-26a (tumor suppressors)) based on their diagnostic and prognostic values. This marker set could be explored in a multilevel or single unified assay for the diagnosis and prognosis of NPC. If carefully harnessed and standardized, it is hoped that the proposed marker set would help transform the diagnostic and prognostic realm of NPC, and ultimately, help prevent the life-threatening late-stage NPC disease.
| S-EPMC7554987 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundThe Node Reporting and Data System (Node-RADS) is a recently proposed classification system for the categorization of lymph nodes in radiological images. This study was conducted to retrospectively evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the Node-RADS score for metastatic cervical lymph nodes on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed cervical lymph nodes of NPC cases. Two radiologists independently evaluated each lymph node on the MRI scans using Node-RADS. Interobserver agreement between 2 radiologists for Node-RADS score assessment was evaluated by linear weighted kappa statistics. The correlation between metastasis and the Node-RADS score of each lymph node was analyzed using multivariate regression analysis. To investigate the diagnostic performance of the Node-RADS score, we further conducted receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Correspondently, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of each different cutoff (>1, >2, >3, and >4) were computed.ResultsIn all, 119 patients with NPC were assessed, including 203 cervical lymph nodes consisting of 140 (69%) of 203 metastatic and 63 (31%) of 203 benign. The kappa agreement between the 2 readers for the Node-RADS score was 0.863 (95% CI = 0.830-0.897, P < .001). Node-RADS score on MRI scan was shown to be an independent predictive factor of lymph node metastasis after multivariate regression analysis (odds ratio [OR] = 6.745, 95% CI = 3.964-11.474, P < .001). Node-RADS achieved an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.950 (95% CI = 0.921-0.979) in diagnosing metastatic lymph nodes. When Node-RADS >2 was identified as the best cutoff based on balanced values, the sensitivity and positive predictive value were 0.92 and 0.94, respectively.ConclusionsOur study suggests that the Node-RADS score has high accuracy in predicting NPC cervical lymph node metastasis. Nevertheless, this conclusion requires confirmation in a larger cohort of patients with NPC.
| S-EPMC10989040 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Chronic neutrophilic leukemia (CNL) is a distinct myeloproliferative neoplasm defined by persistent, predominantly mature neutrophil proliferation, marrow granulocyte hyperplasia, and frequent splenomegaly. The seminal discovery of oncogenic driver mutations in CSF3R in the majority of patients with CNL in 2013 generated a new scientific framework for this disease as it deepened our understanding of its molecular pathogenesis, provided a biomarker for diagnosis, and rationalized management using novel targeted therapies. Consequently, in 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) revised the diagnostic criteria for CNL to reflect such changes in its genomic landscape, now including the presence of disease-defining activating CSF3R mutations as a key diagnostic component of CNL. In this communication, we provide a background on the history of CNL, its clinical and hemopathologic features, and its molecular anatomy, including relevant additional genetic lesions and their significance. We also outline the recently updated WHO diagnostic criteria for CNL. Further, the natural history of the disease is reviewed as well as potential prognostic variables. Finally, we summarize and discuss current treatment options as well as prospective novel therapeutic targets in hopes that they will yield meaningful improvements in patient management and outcomes.
| S-EPMC5811432 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Some patients report a preoccupation with a specific aversive human sound that triggers impulsive aggression. This condition is relatively unknown and has hitherto never been described, although the phenomenon has anecdotally been named misophonia.42 patients who reported misophonia were recruited by our hospital website. All patients were interviewed by an experienced psychiatrist and were screened with an adapted version of the Y-BOCS, HAM-D, HAM-A, SCL-90 and SCID II. The misophonia patients shared a similar pattern of symptoms in which an auditory or visual stimulus provoked an immediate aversive physical reaction with anger, disgust and impulsive aggression. The intensity of these emotions caused subsequent obsessions with the cue, avoidance and social dysfunctioning with intense suffering. The symptoms cannot be classified in the current nosological DSM-IV TR or ICD-10 systems.We suggest that misophonia should be classified as a discrete psychiatric disorder. Diagnostic criteria could help to officially recognize the patients and the disorder, improve its identification by professional health carers, and encourage scientific research.
| S-EPMC3553052 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectiveThe diagnosis of neurocysticercosis (NCC) remains problematic because of the heterogeneity of its clinical, immunological, and imaging characteristics. Our aim was to develop and assess a new set of diagnostic criteria for NCC, which might allow for the accurate detection of, and differentiation between, parenchymal and extraparenchymal disease.MethodsA group of Latin American NCC experts developed by consensus a new set of diagnostic criteria for NCC. A multicenter, retrospective study was then conducted to validate it. The reference standard for diagnosis of active NCC was the disappearance or reduction of cysts after anthelmintic treatment. In total, three pairs of independent neurologists blinded to the diagnosis evaluated 93 cases (with NCC) and 93 controls (without NCC) using the new diagnostic criteria. Mixed-effects logistic regression models were used to estimate sensitivity and specificity.ResultsInter-rater reliability (kappa) of diagnosis among evaluators was 0.60. For diagnosis of NCC versus no NCC, the new criteria had a sensitivity of 93.2% and specificity of 81.4%. For parenchymal NCC, the new criteria had a sensitivity of 89.8% and specificity of 80.7% and for extraparenchymal NCC, the new criteria had a sensitivity of 65.9% and specificity of 94.9%.InterpretationThese criteria have acceptable reliability and validity and could be a new tool for clinicians and researchers. An advantage of the new criteria is that they consider parasite location (ie, parenchymal or extraparenchymal), which is an important factor determining the clinical, immunological, and radiological presentation of the disease, and importantly, its treatment and prognosis. Ann Neurol 2016;80:434-442.
| S-EPMC5053253 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundStudies of local therapy (LT) to metastatic foci from nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) are inconsistent and controversial. Here, we aimed to explore the survival benefit of LT directed at metastatic foci from NPC.MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted in NPC patients with liver, lung, and/or bone metastases. The postmetastatic overall survival (OS) rate was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by the log-rank test. Multivariate analysis was performed using the Cox hazard model. Subgroup analyses evaluating the effect of LT were performed for prespecified covariates. Propensity score matching was applied to homogenize the compared arms.ResultsOverall, 2041 of 2962 patients were eligible for analysis. At a median follow-up of 43.4 months, the 5-year OS improved by an absolute difference of 14.6%, from 46.2% in the LT group versus 31.6% in the non-LT group, which led to a hazard ratio of 0.634 for death (p < 0.001). Matched-pair analyses confirmed that LT was associated with improved OS (p = 0.003), and the survival benefits of LT remained consistent in the subcohorts of liver and lung metastasis (p = 0.009 and p = 0.007, respectively) but not of bone metastasis (BoM; p = 0.614). Radiotherapy was predominantly used for BoM and biological effective dose (BED) >60 Gy was found to yield more survival benefit than that of BED ⩽ 60 Gy.ConclusionsThe addition of LT directed at metastasis has demonstrated an improvement to OS compared with non-LT group in the present matched-pair study, especially for patients with liver and/or lung metastases.
| S-EPMC9290165 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundThe understanding of fatal familial insomnia (FFI), a rare neurodegenerative autosomal dominant prion disease, has improved in recent years as more cases were reported. This work aimed to propose new diagnostic criteria for FFI with optimal sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratio.MethodsAn international group of experts was established and 128 genetically confirmed FFI cases and 281 non-FFI prion disease controls are enrolled in the validation process. The new criteria were proposed based on the following steps with two-round expert consultation: (1) Validation of the 2018 FFI criteria. (2) Diagnostic item selection according to statistical analysis and expert consensus. (3) Validation of the new criteria.ResultsThe 2018 criteria for possible FFI had a sensitivity of 90.6%, a specificity of 83.3%, with a positive likelihood ratio (PLR) of 5.43, and a negative likelihood ratio (NLR) of 0.11; and the probable FFI criteria had a sensitivity of 83.6%, specificity of 92.9%, with a PLR of 11.77, and a NLR of 0.18. The new criteria included more specific and/or common clinical features, two exclusion items, and summarized a precise and flexible diagnostic hierarchy. The new criteria for possible FFI had therefore reached a better sensitivity and specificity (92.2% and 96.1%, respectively), a PLR of 23.64 and a NLR of 0.08, whereas the probable FFI criteria showed a sensitivity of 90.6%, a specificity of 98.2%, with a PLR of 50.33 and a NLR of 0.095.ConclusionsWe propose new clinical diagnostic criteria for FFI, for a better refining of the clinical hallmarks of the disease that ultimately would help an early recognition of FFI and a better differentiation from other prion diseases.
| S-EPMC9363306 | biostudies-literature