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ObjectiveTo identify characteristics of the primary tumor highly associated with lymph node metastases. Summary Background DataRecent enthusiasm for limiting axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in women with breast cancer may increase the likelihood that nodal metastases will be missed. Identification of characteristics of primary tumors predictive of lymph node metastases may prompt a more extensive surgical and pathologic search for metastases in patients with negative sentinel lymph nodes or limited ALND. MethodsThe authors studied 850 consecutive patients who underwent ALND for T1 breast cancer. Age, tumor size, histopathologic diagnosis, tumor differentiation, presence of lymphatic invasion, and estrogen and progesterone receptor results were studied prospectively. Stepwise logistic regression was used to identify variables independently associated with axillary lymph node metastases. ResultsLymphatic invasion, tumor size, and age were independently associated with lymph node metastases. Fifty-one percent of the 181 patients with lymphatic invasion had axillary lymph node metastases, compared with 19% of the 669 patients without lymphatic invasion. Thirty-five percent of the 470 patients with tumors Ͼ1 cm had nodal involvement compared with 13% of the 380 patients with smaller cancers. Thirtyseven percent of the 63 women younger than age 40 had lymph node involvement compared with 25% of the 787 women older than age 40. Significant correlations were noted between lymphatic invasion and patient age and between lymphatic invasion and tumor size. The proportion of tumors with lymphatic invasion decreased progressively with increasing age and increased with increasing tumor size. ConclusionsAxillary lymph node metastases are most significantly related to lymphatic invasion in the primary tumor, followed, in order of significance, by tumor size and patient age. Axillary nodal metastases should be suspected in the presence of lymphatic invasion of large tumors in young patients.

Objective To analyze the predictors and patterns of recurrence of melanoma in patients with a negative sentinel lymph node biopsy result. Design Retrospective chart review of a prospectively created database of patients with cutaneous melanoma. Setting Tertiary university hospital. Patients A total of 515 patients with melanoma underwent a sentinel lymph node biopsy without evidence of metastatic disease between 1996 and 2008. Main Outcome Measures Time to recurrence and overall survival. Results Of 515 patients, 83 (16%) had a recurrence of melanoma at a median of 23 months during a median follow-up of 61 months (range, 1-154 months). Of these 83 patients, 21 had melanoma that metastasized in the studied nodal basin for an in-basin false-negative rate of 4.0%. Patients with recurrence had deeper primary lesions (mean thickness, 2.7 vs 1.8 mm; P<.01) that were more likely to be ulcerated (32.5% vs 13.5%; P<.001) than those without recurrence. The primary melanoma of patients with recurrence was more likely to be located in the head and neck region compared with all other locations combined (31.8% vs 11.7%; P<.001). Median survival following a recurrence was 21 months (range, 1-106 months). Favorable characteristics associated with lower risk of recurrence included younger age at diagnosis (mean, 49 vs 57 years) and female sex (9% vs 21% for males; P<.001). Conclusion Overall, recurrence of melanoma (16%) after a negative sentinel lymph node biopsy result was similar to that in previously reported studies with an in-basin false-negative rate of 4.0%. Lesions of the head and neck, the presence of ulceration, increasing Breslow thickness, older age, and male sex are associated with increased risk of recurrence, despite a negative sentinel lymph node biopsy result.

Although PADC remains a deadly disease, long-term survival is possible, even beyond the 10-year mark. Our adjusted analysis identified lymph node ratio, administration of adjuvant chemotherapy, and pathologic T stage as being the top 3 variables associated with LTS of PADC. In addition, our easy-to-use nomogram may be able to identify potential LTS among patients with resected PADC.

Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the timed up-and-go test and postoperative morbidity and one-year mortality, and to compare the timed up-and-go to the standard-of-care surgical risk calculators for prediction of postoperative complications. Methods In this prospective cohort study, patients 65 years and older undergoing elective colorectal and cardiac operations with a minimum of one-year follow-up were included. The timed up-and-go test was performed preoperatively. This timed test starts with the subject standing from a chair, walking ten feet, returning to the chair, and ends after the subject sits. Timed up-and-go results were grouped: Fast≤10 sec, Intermediate=11-14 sec, Slow≥15 sec. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to compare the three timed-up-and-go groups to current standard-of-care surgical risk calculators at forecasting postoperative complications. Results This study included 272 subjects (mean age of 74±6 years). Slower timed up-and-go was associated with an increased postoperative complications following colorectal (fast-13%, intermediate-29% and slow-77%;p<0.001) and cardiac (fast-11%, intermediate-26% and slow-52%;p<0.001) operations. Slower timed up-and-go was associated with increased one-year mortality following both colorectal (fast-3%, intermediate-10% and slow-31%;p=0.006) and cardiac (fast-2%, intermediate-3% and slow-12%;p=0.039) operations. Receiver operating characteristic area under curve of the timed up-and-go and the risk calculators for the colorectal group was 0.775 (95% CI:0.670,0.880) and 0.554 (95% CI:0.499,0.609), and for the cardiac group was 0.684 (95% CI:0.603,0.766) and 0.552 (95% CI:0.477,0.626). Conclusions Slower timed up-and-go forecasted increased postoperative complications and one-year mortality across surgical specialties. Regardless of operation performed, the timed up-and-go compared favorably to the more complex risk calculators at forecasting postoperative complications.