Hepatic Arterial Nodal Metastases in Pancreatic Cancer: Is This the Node of Importance? Journal Article


Authors: LaFemina, J.; Chou, J. F.; Gonen, M.; Rocha, F. G.; Correa-Gallego, C.; Kingham, T. P.; Fong, Y.; D'Angelica, M. I.; Jarnagin, W. R.; DeMatteo, R. P.; Allen, P. J.
Article Title: Hepatic Arterial Nodal Metastases in Pancreatic Cancer: Is This the Node of Importance?
Abstract: Background: The hepatic artery lymph node (HALN) is frequently sampled during pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Data suggest that survival in the setting of HALN metastases is similar to that of stage IV pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The objectives of this study were to describe the prognostic significance of HALN metastases and to assess the predictive performance of HALN compared to peripancreatic lymph node status. Methods: Patients undergoing PD for PDAC from January 2000-October 2010 were identified from a prospectively maintained database. Patients were included if during PD the HALN was submitted for pathologic evaluation. Patients were excluded if margins were macroscopically positive, if pathology was found to be consistent with a diagnosis other than PDAC. Overall (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were estimated by Kaplan-Meier methods. Results: Of the 671 patients who underwent PD for PDAC, HALN status was analyzed for 147 patients. HALN was positive in 23 patients (16 %), 38 were peripancreatic lymph node (PPLN) and HALN negative, and 86 were PPLN+/HALN-. Median follow-up for survivors was 10 months. In a multivariable model, lymph node status and tumor differentiation predicted OS and DFS. Hazard of death and relapse/death were highest among the HALN+ patients (hazard ratio [HR] 2.94; p = 0.017 and HR 2.66; p = 0.011, respectively). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed significant differences in OS (p = 0.017) and DFS (p = 0.013) based on lymph node status. Conclusions: OS and DFS are significantly reduced in patients with a positive HALN. Differentiation and lymph node status were predictors of OS and DFS. In the multivariate models, differentiation and lymph node status remain independent predictors of OS and DFS. © 2013 The Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract.
Keywords: disease-free survival; overall survival; pancreatic adenocarcinoma; hepatic artery lymph node
Journal Title: Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery
Volume: 17
Issue: 6
ISSN: 1091-255X
Publisher: Springer  
Date Published: 2013-06-01
Start Page: 1092
End Page: 1097
Language: English
DOI: 10.1007/s11605-012-2071-7
PROVIDER: scopus
PUBMED: 23588624
DOI/URL:
Notes: --- - "Export Date: 3 June 2013" - "Source: Scopus"
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MSK Authors
  1. Joanne Fu-Lou Chou
    341 Chou
  2. Ronald P DeMatteo
    637 DeMatteo
  3. Mithat Gonen
    1037 Gonen
  4. Peter Allen
    501 Allen
  5. Flavio G Rocha
    12 Rocha
  6. William R Jarnagin
    916 Jarnagin
  7. Yuman Fong
    775 Fong
  8. T Peter Kingham
    625 Kingham
  9. Juan Camilo Correa
    30 Correa