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Patterns of Lymph Node Recurrence in Adrenocortical Carcinoma: Possible Implications for Primary Surgical Treatment

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Abstract

Background

In the surgical treatment of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), lymphadenectomy may improve oncologic outcome. However, patterns of metastatic lymphatic spread in ACC are unknown.

Methods

Clinical data of patients included in the European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumors (ENSAT) registry were retrospectively reviewed. Inclusion criteria were: nonmetastatic ACC, complete resection of the primary tumor, a disease-free time of > 3 months, and lymph node metastases as the first disease relapse. The retroperitoneal lymphatic drainage area was evaluated by using follow-up imaging.

Results

Of 971 patients from the ENSAT registry, 56 patients were included. In left-sided ACC (n = 36), lymphatic recurrence was detected in the left renal hilum (50%), in the perirenal fat tissue cranial to the renal hilum (ventral, 47%; dorsal, 55%), para-aortic (47%), interaorto-caval (22%), and/or in the perirenal fat tissue caudal to the renal hilum (ventral, 20%; dorsal, 17%). In right-sided ACC (n = 20), lymph node metastases were detected in the perirenal fat tissue cranial to the renal hilum (dorsal, 55%; ventral, 45%), interaorto-caval (35%), in the area of the right renal artery (10%), and/or paracaval (15%). Patients with right-sided ACC showed left-paraaortic lymph node recurrences in 10% of cases.

Conclusion

Metastatic lymphatic spread appears to be more extensive than previously thought. The distribution pattern of lymph node metastases described in our study could be used as a guide for a more extended lymph node dissection.

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Acknowledgment

We are very grateful to Michaela Haaf for data management of the local ENSAT ACC Registry. The study was supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG) via an individual Grant to MF (FA 466/4-1/2) and within the CRC/Transregio 205/1 “The Adrenal: Central Relay in Health and Disease” to MK, SH, and MF.

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Correspondence to Joachim Reibetanz MD.

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Reibetanz, J., Rinn, B., Kunz, A.S. et al. Patterns of Lymph Node Recurrence in Adrenocortical Carcinoma: Possible Implications for Primary Surgical Treatment. Ann Surg Oncol 26, 531–538 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-018-6999-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-018-6999-z

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