Abstract
Background: The role and extent of lymphadenectomy in patients with upper-tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is debated. Objective: To establish whether the number of lymph nodes (LNs) removed might be associated with better cause-specific survival in patients with UTUC. Design, setting, and participants: The study included 552 consecutive patients who underwent radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) and lymphadenectomy between 1992 and 2006. Intervention: Patients were treated with RNU and lymphadenectomy. Measurements: Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models addressed the association between the number of LNs removed and cause-specific mortality (CSM). The number of LNs removed was coded as a cubic spline to allow for nonlinear effects. Finally, the most informative cut-off for the number of removed LNs was identified. Results and limitations: In the entire population, the number of LNs removed was not associated with CSM in univariable (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.99; p = 0.16) or in multivariable (HR: 0.97; p = 0.12) analyses. In contrast, in the subgroup of pN0 patients (n = 412), the number of LNs removed achieved the independent predictor status of CSM (HR: 0.93; p = 0.02). Eight LNs removed was the most informative cut-off in predicting CSM (HR: 0.42; p = 0.004). The inclusion of the variable defining dichotomously the number of removed LNs (
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 512-519 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | European Urology |
Volume | 56 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Sep 2009 |
Keywords
- Lymph node dissection
- Metastasis
- Nephroureterectomy
- Prognosis
- Survival
- Urinary tract cancer
- Urothelial carcinoma
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Urology