Background/Objectives. Lymph Node Ratio (LNR) is increasingly recognized as an important prognostic factor in various cancer types, with the potential to enhance patient stratification for intrahepatic (ICC) and extrahepatic (ECC) cholangiocarcinoma. The study aimed to assess the impact of LNR on survival in surgically resected patients with ICC and ECC. Methods. This was a retrospective analysis of National Cancer Database (2004–2020) included ICC and ECC (excluding distal bile duct) patients who underwent primary site resection with adequate lymphadenectomy (≥4 LNs excised). Exclusions comprised age < 18 years, distant metastasis, or incomplete key data. LNR was calculated as the ratio of positive LNs to total examined LNs. Survival probabilities were estimated using Kaplan–Meier analysis and Cox regression. Results. The inclusion criteria were met by 954 patients with ICC and 1607 patients with ECC. In patients with ICC, the median OS time was 62.7 months in LNR0 group, 40.8 months in LNR < 30%, and 25.2 months in LNR ≥ 30% (p < 0.001). In ICC, 3-year OS was 69.3%, 54.6%, and 34% for LNR 0, LNR < 30%, and LNR ≥ 30%, respectively (p < 0.05). When adjusted for age, sex, Charlson–Deyo score, histology, surgical margins, chemo- and radiotherapy using Cox regression, LNR < 30% and LNR ≥ 30% were associated with worse OS in patients with ICC (HR 2.1 (95% CI 1.6–2.7) and HR 2.94 (95% CI 2.3–3.8)) and ECC (HR 2.1 (95% CI 1.8–2.5) and HR 3 (95% CI 2.4–3.7)). Conclusions. It is well-known that LN-negative patients have significantly better survival than LN-positive patients with ICC and ECC. This study strongly demonstrates that survival prognosis can be further stratified based on LNR for ICC and ECC patients and that it is not simply a binary factor.

Purpose In 2016, the Society of Surgical Oncology and Choosing Wisely Campaign recommended against sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in women > 70 years with early-stage, hormone receptor-positive (ER/PR +) breast cancer, citing limited clinical benefit. Despite earlier evidence supporting de-implementation, SLNB rates remained high. We aimed to evaluate patient, tumor, facility, and unmeasured contextual factors associated with SLNB de-implementation using a national cohort. Methods We queried the National Cancer Database (NCDB) for women > 70 years diagnosed with early-stage ER/PR + and HER2-negative breast cancer between 2012 and 2019. A mixed effects logistic regression model assessed associations between SLNB non-utilization and patient, tumor, and facility-level characteristics. Interaction terms between year and facility breast surgery volume quartiles were included to examine trends over time. Reference Effect Measures (REM) were used to estimate the contribution of unmeasured contextual effects relative to measured covariates. Results Among eligible patients, SLNB use declined from 86.7% in 2012 to 81.0% in 2019. SLNB use was significantly associated with age, insurance, urbanization, distance to facility, education, income, tumor size, lymphovascular invasion, treatment type, facility region, program type, and surgical volume. Academic programs had the highest adjusted odds of SLNB non-utilization (AOR 1.62; 95%CI: 1.29–2.02), while facilities in the South had the lowest (AOR 0.53; 95%CI: 0.45–0.63). High-volume centers de-implemented more rapidly post-2016, with 24% higher odds of SLNB non-utilization per year. REM analysis identified patient age and unmeasured contextual effects as the predominant drivers of de-implementation. Conclusion SLNB use in older women is influenced by multi-level factors, with patient age and unmeasured contextual effects driving de-implementation—though progress remain slow and limited in the United States.

This study aimed to evaluate the role of pathological features beyond tumor size in the risk of lymph node metastasis in appendiceal neuroendocrine tumors. Analyzing data from the national cancer database, we found that among 5353 cases, 18.8% had lymph node metastasis. Focusing on tumors smaller than 2 cm, a subject of considerable debate in treatment strategies, we identified lymphovascular invasion as one of the strongest predictors of lymph node disease. Interestingly, extension into the subserosa and beyond, a current factor in the staging system, was not a strong predictor. These findings suggest that careful interpretation of pathological features is needed when selecting therapeutic approaches using current staging systems.

This case report presents a 62-year-old male who had previously undergone curative colectomy and neoadjuvant chemotherapy in 2005 for colorectal cancer. He presented with jaundice, which was initially attributed to choledocholithiasis. After cholecystectomy and repeat ERCPs, hyperbilirubinemia persisted. There was persistent dilation of the right posterior duct on imaging, concerning for biliary stricture, possibly due to cholangiocarcinoma or intraductal papillary neoplasm. During a right posterior hepatectomy, a peripheral liver lesion was found in association with the dilated bile duct. On frozen evaluation, the lesion was found to be invasive adenocarcinoma. The final pathology was compatible with a metastatic mucinous adenocarcinoma of colonic origin. A repeat colonoscopy was done with no recurrence or new lesion in the colon. This case underscores the challenges associated with diagnosing biliary issues and assessing liver lesions in patients with a remote history of cancer. It raises the question of when and whether, after primary cancer treatment, it becomes safe to explore alternative diagnoses without immediately suspecting metastasis. Another significant challenge arises in ascertaining the most suitable therapeutic approaches for these patients. This is because these extremely late recurrences might be linked to an indolent, slow-growing type of tumor, but also have been linked to cancer stem cells, and as any recurrence, demands attention.