Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the possibility of detecting sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) and to perform analysis of lymphatic outflow in patients with suspicion of upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) with the use of a radioisotope-based technique. Methods: During 2018–2021, a prospective study was conducted on 19 patients with the suspicion of UTUC and for whom diagnostic ureterorenoscopy (URS) was planned. Technetium-99m (^99mTc) nanocolloid radioactive tracer injection and a tumor biopsy were performed for staging procedures. Three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction and fusion of images were performed for better localization of lymph nodes (LNs). Detection of SLNs and the analysis of the radiotracer outflow was conducted with the use of single-photon emission-computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) lymphangiography. Results: The mean age of the patients was 73.4 years; 7 (36%) were male. Pathological staging from the biopsy was T0—8 (42%), Ta—7 (36%), T1—4 (21%). SLNs were detected in two of 19 cases (10%). In one patient a single SLN (5.3%) was visualized, and in another case (5.3%), multiple (double) radioactive lymph nodes were visualized. In 17 out of the 19 (89.5%) cases, no lymphatic outflow was observed, and out of these five cases (26.3%) of gravitational leakage of injected radiotracer to the retroperitoneal space was noted. Conclusions: We demonstrated that detection of SLNs in the upper urinary tract is possible yet challenging. Radiotracer injection in the upper urinary tract during ureterorenoscopy is difficult to perform, and the expected result of injection is unsatisfactory. Lymphatic outflow from the tumor site to the first LNs in our studied group of patients is visible in 10.5% of cases. SPECT/CT lymphangiography in cases of UTUC may provide valuable information about a patient’s individual anatomy of the lymphatic system and the position of the first lymph nodes draining lymph with potential metastatic cells from the tumor.

Background: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of death from malignancies, and surgical resection is the most effective form of treatment. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a common comorbidity in patients with NSCLC. A coronary artery calcium (CAC) score correlates with the extent of CAD. We aimed to test whether an automated assessment of CAC scores helps to identify the population of patients with a higher risk of postoperative complications and worse overall survival (OS) after the surgical treatment of NSCLC. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, the data of the patients who were surgically treated for NSCLC were matched with the reassessed preoperative CT images. The postoperative complication rates and overall survival were analyzed. The CAC score was evaluated automatically using the Syngo.via Siemens Healthcare software. Cardiac age was assessed according to Hoff et al. 2001. The prognosticators of postoperative complications and of OS were tested. Results: The data of 193 patients with complete data, an adherence to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and that were operated between 2018 and 2019, were included. Cardiac age was a predictor of the cardiovascular and pulmonary complications rate (95%CI −0.007–0.203, p = 0.066, beta coefficient 0.098). In a multivariable stepwise regression analysis, operative access was a predictor of cardiovascular and pulmonary complications (95%CI −0.290–−0.111, p < 0.001, beta coefficient −0.200), cardiovascular complications (95%CI −0.161–−0.022, p = 0.011, beta coefficient −0.036), and the general complication rate (95%CI −0.370–−0.194, p < 0.001, beta coefficient −0.286). Kaplan–Meier curves were separated in the survival analysis of groups of patients with a cardiac age 0–69 years vs. an age of 70+ (92 vs. 92 patients) (in Cox regression analysis, HR = 1.678, 95%CI 0.847–3.292 p = 0.138). Conclusions: An automated CAC score assessment may be a potential and clinically meaningful prognosticator of both postoperative complications and OS in patients that are operated on due to NSCLC. Further studies are required.