Wasif, Nabil

9034 Background: Routine imaging for staging of early stage cutaneous melanoma is not recommended by National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines. Besides the low probability of finding metastatic disease, detrimental aspects include false-positives and additive cost. We sought to investigate the use of imaging for staging of cutaneous melanoma in the United States. Methods: Patients with newly diagnosed clinically node negative cutaneous melanoma between 2000-2007 were identified from the Surveillance Epidemiology End Results-Medicare registry. Any imaging performed within 90 days following diagnosis was considered a staging study. Patients with metastatic disease were excluded. Results: A total of 25,643 patients were identified, of whom 10,775 (42%) underwent imaging. The mean age was 76.1 years, with the majority being male (61.8%) and Caucasian (98.4%). Breakdown by T classification of the primary was as follows: T1 (63%), T2 (17%), T3 (12%), and T4 (8%). A chest Xray was performed for 9,737 (38.0%), while 3,176 (12.4%) underwent advanced staging imaging studies; PET (7.2%), CT (5.9%), MRI (0.6%), and Ultrasound (0.4%). The use of advanced imaging steadily increased over the period of our study from 9.0% in 2000 to 16.3% in 2007 (p<0.001). When stratified by T classification, advanced imaging was used for 8.9% of T1, 14.5% of T2, 18.8% of T3 and 27.0% of T4 tumors (p<0.001). Similarly, node positive patients (4.7%) underwent advanced imaging 33.4% of the time compared to 11.3% for node negative patients (p<0.001). On multivariate analysis, factors predictive of advanced imaging include higher T classification (OR 3.12 T4 vs. T1, CI 2.77-3.52, p<0.001), node positivity (OR 2.70, CI 2.36-3.09, p<0.001), more recent year of diagnosis (OR 2.01 2007 vs. 2000, CI 1.71-2.37, p=0.006), high school education (OR 1.62, CI 1.43-1.83, p<0.001), non-Caucasian race (OR 1.37, CI 1.05-1.77, p=0.018), and male gender (OR 1.12, CI 1.03-1.21, p=0.006). Conclusions: Contrary to current recommendations, performance of advanced imaging for staging of early stage cutaneous melanoma is increasing in the Medicare population. Further research is needed to identify factors driving this increase.

Background: Histologic subtypes of appendiceal cancer vary in their propensity for metastases to regional lymph nodes (LN). A predictive model would help direct subsequent surgical therapy. Methods: The National Cancer Database was queried for patients with appendiceal cancer undergoing surgery between 1998 and 2012. Multivariable logistic regression was used to develop a predictive model of LN metastases which was internally validated using Brier score and Area under the Curve (AUC). Results: A total of 21,647 patients were identified, of whom 9079 (41.9%) had node negative disease, 4575 (21.1%) node positive disease, and 7993 (36.9%) unknown LN status. The strongest predictors of LN positivity were histology (carcinoid tumors OR 12.78, 95% CI 9.01–18.12), increasing T Stage (T3 OR 3.36, 95% CI 2.52–4.50, T4 OR 6.30, 95% CI 4.71–8.42), and tumor grade (G3 OR 5.55, 95% CI 4.78–6.45, G4 OR 5.98, 95% CI 4.30–8.31). The coefficients from the regression analysis were used to construct a calculator that generated predicted probabilities of LN metastases given certain inputs. Internal validation of the overall model showed an AUC of 0.75 (95% CI 0.74–0.76) and Brier score of 0.188. Histology-specific predictive models were also constructed with an AUC that varied from 0.669 for signet cell to 0.75 for goblet cell tumors. Conclusions: The risk for nodal metastases in patients with appendiceal cancers can be quantified with reasonable accuracy using a predictive model incorporating patient age, sex, tumor histology, T-stage, and grade. This can help inform clinical decision making regarding the need for a right hemicolectomy following appendectomy.

Background. We sought to study the association between RPS case volume and outcomes. Although a relationship has been demonstrated between case volume and patient outcomes in some cancers, such a relationship has not been established for retroperitoneal sarcomas (RPSs). Study Design. The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was queried for patients undergoing treatment for primary RPS diagnosed between 2004 and 2013. Mean annual patient volume for RPS resection was calculated for all hospitals and divided into low volume (<5 cases/year), medium volume (5–10 cases/year), and high volume (>10 cases/year). Risk-adjusted regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of 30-day surgical mortality, R0 margin status, and overall survival (OS). Results. Our study population consisted of 5,407 patients with a median age of 61 years, of whom 47% were male and 3,803 (70%) underwent surgical resection. Absolute 30-day surgical mortality and R0 margin rate following surgery for low-, medium-, and high-volume institutions were 2.4%, 1.3%, and 0.5% (p=0.027) and 68%, 65%, and 82%, (p<0.001), respectively. Five-year overall survival rates for low, medium, and high-volume institutions were 56%, 57%, and 66%, respectively (p<0.001). Patients treated at low-volume institutions had a significantly higher risk of 30-day mortality (adjusted OR = 4.66, 95% CI 2.26–9.63) and long-term mortality (adjusted HR = 1.56, 95% CI 1.16–2.11) compared to high-volume institutions. Conclusion. We demonstrate the existence of a hospital sarcoma service line volume-oncologic outcome relationship for RPS at the national level and provide benchmark data for cancer care delivery systems and policy makers.

Purpose: Hospital readmissions after surgery are a focus of quality improvement efforts. Although some reflect appropriate care, others are potentially preventable readmissions (PPRs). We aim to describe the burden, timing, and factors associated with readmissions after complex cancer surgery. Methods: The Nationwide Readmissions Database (2013) was used to select patients undergoing a complex oncologic resection, which was defined as esophagectomy/gastrectomy, hepatectomy, pancreatectomy, colorectal resection, lung resection, or cystectomy. Readmissions within 30 days from discharge were analyzed. International Classification of Diseases (9th revision) primary diagnosis codes were reviewed to identify PPRs. Multivariable logistic regression analyses identified demographic, clinical, and hospital factors associated with readmissions. Results: Of the 59,493 eligible patients, 14% experienced a 30-day readmission, and 82% of these were deemed PPRs. Half of the readmissions occurred within the first 8 days of discharge. Infections (26%), GI complications (17%), and respiratory conditions (10%) accounted for most readmissions. Factors independently associated with an increased likelihood of readmission included Medicaid versus private insurance (odds ratio [OR], 1.32; 95% CI, 1.17 to 1.48), higher comorbidity score (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.33 to 1.63), discharge to a facility (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.29 to 1.51), prolonged length of stay (OR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.32 to 1.52), and occurrence of a major in-hospital complication (OR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.16 to 1.34). Conclusion: One in seven patients undergoing complex cancer surgery suffered a readmission within 30 days. We identified common causes of these and identified patients at high risk for such an event. These data can be used by physicians, administrators, and policymakers to develop strategies to decrease readmissions.

Introduction. Optimization of outcomes of extra-abdominal STS is not clearly understood. We sought to determine whether hospital surgical volume and adherence to NCCN guidelines, or both, are associated with outcomes in the treatment of extra-abdominal soft tissue sarcoma (STS).Methods. The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was queried for patients undergoing surgery for extra-abdominal STS diagnosed from 2003 to 2007. Mean annual hospital volume for STS surgery was divided into volume terciles (1T ≤3, 2T 4–10, and 3T ≥11 cases/year). Adherence to NCCN guidelines was determined. Primary outcome was overall survival.Results. Our study population consisted of 13,684 patients with a median age of 56 years. 3T hospitals were more likely to adhere to NCCN guidelines for stage III patients (63% versus 47%;p≤0.001) than 1T hospitals. On multivariable analysis, adherence to NCCN guidelines was associated with improved survival (HR = 0.79, CI 0.73–0.87;p<0.001), but hospital volume was not (3T versus 1T: HR = 0.92, CI 0.82–1.02;p=0.12). Five-year overall survival was comparable for compliant groups at 1T, 2T, and 3T hospitals (72%, 72.4%, and 72.6%, resp.). 3T hospitals were not associated with a lower risk of 30-day mortality (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.44–1.11) compared to 1T hospitals but did have a higher R0 resection rate (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.32–1.54).Conclusions. Adherence to NCCN guidelines, irrespective of hospital volume, is associated with improved overall survival for patients with extra-abdominal STS. High-volume hospitals more often adhere to guidelines, but low-volume hospitals that follow national guidelines may achieve comparable outcomes.

Background and ObjectivesSurgical resection of retroperitoneal sarcomas (RPS) often involves removal of the ipsilateral kidney. We evaluated the long‐term post‐operative renal function in patients who underwent a nephrectomy as part of their en‐bloc resection of RPS.MethodsRetrospective review of an institutional database identified RPS patients who underwent nephrectomy for curative intent from 1990 to 2014. The primary outcome measured was chronic kidney disease (CKD) calculated by the glomerular filtration rate (GFR).ResultsOf the 47 patients in our study, 19 (40%), 18 (38%), and 10 (21%) patients had a preoperative CKD stage 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The GFR decreased by an average of 33.4 mL/min/1.73 m2 with 66% of patients demonstrating mild progression of their renal impairment. Only three (6%) patients progressed to CKD stage 4 or 5, one of which required life‐long dialysis.ConclusionNephrectomy as part of an en‐bloc resection is associated with a decrease in GFR that is not clinically significant. Fear of kidney failure should not prevent a surgeon from performing a nephrectomy in the treatment of RPS.