Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42436447›Full record

Observational studyBMC cancer2026

Malignancy in mirror image anatomy reveals situs inversus totalis as an anatomic modifier of oncologic care.

Zhongan Liu, Ganxin Wang, Kai Huang, Yan Wang, Tian Zhou, Jing Chen, Yunqing Xu, Quan Tang, Boting Yang, Jiaqin Chen and 3 more

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in BMC cancer, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Zhongan Liu *Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Ganxin Wang *Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Kai Huang *Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Yan WangDepartment of Oncology, Liyuan Hospital, Tongji Medical School, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Tian ZhouDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Jing ChenDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Yunqing XuDepartment of Oncology, People's Hospital of Huangpi District, Jianghan University, Wuhan, China.
Quan TangDepartment of Oncology, Hubei Aerospace Hospital, Xiaogan, China.
Boting YangDepartment of Biophysics, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine (CIPMM), School of Medicine, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany.
Jiaqin ChenDepartment of Biophysics, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine (CIPMM), School of Medicine, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany.
Xiangqian YinDepartment of Oncology, People's Hospital of Huangpi District, Jianghan University, Wuhan, China.
Sijia ZhangCancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China. sijia.zhang.vip@gmail.com.
Guangqin XiaoCancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China. xiao_guang_qin@163.com.

Funding

China Postdoctoral Science Foundation Nos. 2018M632875, 2019T120671China Scholarship Council No. 202306160006National Natural Science Foundation of China Nos. 81402197, 81600482, 82570789Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province Nos. 2019CFB501, 2020CFB600, 2024AFB663
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSitus inversus totalis (SIT) is a rare congenital laterality anomaly characterized by complete mirror-image transposition of the thoracic and abdominal viscera. Although SIT is not a proven cancer-predisposition syndrome, cancer in this setting challenges the spatial assumptions that guide diagnosis, staging, surgery, radiotherapy, and surveillance.

methodsWe conducted a retrospective, single-center observational study of patients with radiologically confirmed SIT treated at our cancer center between July 2017 and December 2025. Patients with histologically confirmed malignancy were included. Clinical, pathological, imaging, treatment, and follow-up data were extracted from medical records. Overall survival (OS) was summarized descriptively; Kaplan-Meier analysis was used only to visualize survival and censoring patterns.

resultsAmong 11 patients with SIT, 6 had histologically confirmed malignancies. Median age was 66.5 years (range, 47-76), and median follow-up was 47.5 months (range, 30-55). Tumors included hepatocellular carcinoma, lung squamous cell carcinoma, lung adenocarcinoma, cervical adenocarcinoma, poorly differentiated abdominal adenocarcinoma, and follicular lymphoma transformed to high-grade B-cell lymphoma. Treatment included surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, transarterial chemoembolization, and autologous stem cell transplantation. 4 patients died, and 2 were alive at last contact. Pooled median OS was 50 months and was interpreted only descriptively. Across cases, outcomes reflected tumor type, stage, and molecular features, whereas SIT mainly affected lesion localization, laterality recognition, nodal or vascular mapping, operative orientation, and treatment planning.

conclusionsMalignancy in SIT is best understood as cancer within a reversed anatomical coordinate system. Standard oncologic care remains feasible but requires explicit anatomical verification and multidisciplinary planning.

Indexed as

NeoplasmsSitus InversusAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedNeoplasm StagingRetrospective StudiesMalignancyMirror-image anatomyOncologyPrognosisSitus inversus totalis

Identifiers

PMID42436447
PMCPMC13640205

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