Validity of intraoperative pathological diagnosis of paratracheal lymph node as a strategy for selection of patients for cervical lymph node dissection during esophagectomy

The aim of this paper is to examine whether intraoperative examination of paratracheal nodes can indicate cervical node dissection and whether this approach is valid. From 1988 to 1997, 76 patients with thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma received esophagectomies with and without cervical lymph node (LN) dissection based on the results of intraoperative pathological diagnosis from selective checking of paratracheal LN. We retrospectively examined the outcomes for the patients and the micro metastasis in the dissected lymph node using cytokeratin staining. Three of the seven patients with cervical LN dissection were detected as having cervical LN metastasis by postoperative hematoxylin-eosin or cytokeratin staining. Five (7%) of the 69 patients without cervical LN dissection had cervical LN recurrence after the operation. Four of the seven patients who were diagnosed as having metastasis or micro metastasis in paratracheal LN by postoperative examination had cervical LN recurrence after the operation. In conclusion, the esophagectomy with and without cervical LN dissection for thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma based on the results of intraoperative pathological diagnosis from selective checking of paratracheal LN was not fully acceptable. The reliability of intraoperative pathological diagnosis of selective checking may improve by increasing the number of checked LN and the detection of micro metastasis.     

Evaluation of subcarinal lymph node dissection and metastasis in transmediastinal radical esophagectomy

Background

The aim of the present study was to evaluate subcarinal lymph node dissection in transmediastinal radical esophagectomy and subcarinal lymph node metastasis in patients with esophageal cancer.

Methods

Three hundred and twenty-three patients with primary esophageal cancer who underwent transmediastinal or transthoracic esophagectomy with radical two- or three-field lymph node dissection were retrospectively investigated. The clinicopathological characteristics of patients with subcarinal lymph node metastasis were analyzed in detail.

Results

The median of dissected subcarinal lymph nodes in transmediastinal and transthoracic esophagectomy groups was 6 and 7, respectively, and there was no significant difference between the two groups (p?=?0.12). Of all patients, 26 (8.0%) were pathologically diagnosed as positive for subcarinal lymph node metastasis, whereas only 7 (26.9%) of those with metastasis were preoperatively diagnosed as positive. In addition, all patients with subcarinal lymph node metastasis had other non-subcarinal lymph node metastasis. By univariate analysis, subcarinal lymph node metastasis was found in larger (≥?30 mm) and deeper (T3/T4a) primary lesions (p?=?0.02 and 0.02, respectively), but it was not found in 49 patients with the primary lesion located in the upper thoracic esophagus.

Conclusions

Subcarinal lymph nodes can be dissected in transmediastinal esophagectomy, almost equivalent to transthoracic esophagectomy. The tumor size, depth, and location may be predictive factors for subcarinal lymph node metastasis.

     

The pattern of lymphatic metastases in superficial squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Lymphatic spread patterns in relation to the location of primary tumors of the superficial thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma have not been well established. We therefore analyzed patterns of lymph node metastasis in these patients. METHODOLOGY: We reviewed medical records of 65 patients who underwent systematic three-field dissection for superficial squamous carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus from 1993 through 2000. RESULTS: Lymph node involvement was found in 0% (0/13) and 44% (23/52) of patients whose tumor invaded the muscularis mucosa and submucosal layer, respectively. The 5-year survival rate was 77% in the node-negative group and 59% in the node-positive group (P<0.05). None of the patients with upper thoracic esophageal cancer had metastasis to the mediastinal and abdominal nodes. Patients with lower thoracic esophageal tumors (Lt) had no metastasis to the cervical nodes. Patients with middle thoracic esophageal tumors (Mt) and Lt patients rarely had metastasis (2-5%) in the lower mediasinal nodes (Nos. 108-112). No patient with superficial thoracic esophageal cancer had metastasis to the subcarinal nodes in this study. CONCLUSIONS: In our series, no patient with intramucosal carcinoma had lymphatic metastases. Some patients with submucosal cancers metastasized beyond regional lymph nodes. However, this study suggests that subcarinal nodes might not need to be sampled or dissected in patients with superficial carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus. In Mt and Lt patients, metastases to the mediastinal nodes were infrequent (2-7%). Mediastinal nodes other than #107 can easily be sampled through cervical and abdominal incisions. Therefore, combined with lymph node sampling in cervical, mediasinal and abdominal stations through cervical and abdominal incisions, esophagectomy without thoracotomy might be acceptable in Mt and Lt patients with superficial squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus.     

Salvage surgery after definitive chemoradiotherapy for esophageal cancer

Background Definitive chemoradiotherapy has been performed as a first-line treatment for esophageal cancer, whereas salvage surgery might be the only reliable treatment for patients with recurrence after definitive chemoradiotherapy.Methods We reviewed 38 patients with squamous cell carcinoma who underwent esophagectomy and 6 patients who underwent lymphadenectomy after definitive chemoradiotherapy (≥50 Gy).Results The median survival time and 5-year survival rate after salvage esophagectomy were 16 months and 27%, respectively. Three of the 7 patients who had cervical esophageal cancer underwent cervical esophagectomy with laryngeal preservation. Two patients (5.2%) who underwent salvage esophagectomy with three-field lymphadenectomy before 1997 died of postoperative complications, but no patient died of complications thereafter. Although the overall survival after salvage esophagectomy was correlated with residual tumor (R) (P = 0.0097), the median survival time of 7 patients with residual tumors (R₂) was 7 months. Overall postoperative survival was closely correlated with the response to chemoradiotherapy (P < 0.0001) but was not associated with histologic effects on resected specimens. Survival was significantly correlated with the depth of viable tumor invasion (pT) (P = 0.0013) and with lymph node metastasis (pN) (P < 0.0001). Long-term survival was achieved in 5 of the 6 patients who underwent salvage lymphadenectomy.Conclusions Salvage surgery should be considered for patients with recurrence after definitive chemoradiotherapy. Salvage lymphadenectomy may be useful for recurrence confined to the lymph nodes whereas postoperative complications of salvage esophagectomy should be warranted.     

Indication and Benefit of Pelvic Sidewall Dissection for Rectal Cancer

Purpose This study was designed to clarify indication and benefit of pelvic sidewall dissection for rectal cancer. Methods The retrospective, multicenter study collected the data of rectal cancer patients who underwent surgery between 1991 and 1998 and were prospectively followed. Results Of 1,977 patients with rectal cancers, 930 underwent pelvic sidewall dissection without adjuvant radiotherapy. Positive lateral lymph nodes were found in 129. Multivariate analysis disclosed a significantly increased incidence of positive lateral lymph nodes in female gender, lower rectal cancers, non-well-differentiated adenocarcinoma, tumor size of ≥4 cm and T3-T4. The five-year survival rate for 1,977 patients was 79.7 percent. The survival of patients with positive lateral lymph nodes was significantly worse than that of Stage III patients with negative lateral lymph nodes (45.8 vs. 71.2 percent, P<0.0001). Multivariate analysis showed significantly worse prognosis in male gender, pelvic sidewall dissection, lower rectal cancers, T3-T4, perirectal lymph node metastasis, and positive lateral lymph nodes. During the median follow-up time of 57 months, recurrence developed in 19.7 percent: 17 percent in negative and 58.1 percent in positive lateral lymph nodes (P<0.0001). Local recurrence was found in 8 percent: 6.8 percent in negative and 25.6 percent in positive lateral lymph nodes (P<0.0001). Multivariate analysis disclosed that lower rectal cancers, non-well-differentiated adenocarcinoma, T3-T4, perirectal lymph node metastasis, and positive lateral lymph nodes were significantly associated with an increased local recurrence. Conclusions Positive lateral lymph node was the strongest predictor in both survival and local recurrence. Pelvic sidewall dissection may be indicated for patients with T3-T4 lower rectal cancers because of the greater provability of positive lateral lymph nodes. Study Group for Rectal Cancer Surgery of the Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum. Presented at the United States-Japan Clinical Trial Summit Meeting, Maui, Hawaii, February 10–13, 2005.     

Long-term survival after resection of paraaortic lymph node metastasis that developed 6 years after the esophagectomy

A 62-year-old man underwent subtotal esophagectomy with an extended three-field lymph node dissection for squamous cell carcinoma of the lower thoracic esophagus (histological stage pT3N1M0, pStage III). Computed tomography showed a swollen paraaortic lymph node about 6 years later. Positron emission tomography also indicated lymph node metastasis. The patient was treated with surgery, and the lymph node was diagnosed to be metastasis of esophageal cancer. Surgery was followed by chemotherapy with nedaplatin and 5-fluorouracil. The patient has remained alive more than 5 years after surgery without any evidence of recurrence. Although the optimal treatment for the recurrence region of esophageal cancer remains controversial, the current case suggests the possibility of performing a salvage resection for a lymph node recurrence of esophageal cancer in selected patients.     

Can common hepatic artery lymph node dissection be safely omitted in surgery for clinical T1N0 thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma?

Common hepatic artery lymph node dissection is regarded as a standard procedure in esophageal cancer surgery because of aggressive lymphatic dissemination of esophageal cancer. However, lymph node dissection can prolong operation time and may be associated with complications such as chylous ascites. Here, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of common hepatic artery lymph node dissection in clinical T1N0 thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Between 1996 and 2009, 1390 patients underwent surgery for esophageal cancer in our institution, and 209 were found to have clinical T1N0 disease. Exclusion criteria were nonsquamous carcinoma, double primary cancer, definite distant metastasis, administration of neoadjuvant treatment, and incomplete abdominal lymph node dissection. We retrospectively analyzed medical records, operative and pathologic data, and follow‐up information. Forty‐two patients were excluded from the study. Among the 167 enrolled patients, preoperative endoscopic ultrasound evaluation was performed in 160 patients. Fifty‐two patients had distal esophageal or esophagogastric junction tumor. Surgery included 2 cases of tri‐incisional esophagectomy, 17 cases of transhiatal esophagectomy, and 148 cases of two‐field esophagectomy (Ivor Lewis operation). Common hepatic artery lymph node dissection was performed in all cases, and none of the patients had metastasis. Mean follow‐up period was 35.4 ± 28.7 months. In‐hospital mortality was one, and 5‐year survival rate was 80.6%. Among the 15 patients with recurrence, there were two distant metastases and five distant and local recurrences but no intra‐abdominal recurrence with common hepatic artery lymph node. Common hepatic artery lymph node dissection may be safely omitted in surgery for clinical T1N0 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma when preoperative evaluations including chest computed tomography, positron emission tomography and computed tomography, and esophagogastroduodenoscopy or endoscopic ultrasound are performed.     

Two-step three-field lymph node dissection is beneficial for thoracic esophageal carcinoma

Aggressive surgery including extensive lymph node dissection is considered necessary to improve the long-term survival of patients with esophageal carcinoma. While three-field lymph node dissection is widely performed for patients with thoracic esophageal carcinoma, cervical lymph node metastasis is uncommon. In order to reduce surgical stress, we have developed a two-step three-field lymph node dissection procedure for thoracic esophageal carcinoma. In the first-step operation, total thoracic esophagectomy through a right thoracotomy is performed. Mediastinal and abdominal lymph node dissection is performed synchronously. When recurrent nerve lymph node metastasis is pathologically positive, cervical lymph node dissection is performed about 3 weeks after the first operation (second step). Of 343 patients with carcinoma of the esophagus surgically treated in our department between 1990 and 2001, 146 underwent the operation described above. Three-field dissection was performed in 68 patients (group A), while two-field dissection was performed in 78 patients (group B). In the 68 group A patients, cervical lymph node metastasis was positive in 15 patients (22%). There was no marked difference in the onset of major complications between the two groups. The 5-year survival rate was 58% for group A and 61% for group B, not a statistically significant difference. In 78 of the 146 patients, it was possible to avoid cervical lymph node dissection without negatively affecting therapeutic outcomes. Two-step three-field lymph node dissection can reduce surgical stress of patients with good clinical outcome.     

Prognostic significance of the endoscopic ultrasound defined lymph node metastasis count in esophageal cancer

The key prognostic factor which predicts outcome after esophagectomy for cancer is the number of malignant lymph node metastases, but data regarding the accuracy of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in determining and predicting the metastatic lymph node count preoperatively are limited. The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic significance of EUS defined lymph node metastasis count (eLNMC) in patients diagnosed with esophageal cancer. Two hundred and sixty‐seven consecutive patients (median age 63 years, 187 months) underwent specialist EUS followed by stage directed multidisciplinary treatment (183 esophagectomy [64 neoadjuvant chemotherapy, 19 neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy], 79 definitive chemoradiotherapy, and 5 palliative therapy). The eLNMC was subdivided into four groups (0, 1, 2 to 4, >4) and the primary measure of outcome was survival. Survival was related to EUS tumor (T) stage (P < 0.0001), EUS node (N) stage (P < 0.0001), EUS tumor length (p < 0.0001), and eLNMC (P < 0.0001). Multivariable analysis revealed EUS tumor length (hazard ratio [HR] 1.071, 95% CI 1.008–1.138, P= 0.027) and eLNMC (HR 1.302, 95% CI 1.133–1.496, P= 0.0001) to be significantly and independently associated with survival. Median and 2‐year survival for patients with 0, 1, 2–4, and >4 lymph node metastases were: 44 months and 71%, 36 months and 59%, 24 months and 50%, and 17 months and 32%, respectively. The total number of EUS defined lymph node metastases was an important and significant prognostic indicator.     

Thoracoscopic esophagectomy with extended lymph node dissection in the left lateral position: technical feasibility and oncologic outcomes

The aim of this study was to estimate the technical and oncologic feasibility of video‐assisted thoracoscopic radical esophagectomy (VATS) in the left lateral position. From January 2003 to December 2011, 132 patients with esophageal cancer underwent VATS. The mean duration of the thoracic procedure and the entire procedure was 294 ± 88 and 623 ± 123 minutes, respectively. Mean blood loss during the thoracic procedure and the entire procedure was 313 ± 577 and 657 ± 719 g, respectively. The mean number of dissected thoracic lymph nodes was 32.6 ± 12.9. There were four in‐hospital deaths (3.0%); two patients (1.5%) died of acute respiratory distress syndrome and two patients (1.5%) died of tumor progression. Postoperative unilateral or bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy, or pneumonia was found in 33 (25.0%), 21 (15.9%), and 27(20.5%) patients, respectively. The patients were divided into the first 66 patients who underwent VATS (Group 1) and the subsequent 66 patients (Group 2). The numbers of cases who underwent neoadjuvant or induction chemotherapy for T4 tumor and intrathoracic anastomosis were higher in Group 2 than in Group 1. The duration of the procedure, amount of blood loss, and the number of dissected thoracic lymph nodes were not different between the two groups. The total number of dissected lymph nodes was higher in Group 2 than in Group 1 (72.6 ± 27.8 vs. 62.6 ± 21.6, P = 0.023). The rate of bilateral RLN palsy was less in Group 2 than in Group 1 (7.6% vs. 24.2%, P = 0.042). The mean follow‐up period was 38.7 months. Primary recurrence consisted of hematogenous, lymphatic, peritoneal dissemination, pleural dissemination, and locoregional in 15 (11.3%), 20 (15.1%), 3 (2.3%), 4 (3.0%), and 5 patients (3.8%), respectively. The rate of regional lymph node recurrence within the dissection field was only 4.5%. The prognosis of patients with lymph node metastasis was significantly poorer than that of patients without lymph node metastasis. However, the prognosis of the 11 cases that had metastasis only around RLNs was similar to that of node‐negative cases. Thirteen patients with pathological remnant tumor (R1 or R2) did not survive longer than 5 years at present. The overall 5‐year survival rate of stage I, II, and III disease after curative VATS was 82.2%, 77.0%, and 52.3%, respectively. Expansion of VATS criteria for patients after induction chemotherapy for T4 tumor or thoracoscopic anastomosis did not adversely affect the surgical results by experience. Although the VATS procedure is accompanied by a certain degree of morbidity including RLN palsy and pulmonary complications, VATS has an excellent locoregional control effect. In addition, the favorable survival after VATS shows that the procedure is oncologically feasible.     

Surgical treatment for locally advanced (T4) squamous cell carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus

It is still difficult to decide on the treatment modalities for advanced esophageal carcinoma when the prognostic factors of T4 esophageal cancer are not fully understood. In this article, we report that among 71 patients with T4 thoracic esophageal cancer, 49 underwent esophagectomy, 9 had curative resection (R0 group), and 40 had palliative resection (R1/2 group). A total of 22 patients had palliative treatments: bypass in 5 (bypass group), gastrostomy or jejunostomy in 6 (stoma group), and radiochemotherapy alone in 11 (nonoperation group). Clinicopathologic characteristics were retrospectively investigated. Treatment-related deaths occurred in 7 (10%): none in R0, 3 (8%) in R1/2, 3 (60%) in bypass, and 1 (17%) in stoma group. Swallowing was improved in 50 (70%) patients: 9 (100%) in R0, 30 (75%) in R1/2, 1 (20%) in bypass, 3 (50%) in stoma, and 7 (64%) in the nonoperation group. One-, two-, and three-year overall survival rates were 56%, 22%, and 22% in the R0 group and 35%, 19% and 6% in the R1/2 group, respectively (p = 0.19). In the bypass, stoma, and nonoperation groups, none survived 1.6 years. The factors influencing the survival rate of the 49 patients undergoing esophagectomy were grade of lymph node metastasis, amount of perioperative blood transfusion, lymph vessel, and blood vessel invasion. Among these, independent prognostic factors for survival were amount of blood transfusion (≤6 units vs. ≥7 units, p < 0.0001) and grade of lymph node metastasis {none- or peritumoral [lymph nodes adjacent to the main tumor or at a nearby location (<3 cm) from the tumor] metastasis vs. more distant metastasis [lymph nodes at a distant location (> 3 cm)], p = 0.016}. Bypass and stoma operation neither prolonged the survival nor improved the difficulty of swallowing compared with radiochemotherapy alone. Esophagectomy can achieve the best improvement of swallowing and the longest survival with an acceptable mortality rate. Esophageal carcinoma patients with T4 disease and distinct metastasis in the lymph nodes at a distant location (>3 cm) from the primary tumor may not benefit from an esophageal resection.     

Esophageal cancer with distant lymph node metastasis: prognostic significance of metastatic lymph node ratio

The cervical and celiac lymph node metastases are defined as distant metastasis (Mlym) from thoracic esophageal carcinoma by TNM (primary tumor, regional lymph nodes, and distant metastasis) classification. The prognostic factors, however, of such distant node metastases are not fully understood. Of 85 patients with node-positive thoracic esophageal carcinoma who were treated with the same modalities of treatment, 31 (37%) had Mlym. Prognostic factors for long-term survival were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analyzes. Three patients are alive and free of cancer, and two patients survived over 5 years. Fifteen patients died of recurrent esophageal cancer and 11 patients succumbed to causes unrelated to esophageal cancer. Two patients with a single Mlym died without recurrence of esophageal cancer at 1.4 years and after more than 5 years, respectively. The 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates of all 31 patients were 64.5%, 24.8%, 17.0%, and 12.8%, respectively. The factors influencing survival rate were depth of invasion (pT1,2 vs. pT3,4) and metastatic lymph node ratio (< or =0.104 vs. > or =0.105). The survival rates were not influenced by number of lymph node metastasis, number of Mlym, or by metastatic lymph node ratio of Mlym. Among those two significant variables verified by univariate analysis, independent prognostic factor for survival determined by multivariate analysis was the metastatic lymph node ratio (risk ratio = 3.4, p = 0.0345). The results of this study indicate that a significant number of patients can be cured of esophageal carcinoma by extensive resection along with extended lymph node dissection even when the disease metastasizes to distant nodes.     

Lymph node metastasis along the recurrent nerve chain is an indication for cervical lymph node dissection in thoracic esophageal cancer

This study examined whether recurrent nerve chain node metastasis serves as an indicative factor for cervical lymph node dissection in thoracic esophageal cancer. The association of recurrent nerve chain lymph node metastasis and cervical node metastasis was analyzed for 91 patients with thoracic esophageal cancer who had undergone three-field lymph node dissection. In patients with upper thoracic esophageal cancer, the incidence of cervical lymph node metastasis was similar regardless of recurrent nerve chain node metastasis. On the other hand, in patients with middle or lower esophageal cancer, the incidence was significantly higher in recurrent nerve-positive (16/31, 51.6%) than in recurrent nerve-negative (5/43, 11.6%) patients. The prognosis of patients with recurrent nerve chain node metastasis was significantly better in the three-field dissection group than in the two-field dissection group, while in patients with no recurrent nerve chain node metastasis, survival was similar between the two groups. In conclusion, cervical lymphadenectomy can be omitted for recurrent nerve chain node-negative patients with middle and lower thoracic esophageal cancer.     

食管癌淋巴结转移的危险因素分析

目的探讨食管癌淋巴结转移的危险因素。 方法回顾性分析2015年7月至2017年9月,新疆自治区人民医院胸外科行手术治疗食管癌的224例患者的病例资料,比较淋巴结转移组(转移组)与非淋巴结转移组(非转移组)的关系,并进行多因素Logistic回归进行分析,探讨淋巴结转移的危险因素。 结果患者症状期较长、肿瘤长度、分化程度、肿瘤分期T与淋巴结转移有显著相关性(P<0.05)。 结论肿瘤低分化、肿瘤长度>5 cm、肿瘤侵润深度T₃～T₄、患者症状期>6个月是淋巴结转移的危险因素,应尽可能选择经右胸入路胸腹腔镜辅助下食管癌根治术,并清扫双侧喉返神经淋巴结。     

Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by esophagectomy for initially resectable squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus with multiple lymph node metastasis

Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) was expected to improve surgical curability and prognosis for advanced esophageal cancer. However, the clinical efficacy of neoadjuvant CRT followed by esophagectomy with three-field lymphadenectomy (3FL) for initially resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) remains unclear. Since 1998, we have defined the status of metastases to five or more nodes, or nodal metastases present in all three fields as multiple lymph node metastasis, which was previously shown to be associated with poor prognosis. Between 1998 and 2002, 83 patients with initially resectable esophageal SCC were prospectively allocated into two groups, according to the clinical status of nodal metastasis. Nineteen patients clinically accompanied by multiple lymph node metastasis initially underwent neoadjuvant CRT followed by curative esophagectomy with 3FL (CRT group). The other 64 patients clinically without multiple lymph node metastasis immediately received curative esophagectomy with 3FL (control group). Although the overall morbidity rate was significantly higher in the CRT group, no in-hospital death occurred in either group. Patients without pathologic multiple lymph node metastasis in the CRT group showed a significantly better disease-free survival rate than either patients pathologically with multiple lymph node metastasis in the control group or those in the CRT group. However, the differences in the overall survival rate among the groups were not significant. Thus, the significant survival benefit by neoadjuvant CRT in addition to esophagectomy with 3FL was not confirmed, although it may have been advantageous, without increase in mortality, to at least some patients who responded well to neoadjuvant CRT. Therefore, neoadjuvant CRT can be an initial treatment of choice for resectable esophageal SCC clinically with multiple lymph node metastasis. The prediction of response to CRT and the development of alternative treatment for hematogenous recurrence could achieve a further survival benefit of this trimodality treatment.     

Influence of Metastatic Status and Number of Removed Lymph Nodes on Survival of Patients With Squamous Esophageal Carcinoma

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of lymph node (LN) metastasis conditions on the prognosis of patients with esophageal squamous carcinoma and the minimum number of LNs that should be removed to maximize overall postoperative survival among patients with this specific pathologic subtype.In this study, 312 patients with thoracic squamous esophageal carcinoma who received in-patient thoracic surgery by the same surgeon in our hospital from August 1, 2003 to December 31, 2009 were recruited. Subsequently, Kaplan-Meier methods were used to determine associations between LN metastasis conditions and mortality and between the numbers of LNs removed during esophagectomy and mortality. Cox regression models were used to adjust for potential confounding covariates.According to Kaplan-Meier analyses, the number of metastatic LNs was a good predictor for the prognosis of patients with esophageal squamous carcinoma and the dissection of ≥29 LNs during thoracic surgery significantly improved patient survival (P = 0.011).Lymph node metastasis rates may be a significant predictor for the prognosis of patients with esophageal squamous carcinoma. The number of LNs removed during esophagectomy is an independent predictor for the survival of patients with esophageal squamous carcinoma with maximal postoperative survival after the removal of ≥29 LNs.     

Selective three-field lymphadenectomy for thoracic esophageal squamous carcinoma

The purpose of this study was to examine metastasis in different nodal stations and the extent of lymphadenectomy for esophageal carcinoma. Eighty-seven thoracic esophageal squamous carcinoma patients underwent esophagectomy with two-field or three-field lymphadenectomy based on cervical ultrasonography. Thirty-five patients (40.2%) with ultrasonography-detected cervical nodes underwent cervical dissection. Significantly more patients with primary tumors in the upper thoracic esophagus had cervical dissection than patients with tumors in the middle and lower esophagus (66.7%vs. 30.2%, P=0.002). Metastasis to cervical, superior mediastinal, mid-mediastinal, and abdominal nodes were 19.5%, 25.3%, 23%, and 24.1%, respectively. Cervical metastasis was 29.2%, 20.8%, and 10% for upper, middle, and lower thoracic esophageal tumors. Regional lymphadenopathy was found in 48 patients (55.2%) and was significantly related to cervical metastasis (31.3%vs. 5.1%, P=0.002). It was significantly less in upper (37.5%) than in middle (62.3%) and lower (60%) thoracic esophageal tumors (P=0.041). When cervical metastasis was included into regional lymphadenopathy, the difference was no longer significant (45.8%vs. 63.5%, P=0.135). Cervical dissection was associated with significantly more morbidities (60%vs. 34.6%, P=0.020), especially recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy (22.9%vs. 9.6%, P=0.089). Recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy was related significantly to anastomotic leakage (53.8%vs. 13.5%, P=0.001). There was no significant difference between the 2-year survivals for patients with or without cervical metastasis (50.0 vs. 72.0%, P=0.094). We conclude that cervical metastasis is of a similar rate as metastasis to mediastinal or abdominal nodes. Cervical nodes should be taken as regional lymph nodes for thoracic esophageal cancer. Cervical dissection is associated with increased morbidity and should be reserved for patients who may benefit from the procedure. Selective three-field dissection based on ultrasonography is helpful in reducing surgical morbidity while increasing the completeness of resection.     

The effect of azygos vein preservation on mediastinal lymph node harvesting in thoracic esophagolymphadenectomy

SUMMARY.  The standard surgical procedure for esophageal cancer is transthoracic esophagectomy with en bloc resection of the azygos vein, thoracic duct and mediastinal lymph nodes. To reduce morbidity of esophago-lymphadenectomy, minimally invasive techniques are increasingly being applied. In (robot-assisted) thoracoscopic esophagolymphadenectomy, the azygos vein is generally left in place, as the scopic ligation of the numerous intercostal veins is technically difficult and time-consuming. This could affect the extent of mediastinal lymph node dissection. Therefore, in this study, the effect of azygos vein preservation during thoracic esophagectomy on mediastinal lymph node harvesting was assessed. In 15 human cadavers, a right-sided thoracotomy was performed, followed by esophagectomy with mediastinal lymph node dissection after ligation of the azygos arch (representing the situation in robot-assisted thoracoscopic esophagolymphadenectomy). Subsequently, the remaining azygos vein with surrounding tissue was resected. The number of lymph nodes in both specimens was determined. A mean of 17.3 (95% Poisson CI 15.3–19.6) lymph nodes was dissected en bloc with the esophagus, and 0.67 (95% Poisson CI 0.32–1.23) around the separately resected azygos vein. The additional azygos vein resection did not add to the number of lymph nodes dissected in 60% (9/15) of cadavers. In conclusion, the extent of mediastinal lymph node dissection was not substantially affected by leaving the azygos vein in situ . Time-sparing azygos vein preservation in (robot-assisted) thoracoscopic esophagolymphadenectomy may therefore be considered justified.     

Endosonographic detection of mediastinal lymph node metastasis in superficial carcinoma of the esophagus: assessment by type classification and histogram

Background Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) has been shown to be useful for detecting lymph node metastasis in esophageal cancer. The evaluation of nodal metastasis requires both objective and subjective analyses. In the present study, mediastinal lymph nodes in superficial esophageal carcinoma (SEC) were examined by both EUS appearance and histography, using NIH image software.Methods One hundred and seventy-one lymph nodes of 56 patients with SEC were detected by EUS. These lymph nodes were diagnosed by type classification, based on boundary and internal echo, and by the construction of internal echo histograms using NIH image software. The results were compared with the histological findings.Results The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy in assessing mediastinal lymph node metastasis by type classification were 83.3%, 88.2%, and 87.7%, respectively. The mean and SD of the histogram correlated well with histological findings and type classification (P < 0.0001). All lymph nodes with a mean value of less than 185 of the histogram were negative nodes. When positive nodes by type classification were reevaluated according to the threshold value of 185 using the histogram, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy improved to 83.3%, 100%, and 98.2%, respectively.Conclusions Type classification assisted by histography improved the diagnostic accuracy of mediastinal lymph node metastasis in SEC.