Pattern of lymph node metastases in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus who underwent three-field lymphadenectomy

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Lymph nodes in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus might be involved with metastases at cervical, mediastinal, and abdominal sites. The range of lymph node dissection is still controversial. The pattern of lymph node metastasis and factors that are correlated with lymph node metastasis affect the surgical procedure of lymph node dissection. The purpose of the present study was to explore the pattern of lymph node metastasis and factors that are correlated with lymph node metastasis in patients with esophageal cancer who underwent three-field lymphadenectomy. METHODS: Lymph node metastases in 230 patients who underwent radical esophagectomy with three-field lymphadenectomy were analyzed. The metastatic sites of lymph nodes were correlated with tumor location by chi-square test. Logistic regression was used to analyze clinicopathological factors related to lymph node metastasis. RESULTS: Lymph node metastases were found in 133 of the 230 patients (57.8%). The average number of resected lymph nodes was 25.3 +/- 11.4 (range 11-71). The proportions of lymph node metastases were 41.6, 19.44, and 8.3% in neck, thoracic mediastinum, and abdominal cavity, respectively, for patients with upper thoracic esophageal carcinomas, 33.3, 34.7, and 14%, respectively, in those with middle thoracic esophageal carcinomas, and 36.4, 34.1, and 43.2%, respectively, for patients with lower thoracic esophageal carcinomas. We did not observe any significant difference in lymph node metastatic rates among upper, middle, and lower thoracic carcinomas for cervical or thoracic nodes. The difference in lymph node metastatic rates for nodes in the abdominal cavity was significant among upper, middle, and lower thoracic carcinomas. The lower thoracic esophageal cancers were more likely to metastasize to the abdominal cavity than tumors at other thoracic sites. A logistic regression model showed that depth of tumor invasion and lymphatic vessel invasion were factors influencing lymph node metastases. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our data, cervical and mediastinal node dissection should be performed independent of the tumor location. Abdominal node dissection should be conducted more vigorously for lower thoracic esophageal cancers than for cancers at other locations. Patients with deeper tumor invasion or lymphatic vessel invasion were more likely to develop lymph node metastases.     

Significance of immunohistochemically demonstrated micrometastases to lymph nodes in esophageal cancer with histologically negative nodes

BACKGROUND: We examined the prevalence, patterns, and clinical significance of nodal micrometastases in patients with esophageal cancer. METHODS: Cervical, mediastinal, and abdominal lymph nodes systematically removed from 37 patients without conventional histologic evidence of lymph node metastasis from esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were immunohistochemically examined to detect cells that were stained for cytokeratins by the monoclonal antibody cocktail AE1/AE3. Postoperative care and survival were compared in cases with and without such micrometastases. RESULTS: Nodal micrometastases were found in 14 of 37 patients (38%). Among these patients, 9, 7, and 4 had micrometastases to abdominal, mediastinal, and cervical lymph nodes, respectively. Postoperative tumor recurrence was significantly more frequent in patients with micrometastases (50%) than in those without (9%, P = .008). Overall and relapse-free survival in the former group was significantly worse than in the latter group (P = .042 and P = .002, respectively). Nodal micrometastases had an independent prognostic importance for relapse-free survival as determined by multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Metastatic tumor cells are frequently present in lymph nodes, even in patients without histologic evidence of nodal metastasis from esophageal cancer. Nodal micrometastases indicates a poorer prognosis after a curative esophagectomy procedure in histologically node-negative cases.     

Clinicopathologic Features of Superficial Esophageal Cancer: Results of Consecutive 100 Patients

BACKGROUND: The depth of tumor penetration is a crucial factor in determining the prognosis of patients with esophageal carcinoma. Patients with superficial esophageal carcinoma (SEC) have a far more favorable clinical course compared with those with advanced cancers. The outcome for patients with mucosal cancer is excellent with a 5-year survival rate exceeding 80%. On the other hand, submucosal cancer often metastasizes to regional and/or distant lymph nodes or other organs, and the prognosis of these patients are far from satisfactory. METHODS: Among 334 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent surgery between December 1980 and December 2006, 100 patients (30%) had SEC confined to the epithelium, lamina propria mucosa, or submucosa. Patient and tumor characteristics of those 100 patients were studied. RESULTS: The prevalence of SEC has increased from 13% (8 of 61) in the initial 5-year period (1985-1989) to 44% (41 of 93) in the recent 7-year period (2000-2006). Subjective symptoms were present in 7 (14%) of 51 mucosal cancers and in 13 (27%) of 49 submucosal cancers. The remaining 80 patients (80%) had no subjective symptoms. Ninety-one patients (91%) were diagnosed to have the lesions by endoscopy at the time of screening for gastric problems, and only nine were detected by gastrointestinal series. Four of 51 patients with mucosal cancer had venous or lymph vessel invasion, and among those, only one (2%) had a solitary perigastric lymph node metastasis. In 49 patients with submucosal cancer, 35 (71%) had lymph vessel invasion, 28 (57%) had venous invasion, and 16 (33%) had lymph node metastases. In particular, 15 of 35 patients with positive lymph vessel invasion had lymph node metastasis, whereas only 1 of 14 with negative lymph vessel invasion had lymph node metastasis (P < .05). Among 17 patients with nodal involvement, 4 patients with upper thoracic SEC had upper mediastinum and/or cervical nodal metastases, 11 patients with middle thoracic SEC had widespread upper and lower mediastinal and abdominal metastases, and 2 patients with lower thoracic SEC had lower and abdominal lymph node metastases. Seventy-nine patients were alive without recurrence at last follow-up. Five of 49 patients with submucosal cancer died of recurrent disease, and 4 of these developed regional nodal recurrence around the bilateral laryngeal recurrent nerves. Forty-two patients (42%) developed double cancers during the follow-up period, and 5 died of a second cancer. The 3- and 5-year survival rates of all 100 patients were 85% and 73%, and those disease-specific survival rates were 96% and 93%, respectively. The 3- and 5-year survival rates for patients with mucosal cancer were 89% and 83%, and those for submucosal cancer were 80%, and 64%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Esophagectomy with extensive lymphadenectomy should be carried out particularly for upper thoracic submucosal cancer, whereas esophagectomy with moderate lymphadenectomy may be preferred for mucosal cancer. Patients with SEC should be examined for another primary cancer preoperatively and periodically during follow-up.     

Paratracheal lymph node metastasis is associated with cervical lymph node metastasis in patients with thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND: We determined which lymph node metastases were associated with cervical lymph node metastases of thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. METHODS: A total of 6464 lymph nodes derived from 155 consecutive patients with thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were stained by immunohistochemistry (antibody: AE1/AE3). Lymph node metastases were mapped according to the mapping scheme of the American Thoracic Society, as modified by Casson et al. (Ann Thorac Surg 1994;58:1569-70). Patients were divided into two groups: those with and without cervical lymph node metastasis (CLNM). Mapping data were examined by uni- and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Hematoxylin and eosin-positive and AE1/AE3-positive lymph node metastases were found in 59% and 77% of patients, respectively. Twenty-one (55%) of 38 patients in the CLNM(+) group and 30 (26%) of 117 patients in the CLNM(-) group had AE1/AE3-positive lymph node metastasis in the thoracic paratracheal lymph node. Paratracheal lymph node metastasis is only one independent factor for (CLNM), whereas upper thoracic paraesophageal lymph node and pulmonal hilar lymph node status were also significant in univariate analysis. Three (43%) of seven patients with cervical jumping metastasis from the thoracic esophagus had micrometastasis in the paratracheal lymph node. CONCLUSIONS: The paratracheal lymph node is most associated with (CLNM) of thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.     

Long-Term Survival After Salvage Resection of Recurrent Esophageal Cancer with Anterior Mediastinal Lymph Node Involvement: Report of a Case

A 55-year-old man underwent subtotal esophagectomy with extended three-field lymph node dissection for squamous cell carcinoma of the middle thoracic esophagus (histological stage pT3N4(3b)M0, pStage IVa). About 9 months later, contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed recurrence in several lymph nodes in the anterior mediastinum and the right side of the neck. We treated the recurrence by dissecting the affected nodes, followed by chemoradiotherapy. At the time of writing, 5 years later, the patient was well, without any further evidence of recurrence. Although the indications for resection of recurrent esophageal cancer are controversial and we cannot generalize about the best treatment for these patients, this case highlights the possibility of using salvage surgical resection to treat recurrent esophageal cancer with anterior mediastinal lymph node involvement in selected patients.     

Improved survival for patients with upper and/or middle mediastinal lymph node metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma of the lower thoracic esophagus treated with 3-field dissection

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcomes with 2 and 3 lymph node dissection for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the lower thoracic esophagus at a single institution. BACKGROUND: Extensive lymph node dissection, including the upper mediastinum, for carcinoma of the lower thoracic esophagus is advocated as a standard surgical procedure with curative intent in Japan. However, its efficacy remains controversial. METHODS: From January 1988 to December 1997, 532 patients with carcinomas of the thoracic esophagus underwent transthoracic esophagectomy and extensive lymph node dissection with curative intent at the National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo. Of these, 495 (93%) had squamous cell carcinomas. A total of 156 (29%) with tumors of the lower thoracic esophagus were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 156 patients, 55 (35%) underwent 2-field and 101 (65%) underwent 3-field lymph node dissection. The operative morbidity and 30-day and in-hospital mortality rates were 68.0%, 1.3%, and 2.6%, respectively. The overall 5-year survival rate for the entire series was 49.3%. One hundred and seven (69%) had lymph node metastases. Upper and/or middle mediastinal lymph node metastases occurred in 42% of the series. The 5-year survival rate for patients with lymph node metastases in the upper and/or middle mediastinum was 23.3%. Among them, the values after 2- and 3-field lymph node dissection were 5.6% and 30.0%, respectively (P = 0.005). Thirteen (27%) of 48 patients with upper and/or middle mediastinal lymph node metastases treated with 3-field dissection had simultaneous cervical lymph node metastases and their 5-year survival rate was 23.1%. CONCLUSION: The 3-field approach for extensive lymph node dissection provides better survival benefit for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the lower thoracic esophagus compared to 2-field lymph node dissection when lymph node metastases are present in the upper and/or middle mediastinum.     

Surgical outcome after the clearance of abdominal metastatic lymph nodes in 138 patients with thoracic esophageal carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Although abdominal lymph node metastasis in patients with thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) has been reported to be a risk factor to reduce long-term survival, only a few studies have so far evaluated the clinicopathologic factors among this group of patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the patients' surgical outcome after the clearance of metastatic abdominal nodes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1980 to 2002, 550 consecutive patients with thoracic esophageal SCC underwent surgery with an abdominal lymph node dissection. A total of 138 patients with abdominal lymph node metastases were curatively resected. Those patients, including 62 from 1980 to 1989 and 76 from 1990 to 2002, were retrospectively reviewed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the impact of clinicopathologic factors on the survival of these patients. RESULTS: The overall 5-year survival rate of the 138 patients with abdominal lymph node metastases was 23%. A univariate analysis revealed that the following groups showed a greater than 30% overall 5-year survival rate: patients with T1 or T2 tumors, patients without thoracic node metastases, and those with poorly differentiated type tumors. Good prognostic factors based on a multivariate analysis were the most recent time period of surgery and 4 or fewer positive nodes. CONCLUSION: Among the patients with abdominal lymph node metastases, those with T1 or T2 tumors, patients without thoracic node metastases, and patients with 4 or fewer positive nodes showed an acceptable overall survival after a curative resection.     

胸段食管癌隆突下淋巴结转移影响因素分析

目的探讨胸管食管癌隆突下淋巴结的转移规律及相关影响因素。方法回顾性分析安阳肿瘤医院2015-06—2018-05间1402例行食管癌根治术患者的病例资料(淋巴结清扫包括隆突下淋巴结)。结果胸段食管癌隆突下转移发生率为8.35%,与患者的性别、年龄、病理类型及手术方式等无关(P>0.05);与肿瘤部位、浸润深度、淋巴结转移程度、分化程度、TNM分期、脉管癌栓、神经侵犯及术前治疗方法等有关(P<0.05)。结论胸段食管癌隆突下淋巴结转移率较高,但食管胸上段癌、cT1期的食管癌患者隆突下淋巴结转移发生率较低,可行选择性清扫;胸中下段食管癌术中仍应作为淋巴结常规清扫部位。术前行放疗或同步放化疗后患者隆突下淋巴结转移发生明显降低,对局部晚期食管癌患者推荐术前放疗或同步放化疗。     

Unique distribution patterns of metastatic lymph nodes in patients with superficial carcinoma of the thoracic oesophagus.

BACKGROUND: Lymph node metastasis is commonly found in carcinoma of the thoracic oesophagus, even when the tumour invades only the submucosa. Although lymph node status greatly influences the outcome, the pattern of early lymphatic spread has not been investigated, and the role of lymph node dissection is still a matter of controversy. METHODS: A series of 110 patients with superficial carcinoma who underwent systematic extended lymph node dissection was investigated retrospectively. RESULTS: Lymph node involvement was found in 0 per cent (none of nine), 23 per cent (five of 22) and 49 per cent (38 of 78) of tumours that invaded the lamina propria, muscularis mucosa and submucosa respectively. Anatomically distant lymph nodes (recurrent nerve nodes and perigastric nodes) were involved more frequently than other intrathoracic nodes adjacent to the main tumour. Only three patients had involvement limited to the intrathoracic group, and in carcinoma that invaded only the muscularis mucosae, all metastatic nodes were located at the thoracocervical junction or in the abdomen. The 5-year survival rate was 89 per cent in the node-negative group and 54 per cent in the node-positive group (P < 0.0003). CONCLUSION: The recurrent nerve nodes and perigastric nodes are the principal proximal regional lymph nodes involved in superficial carcinoma of the thoracic oesophagus. Systematic lymph node dissection, which included these nodes, yielded an acceptable and favourable outcome in patients with node-positive superficial carcinoma.     

Clinical outcomes of extended esophagectomy with three-field lymph node dissection for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: Opinions are conflicting about 3-field lymph node dissection (3FLND) during esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. In the current study, we sought to determine the prevalence of cervical and upper thoracic lymph node metastasis in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus and to determine the impact of 3FLND on mortality, morbidity, survival, and recurrence rate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among 287 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus seen between November 1985 and December 2001, 141 (49%) underwent extended esophagectomy with 3FLND (cervical, mediastinal, and abdominal lymph node dissection). Patients were observed and clinicopathologic information collected prospectively on all patients until death or August 2002. The median follow-up was 41 months, ranging from 10 to 173 months. RESULTS: Hospital mortality and morbidity rates were 6.4% and 80%, respectively. Thirty-four of 70 node-positive patients had cervicothoracic nodal involvement. Sixteen patients (11%) had nodal involvement confined only to the cervicothoracic nodes, and no patients with lower thoracic esophageal carcinoma showed cervicothoracic involvement alone. The frequency of cervical nodal disease was correlated with nodal status within the mediastinum (P <0.01). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates for all 141 patients were 76%, 58%, and 48%, respectively. Among significant variables verified by univariate analysis, independent prognostic factors for overall survival determined by multivariate analysis were number of lymph node metastasis (P <0.01), amount of blood transfusion (P <0.05), length of operation (P <0.05), and presence of pulmonary complications (P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Extended esophagectomy with 3FLND can be performed with an acceptable mortality. Metastases frequently involved the upper thoracic and cervical lesions, and cervical nodal disease was correlated with thoracic nodal status. 3FLND proved to be an important staging system in 11% of patients. An excellent overall survival suggests a superiority of 3FLND when performed at experienced centers.     

Preoperative mapping of lymphatic drainage from the tumor using ferumoxide-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in clinical submucosal thoracic squamous cell esophageal cancer

BACKGROUND: In thoracic esophageal cancer, lymph node metastases distribute widely from the neck to the abdominal area as a result of a complex periesophageal lymphatic network. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential clinical utility of a new method of mapping lymphatic drainage from tumors using ferumoxide-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: Twenty-three patients with clinical submucosal thoracic squamous cell esophageal cancer were examined. Ferumoxides were injected endoscopically into the peritumoral submucosal layer, after which their appearance in the lymph nodes in the neck, superior mediastinum, and abdomen was evaluated using MRI. RESULTS: Flux of ferumoxides from tumors was detected in all 23 patients. Among the 20 patients with middle and lower thoracic esophageal cancers, there was no lymphatic drainage to the neck in 5 (25%) patients, none to the neck and superior mediastinum in 4 (20%), and none to the abdomen in 2 (10%), which could enable the extent of lymph node dissection to be reduced. We diagnosed clinical negative lymph node metastasis (N0) in 17 patients; the remaining 6 patients were diagnosed with clinical lymph node metastasis. Two patients (12%) diagnosed clinical N0, showed pathologic lymph node metastasis. Ferumoxide-enhanced MRI detected an influx of contrast agent into the metastatic node in both patients. CONCLUSIONS: Ferumoxide-enhanced MRI lymphatic mapping enables detection of the direction and area of lymphatic flux. It thus has the potential to improve our ability to gauge the appropriate extent of treatment in clinical submucosal squamous cell esophageal cancer.     

Long-term Results after Dissection of Positive Thoracic Lymph Nodes in Patients with Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background Although thoracic lymph node metastasis in patients with thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) has been reported to be a negative risk factor for long-term survival, only a few studies have evaluated the clinicopathologic difference between the impact of metastasis to the paraesophageal lymph nodes and to the nonparaesophageal lymph nodes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate surgical outcome after the clearance of metastatic thoracic lymph nodes. Methods Retrospectively reviewed were 164 consecutive patients with thoracic esophageal SCC who had not had preoperative treatment and underwent surgery from 1980 to 2005 and were found to have thoracic lymph node metastases. Of these patients, 83 underwent surgery from 1980 to 1994 and 81 from 1995 to 2005. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the impact of nonparaesophageal lymph node metastasis on survival. Results Univariate analysis revealed that T3/T4 tumors and the presence of nonparaesophageal node metastases were associated with only a 20% overall five-year survival rate. The overall five-year survival for the most recent period was significantly better than for the former period (42% vs. 13%, p < 0.01). Based on a multivariate analysis of prognostic impact of each nonparaesophageal node, the presence of metastatic subcarinal and/or posterior mediastinal nodes was an independent risk factor for reduced survival. Conclusion Surgical outcome for patients with thoracic esophageal cancer and metastatic thoracic lymph nodes has improved during the last 25 years. Although postoperative chemotherapy might improve survival, the presence of T3/T4 tumors and/or metastatic nonparaesophageal nodes were unfavorable factors for survival.     

Impact of the Number and Extent of Positive Lymph Nodes in 200 Patients with Thoracic Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma after Three-field Lymph Node Dissection

Background Subtotal esophagectomy with three-field lymph node dissection (3FLD) has been reported to improve survival in patients with thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic impact of the extent and number of positive lymph nodes for long-term survival of patients who underwent 3FLD. Methods From January 1983 to December 2002, a total of 200 patients with thoracic esophageal SCC underwent 3FLD without any neoadjuvant therapy. The prognostic impact of the extent and number of positive lymph nodes was evaluated by both univariate and multivariate analysis. Results The extent of positive nodes associated with a 5-year survival were as follows: none, 69%; one-field, 50%; two-field, 29%; and three-field, 11%. The number of positive nodes associated with 5-year survival were as follows: single node, 65%; two-nodes, 51%; and more than three-nodes, 20%. Among patients with cervical lymphatic spreading, patients with upper tumors showed significantly better survival than patients with lower tumors (P = 0.036). Multivariate analysis indicated that number of positive nodes and the abdominal node status were independent prognostic factors among lymph node status. Conclusions Together, number and extent of positive lymph nodes can be considered an independent predictor of a high risk of recurrence. Although cervical lymphatic spreading was risk factor for worse survival, patients with upper tumors may have survival benefit after cervical lymph node dissection.     

Accurate classification of sentinel lymph node metastases in patients with lobular breast carcinoma

Among pathologists there is low reproducibility in classifying small volume metastases in sentinel lymph node particularly in cases of invasive lobular carcinoma. We postulate that strict adherence to American Joint Commission on Cancer (AJCC) 2003 criteria may result in inaccurate staging of lobular carcinoma patients. We reviewed cases of metastatic lobular carcinoma in sentinel lymph node biopsies between 1998 and 2008. All sentinel lymph nodes were reassessed using strict adherence to AJCC 2003 criteria. Subsequent axillary lymph node dissection and clinical follow-up were reviewed. Fifty-one patients met our inclusion criteria and were originally classified by the primary pathologist as follows: 10 isolated tumor cells, 8 micrometastases, 27 macrometastases, and 6 ‘positive’ cases without further classification. Cases were re-classified using strict adherence to AJCC 2003 criteria as follows: 21 isolated tumor cells, 2 micrometastases, and 28 macrometastases. Twelve isolated tumor cells cases underwent full axillary dissection, and 3 (25%) had additional macrometastases. All micrometastatic cases underwent axillary dissection; all were negative. Twenty-two macrometastatic cases underwent full axillary dissection and 16 (73%) had additional macrometastases. Diffuse single cells or small clusters should not be interpreted as isolated tumor cells in invasive lobular carcinoma sentinel lymph nodes. The criteria for assessing small volume metastases in the sentinel lymph node of patients with invasive lobular carcinoma need to be more clearly defined.     

Autopsy findings in patients after curative esophagectomy for esophageal carcinoma

BACKGROUND: The mode of recurrence after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer has seldom been studied in detail from autopsy findings. STUDY DESIGN: We reviewed the autopsy findings in 43 curatively resected cases of esophageal cancer between 1976 and 1997 at a single institution. RESULTS: Recurrent or residual esophageal cancer was identified in 27 of the 43 patients (62.8%) at autopsy. Local recurrence, lymph node metastases, hematogenous metastases, and serosal carcinomatosis were observed in 11 (25.6%), 18 (41.9%), 17 (39.5%), and 11 patients (25.6%), respectively. Metastases to the thoracic, abdominal, and cervical nodes were observed in 37.2%, 16.3%, and 11.6% of the cases at autopsy, respectively. The pulmonary hilar nodes were most frequently involved (25.6%). The frequency of local recurrence was significantly lower in cases after curative subtotal esophagectomy with two- or three-field dissection (19.4%) than in cases after lower esophagectomy (66.7%) (p = 0.032). The frequency of hematogenous metastases after curative esophagectomy after preoperative radiotherapy was significantly lower in responders (Grades 2 to 3) than in nonresponders (Grades 0 to 1) (p = 0.035). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed the characteristics of recurrence after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Despite esophagectomy with lymph node dissection, the frequency of each mode of recurrence was remarkably high. Anatomic difficulty of complete removal of lymph nodes by surgical procedures was suggested. Hematogenous metastases and serosal carcinomatosis were beyond surgical resection. More effective multimodal therapy will be required to improve survival of esophageal cancer patients.     

胸段食管鳞癌淋巴结转移规律探究

目的探讨胸段食管鳞癌淋巴结转移规律及其影响因素,以指导淋巴结清扫方式。方法回顾分析漳州市医院2010年4月至2012年7月手术治疗的328例胸段食管鳞癌的临床病理资料,探讨淋巴结转移规律及其影响因素。结果全组328例共清扫淋巴结9937枚,平均30．3枚／例。共437枚、153例有淋巴结转移,转移率46．65％;其中喉返神经旁淋巴结转移18．30％,10．46％喉返神经旁淋巴结为唯一转移部位。胸段食管癌淋巴结转移与肿瘤部位、长度、分化程度及浸润深度明显相关。胸上段食管癌淋巴结转移方向主要向上纵隔及下颈部;胸中段食管癌颈、胸、腹均可发生淋巴结转移;胸下段食管癌主要向腹腔、中下纵隔转移。结论食管上段鳞癌,颈部淋巴结转移率高,应行三野淋巴结清扫;下段食管癌清扫重点在腹腔、中下纵隔;中段鳞癌应提倡进行个体化清扫和适度清扫;分化程度差,浸润程度深的病例应适当扩大清扫范围。胸段食管癌喉返神经旁淋巴结转移率高,均应行喉返神经旁淋巴结清扫。     

A second malignancy is the major cause of death among thoracic squamous cell esophageal cancer patients negative for lymph node involvement

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to determine the major causes of death among esophageal cancer patients whose lymph nodes did not show metastasis at the time they received esophagectomy, and to consider strategies for improving survival rates among these patients. STUDY DESIGN: Between 1989 and 1999, 93 of our patients who underwent curative esophagectomy with extended lymph node dissection for thoracic squamous cell esophageal cancer showed no lymph node metastasis. We followed up these node-negative patients for as long as 10 years and determined the major causes of death. RESULTS: Sixty-three patients were still alive after esophagectomy, although 30 had died. Six patients died within 3 years after esophagectomy as a direct result of recurrence of their esophageal cancer; 13 died as a result of a second (extraesophageal) malignancy. Within the first 3 years, the major causes of death were recurrence (35%) and the second malignancy (35%); thereafter, the major cause was only the second malignancy (54%). There was no difference in the survival rates among patients with earlier, synchronous, or subsequent malignancies. Univariate and multivariate analyses of the 10-year survival showed the independent prognostic factors to be recurrence of esophageal cancer and development of a second malignancy, which respectively increased the risk of death 6.4 and 2.7 times. CONCLUSIONS: The major cause of reduced survival among thoracic squamous esophageal cancer patients, whose lymph nodes did not show metastasis, was a second malignancy. New strategies aimed at preventing or treating synchronous and subsequent malignancies could prolong the survival of these patients.     

胸段食管癌淋巴结转移特点的临床研究

目的 探讨胸段食管癌淋巴结转移的规律和特点,从而为其手术入路和淋巴结清扫范围提供参考.方法 回顾性分析2009年1月至2012年12月间中南大学湘雅医学院附属肿瘤医院胸外科收治的72例胸段食管癌患者的临床资料,所有病例均行右胸入路手术. 记录各组淋巴结的清扫及转移情况,并分析淋巴结转移的影响因素.结果 72例患者中,有48例出现淋巴结转移,淋巴结转移率为66.7％;清扫淋巴结总数为1495枚,转移181枚,淋巴结转移度为12.1％,平均每例清扫淋巴结20.8枚.在各组淋巴结中,右喉返神经旁（1R组）淋巴结转移率最高,达30.6％（22/72）.左喉返神经旁淋巴结（2L组、4L组和5组） 转移率为12.5％（9/72）.淋巴结转移率与肿瘤大小和浸润深度有关（均P＜0.05）,而与病变部位和分化程度无关（P＞0.05）.结论 胸段食管癌淋巴结转移以右喉返神经旁淋巴结转移为主,故其手术最佳入路应是右胸入路,淋巴结清扫则应以右、左喉返神经旁淋巴结为重点的系统纵隔、腹野淋巴结清扫.     

Abdominal Lymph Node Metastasis in Patients with Mid Thoracic Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background  There are few reports about abdominal lymph node metastasis of mid thoracic esophageal carcinoma. This study was designed to explore the pattern of abdominal lymph node metastasis in patients with mid thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and to evaluate the prognostic factors. Methods  The complete data of 368 patients with mid thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, who underwent modified Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy with two-field lymphadenectomy from January 1998 to January 2003, were reviewed. Survival rate was calculated by Kaplan-Meier method. Cox regression analysis was performed to identify risk prognostic factors. Results  Abdominal lymph node metastasis occurred in 58 (15.8%) patients: 34.5% (20/58) of them were stage T1 and T2. Skipping abdominal node metastasis was recognized in 13.8% (8/58) patients: all were stage T1 and T2. The overall 5-year survival rate of patients with abdominal lymph node metastasis (10.3%) was lower than that of those with thoracic node metastasis (18.3%). The prognosis of patients with distant abdominal lymph node metastasis was poor, and no one could survive more than 5 years. Cox regression analysis showed that five or more positive nodes and distant abdominal node metastasis were independent risk factors of patients with abdominal lymph node metastasis. Conclusions  Abdominal lymph node metastasis in patients with mid thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma occurred frequently, and the surgery favorable for extensive abdominal lymph node dissection should be selected. The prognosis of patients with abdominal lymph node metastasis was poor, especially those with more positive nodes and distant abdominal node metastasis.     

Substantiation of the expediency of performing extensive lymph node dissection in surgical treatment of esophageal cancer]

The performance of extensive lymph node dissection+ in esophageal carcinoma is substantiated. From their own data the authors conclude that squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus possesses high lymphatic metastatic activity and point to the statistically significant increase of the incidence of involvement of the superior perigastric lymph nodes in localization of the tumor in its infrathoracic part. At the same time, the frequency of affection of the mediastinal lymph collector does not depend on the localization of the tumor. The authors emphasize that extensive subsequent lymph node dissection+ of the mediastinum and upper part of the abdominal cavity should be an obligatory stage of an operative intervention in esophageal carcinoma.