选择性颈胸腹三野淋巴结清扫治疗胸段食管鳞癌

目的 研究胸段食管鳞癌的淋巴结转移规律，探讨合适的淋巴结清扫范围。方法 87例接受食管次全切除术的胸段食管鳞癌患者，根据术前食管腔内超声和颈部超声检查结果，选择性进行胸腹二野或颈胸腹三野淋巴结清扫。结果 超声发现颈部淋巴结肿大并行三野清扫35例（40．2％，三野清扫组），其中原发肿瘤位于胸上段食管者的比例（16／24例，66．7％）显著高于中、下段肿瘤者（19／63例，30．2％）（P=0．002）。三野清扫术扫除淋巴结13．7组／例，显著多于二野清扫组（52例，59．8％）的10．5组／例（P〈0．001）。术后病理检测三野清扫组转移淋巴结1．5组／例，也显著多于二野清扫组的0．8组／例（P〈0．01）。颈淋巴结转移（pM1-LN）17例（占全组19．5％，占三野清扫组48．6％），有区域淋巴结转移者的颈淋巴结转移比例（15／48例，31．3％）显著高于无区域淋巴结转移者（2／39例，5．1％）（P〈0．01）。上、中、下纵隔及上腹部的淋巴结转移率分别为25．3％、23．O％、5．7％和24．1％，颈淋巴结转移与上纵隔（P〈0．01）及中纵隔（P〈0．01）淋巴结转移显著相关，但与下纵隔及上腹部淋巴结转移无关。三野清扫组术后并发症发生率（60．0％）显著高于二野清扫组（34．6％，P=0．020）。喉返神经损伤发生率两组差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）；但喉返神经损伤者吻合口瘘发生率（7／13例，53．8％）显著高于无喉返神经损伤者（10／74例，13．5％，P=0．001）。术后死亡率两组差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论 应对肿瘤位于胸上段食管、或上纵隔及中纵隔淋巴结已发生转移的食管癌患者在超声指导下进行选择性颈胸腹三野淋巴结清扫术，以降低手术风险、提高手术根治效果。     

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。     

胸腹二野淋巴结清扫结合术后辅助化疗治疗食管癌

目的探讨如何提高食管癌手术根治性、减少术后复发以改善食管癌治疗长期疗效。方法104例胸段食管鳞癌病人，56例按传统术式行食管切除＋肿大淋巴结摘除术，48例行系统性胸腹二野淋巴结清扫术。3例手术死亡（2．9％），余101例病人中29例术后接受顺铂＋氟脲嘧啶辅助化疗，其中15例为传统术式病例，14例为二野清扫病例。结果胸腹二野清扫手术时间虽然较传统术式延长，但手术出血量、术后并发症及病死率未见增高。二野清扫组清扫淋巴结组数（10．5组对3．2组，P〈0．001）及转移淋巴结检出组数（1．1组对0．6组，P=0．038）均显著多于传统术式组。通过淋巴结清扫发现，双侧喉返神经旁（16．8％）、食管旁（22．9％）和胃左动脉旁（16．8％）淋巴结为胸段食管癌常见转移部位，10．4％病例存在跳跃性淋巴结转移，上纵隔（20．8％）与中下纵隔（31．3％）及上腹部（25．0％）3个区域间淋巴结转移频度差异无统计学意义。二野清扫组25．0％病例因扫除了传统术式可能遗漏的转移淋巴结使手术根治性提高，另有12．5％病例手术病理分期因此由pN0上升至pN1。术后辅助化疗病人中86．2％完成2个以上疗程，平均化疗3．1个疗程，无严重毒副作用或死亡。淋巴结清扫组5年生存率显著高于传统术式组（36．4％对24．9％，P=0．049），术后化疗组显著高于未化疗组（44．8％对20．7％，P=0．023），接受淋巴结清扫及术后化疗者5年生存率最高（46．2％），显著高于单纯进行传统手术且未行化疗的病例（19．4％，P=0．018）。结论系统的胸腹二野淋巴结清扫有助于提高食管癌手术根治性和病理分期准确性，淋巴结清扫与术后辅助化疗相结合的优化治疗方法有助于提高胸段食管鳞癌的长期疗效。     

选择性中央区淋巴结清扫治疗cNO甲状腺乳头状癌的临床价值

目的探讨选择性中央区淋巴结清扫术在临床颈淋巴结阴性（cN0）的甲状腺乳头状癌患者中的治疗价值。方法回顾性分析中国医科大学附属第一医院2007年1月至2011年12月期间收治的326例cN0甲状腺乳头状癌患者的临床资料,并对影响中央区淋巴结转移的相关因素进行分析。结果本组326例cN0甲状腺乳头状癌患者的中央区淋巴结转移率为35．89％（117／326）。年龄在〈45岁、肿瘤直径〉1cm及原发灶浸润包膜的cN0甲状腺乳头状癌患者的淋巴结转移率明显高于年龄≥45岁、肿瘤直径≤1cm及原发灶未浸润包膜的oN0甲状腺乳头状癌患者（年龄：46．56％比28．72％,P=0．001;肿瘤直径：44．44％比26．45％,P=0．001;包膜浸润：50．00％比33．09％,P=0．020）。进一步的多因素分析显示,年龄〈45岁和肿瘤直径〉1cm是cN0甲状腺乳头状癌中央区淋巴结转移的独立危险因素（P〈0。05）。术后6例出现暂时性喉返神经损伤,18例并发暂时性甲状旁腺功能低下,4例出现暂时性喉上神经损伤,1例并发急性喉头水肿,无永久性喉神经损伤、甲状旁腺功能低下等并发症发生。术后266例（81．60％）获得随访,随访7～67个月（平均31．2个月）,有3例发生侧颈区淋巴结转移。结论cN0甲状腺乳头状癌行选择性中央区淋巴结清扫术是必要的、安全的处理方式,建议对cN0甲状腺乳头状癌常规行患侧中央区淋巴结清扫术,特别是年龄〈45岁和肿瘤直径〉1cm的cN0甲状腺乳头状癌患者。     

187例甲状腺微小癌颈淋巴结转移相关因素分析

目的 通过分析甲状腺微小癌颈淋巴结转移临床病理特征,探讨颈淋巴节转移规律及影响因素,为颈淋巴结清扫指征及范围提供临床依据.方法 回顾性收集2007年1月-2011年12月大连医科大学附属第一医院普外科初次收治并经术后病理证实为甲状腺微小癌的187例患者的临床病理资料,分析颈淋巴结各区转移率、影响淋巴结转移的因素.结果 187例甲状腺微小癌中,颈淋巴节转移率、中央区（Ⅵ区）转移率、颈侧区转移率分别为26.7％ （50/187）、23.0％ （43/187）、13.9％（26/187）.多因素分析显示,肿瘤最大直径≥5 mm、多发癌灶、甲状腺被膜侵犯与甲状腺微小癌颈部淋巴结转移密切相关（P＜0.05）.结论 甲状腺微小癌颈淋巴结转移常见于中央区,其中肿瘤最大直径≥5 mm、多发癌灶以及甲状腺被膜侵犯的患者更易发生颈淋巴节转移,应常规行中央区淋巴结清扫术.     

侧俯卧位全腔镜食管癌手术淋巴结清扫的临床分析

目的总结侧俯卧位全腔镜食管癌切除术清扫胸腹二野淋巴结的临床经验。方法回顾性分析2009年9月-2011年2月82例全腔镜食管癌切除术与78例常规颈、胸、腹三切口食管癌切除术的临床资料。比较2组手术的胸腹部各区域淋巴结清扫数目、淋巴结转移度、生存率及术后并发症发生率。结果2组均顺利完成手术,2组清扫左右喉返神经旁淋巴结数目分别为（4．1±3．4）枚及（1．1±1．7）枚,上纵隔淋巴结数目分别为（6．8±5．O）枚及（4．9±4．0）枚,腔镜组均多于开放组（P〈0．05）。腔镜组3年生存率（65．4％）与开放组（62．3％）相似（10g—rank检验,X2=0．022,P=0．886）。结论侧俯卧位全腔镜食管癌切除淋巴结清扫疗效肯定,尤其是清扫上纵隔及左右喉返神经旁淋巴结方面,更为有效及彻底。     

胸段食管癌淋巴结转移规律及其对淋巴结清扫方式的影响

目的探讨胸段食管癌淋巴结转移规律及其对淋巴结清扫方式的影响。方法对接受三野淋巴结清扫的230例食管鳞癌病人的肿瘤部位、临床病理指标与淋巴结转移的关系进行分析。结果每例病人的淋巴结切除11～71枚，平均（25．3±11．4）枚。其中133例病人存在区域淋巴结转移。颈、胸和腹三区淋巴结转移率，上胸段食管癌为41．6％、19．44％和8．3％，中胸段食管癌为33．3％、34．7％和14％，下胸段食管癌为36．4％、34．1％和43．2％。上、中、下胸段食管癌颈部或胸腔淋巴结转移率差异无统计学意义，下胸段食管癌腹腔淋巴结转移率显著高于上胸段或中胸段食管癌。Logistic回归模型显示肿瘤浸润深度和淋巴管血管浸润情况是影响淋巴结转移的有意义因素。结论对各胸段食管癌均应清扫颈、胸部淋巴结，上、中胸段食管癌腹部淋巴结清扫的意义尚需进一步研究。病人的肿瘤浸润深度及有无淋巴血管浸润与淋巴结是否转移密切相关。     

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.     

甲状腺乳头状癌颈部淋巴结转移规律及影响因素分析

目的探讨甲状腺乳头状癌（papillary thyroid carcinoma,PTC）颈部淋巴结的转移规律及其影响因素,为PTC颈部淋巴结清扫手术方式的选择提供依据。方法收集贵阳医学院附属医院甲状腺外科2009年1月至2011年12月期间收治的98例PTC患者的临床资料,对其淋巴结转移特点、规律及其影响因素进行回顾性分析。结果 98例患者中,共行颈部淋巴结清扫114侧。总颈淋巴结转移率为77.55%（76/98）,其中Ⅵ区淋巴结转移率为74.49%（73/98）,颈侧Ⅱ＋Ⅲ＋Ⅳ区为42.86%（42/98）,Ⅴ区为5.10%（5/98）。单因素分析结果显示：当肿瘤直径大于1 cm、侵犯甲状腺包膜、呈多灶性或年龄大于45岁时,Ⅵ区和Ⅱ＋Ⅲ＋Ⅳ区的淋巴结转移率较高（P〈0.05）。多因素分析结果显示：患者年龄、肿瘤直径、包膜侵犯及多灶性是颈部淋巴结转移的影响因素（P〈0.05）;包膜侵犯、多灶性、合并Ⅵ区淋巴结转移及合并颈侧Ⅱ＋Ⅲ＋Ⅳ区淋巴结转移是喉前淋巴结转移的影响因素（P〈0.05）;包膜侵犯和多灶性是跳跃性淋巴结转移的影响因素（P〈0.05）。结论 PTC易发生Ⅵ、Ⅲ及Ⅳ区淋巴结转移,应常规清扫Ⅵ区淋巴结。对颈部淋巴结转移规律的研究可为临床选择合理的颈部淋巴结清扫手术方式提供依据。     

术前胸中上段食管癌颈部淋巴结转移相关因素分析

目的分析术前胸中上段食管癌病人发生颈部淋巴结转移的相关因素。方法行食管癌切除+三野淋巴结清扫手术的食管胸中上段癌病人64例,按照是否发生颈部淋巴结转移分为转移组(20例)和未转移组(44例)。比较两组病人的术前临床资料,分析发生颈部淋巴结转移的独立危险因素。结果食管癌病人超声检查结果中淋巴结短径、纵横比、内部回声、RI值与是否发生颈部淋巴结转移关系密切(P0.05);在两组病人的增强CT结果中,发生喉返神经旁淋巴结、胸部淋巴结肿大的比率差异明显,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);短径、RI值诊断颈部淋巴结转移的效能较好,ROC曲线下面积分别为0.823、0.694;Logistic回归分析发现,纵横比≥0.5、喉返神经旁淋巴结肿大为胸中上段食管癌病人发生颈部淋巴结转移的独立危险因素。结论食管胸中上段癌病人颈部淋巴结短径、纵横比、内部回声、RI值、喉返神经旁淋巴结、胸部淋巴结肿大是预测颈部淋巴结转移的重要指标,其中纵横比≥0.5、喉返神经旁淋巴结肿大为胸中上段食管癌病人发生颈部淋巴结转移的独立危险因素。     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Clinical implications of cervical lymph node metastasis patterns in thoracic esophageal cancer.

OBJECTIVE. The authors attempt to clarify the clinical implications of cervical lymph node metastases from thoracic esophageal cancers. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA. Cervical lymph node metastases from thoracic esophageal cancer have been considered to be incompatible with curative resection. However, recent studies have demonstrated that cure is achievable in patients with such metastases. METHODS. Patterns of esophageal cancer metastasis to the cervical nodes and long-term results after tumor resection were investigated in 23 patients undergoing bilateral cervical lymphadenectomy for treatment of thoracic esophageal cancer. RESULTS. The number of positive nodes per patient was significantly greater (p < 0.05) in lower esophageal cancers (median: 15) than in upper or mid esophageal cancers (median: 2.5). Simultaneous metastases to three nodal regions (the neck, mediastinum, and abdomen) were significantly more common (p < 0.001) in lower esophageal tumors (88.9%) than in upper and mid esophageal lesions (7.1%). Although the overall 5-year survival rate was 16.5%, long-term survival was achieved only in patients with upper or mid esophageal cancer.     

Location and clinical impact of solitary lymph node metastasis in patients with thoracic esophageal carcinoma

BACKGROUND: The location and clinical impact of solitary lymph node metastasis from thoracic esophageal carcinoma have not been evaluated sufficiently. METHODS: A consecutive series of 91 patients with a solitary positive lymph node who underwent curative surgery for thoracic esophageal carcinoma was investigated. The prognostic impact was evaluated by univariate analysis and multivariate analysis using Cox's proportional hazards model. RESULTS: A total of 52 (57%) of the 91 patients showed a solitary positive node beyond the thorax. While 29% of the patients with an upper thoracic tumor showed a cervical node, 13% of the patients with a middle tumor and none of the patients with a lower tumor showed a cervical node. Tumor depth and venous invasion were found to be independent risk factors for poor survival. CONCLUSIONS: The solitary positive lymph nodes were broadly distributed depending on the tumor location and tumor depth. Tumor depth and venous invasion were risk factors for poor survival in these patients.     

T2胸中段食管鳞癌淋巴结转移特点和规律

目的 探讨T2胸中段食管鳞癌淋巴结转移特点和规律.方法 分析246例接受颈、胸、腹三野淋巴结清扫的T2胸中段食管鳞癌病人的临床病理指标与淋巴结转移的关系.结果 每例病人清扫淋巴结15～59枚,平均25枚.其中129例存在区域淋巴结转移.颈、胸和腹三区淋巴结转移率分别为28.9%、28.5%和22.0%,差异无统计学意义.Logistic回归模型显示肿瘤长度、肿瘤细胞分化程度及有无淋巴管血管浸润是影响淋巴结转移的有意义因素.结论 T2胸中段食管鳞癌淋巴结转移与肿瘤长度、肿瘤细胞分化程度及有无淋巴管血管浸润明显相关;T2胸中段食管鳞癌有上、下双向转移和跳跃性转移的特点,应行三野淋巴结清扫,对胸中段超出T2的食管鳞癌也应行以上手术.

Abstract：

Objective To investigate the pattern of lymph node metastasis in patients with 17 and middle thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma( ESCC). Methods Retrospective review the clinical data of 246 cases with T2 and middle thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who were treated by three-field lymphadenectomy. Analyze the relationship between clinical pathological factors and lymph node metastasis. Results Lymph node metastases were found in 129 of the 246 patients (52.4% ).The average number of resected lymph nodes was 25 per patient (rangel5 -59). The rates of lymph node metastasis were 28.9% in the neck, 28.5% in thoracic mediastinum and 22.0% in abdominal cavity for patients with T2 and middle thoracic ESCC. No significant difference in lymph node metastasis' rate was observed among the neck, thoracic mediastinum and abdominal cavity. Logistic-regression showed the length of tumor, tumor cell differentiation and angiolymphatic invasion were factors influencing lymph node metastasis. Conclusion Lymph node metastasis in T2 and middle thoracic ESCC has the characteristics of upward, downward and skip spreading. Patients with T2 and middle thoracic ESCC should be treated with radical surgery with three-field lymphadenectomy.     

胸段食管癌颈部及上纵隔淋巴结转移

探讨胸段食管癌颈部及上纵隔淋结转移规律。方法采用颈,胸,腹三切口施行胸段食管癌手术６１６例,同时施行三区域淋巴洁清扫。结果：中及上纵隔淋巴结转移率和转移度分别为５７．１％和２１．５％。结论胸段食管癌必须重颈部及上纵隔淋巴结清扫。