胸段食管癌胸腹二区淋巴结清扫及转移规律

背景与目的:区域淋巴结转移是食管癌主要转移方式,是影响食管癌患者术后预后的重要因素,近年来对如何规范食管癌淋巴结清扫范围存在不同的看法.本研究探讨食管癌胸腹二区及部分颈深组淋巴结的转移规律及其清扫方法.方法:从1990年初至2005年底对1412例胸段食管癌患者以Ivor-Lewis术式为基础进行胸腹二区淋巴结清扫,其中517例加行经右胸顶对颈深组的右气管旁三角区淋巴结进行清扫,并对淋巴结转移规律进行分析.结果:1 412例患者并发症发生率为22.88%(323/1412),死亡率为0.14%(2/1412),淋巴结转移发生率为38.74%(547/1412).共清扫淋巴结13 916个,其中2 662个淋巴结发生转移,淋巴结转移度为19.13%.右颈气管旁三角区、上纵隔、下纵隔及上腹区淋巴结转移率分别为32.30%、18.43%、5.31%、17.28%;转移度分别为23.83%、18.92%、21.07%、17.20%,各区域淋巴结转移率及转移度间差异有统计学意义(P＜0.001).上、中、下段食管癌淋巴结转移率分别为40.59%、36.97%、44.35%;转移度分别为19.60%、18.35%、21.82%,肿瘤发生的部位与淋巴结转移率间差异没有统计学意义(P=0.093).早期食管癌及进展期食管癌淋巴结转移率分别为7.75%、46.56%,转移度分别为4.01%、21.82%,两者转移率和转移度间差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.001).结论:胸段食管癌有广泛转移的倾向,右气管旁三角区及上纵隔区域是胸段食管癌淋巴结转移的重要区域.Ivor-lewis术式更方便胸段食管癌切除和胸腹二区淋巴结的清扫,并且以此为基础经右胸顶对右颈气管旁三角区淋巴结清扫也是安全可行的.

Regulations and lymphadenectomy strategy of mediastinal and upper abdominal lymph node metastasis in thoracic esophageal carcinoma

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Regional lymph node metastasis plays an important role in the prognosis of esophageal carcinoma. However, the range of lymph node dissection is still controversial. This study was to investigate the regulations of lymph node metastasis of thoracic esophageal carcinoma in the mediastinum and upper abdomen, and explore the rational lymphadenectomy with Ivor-Lewis procedure. METHODS: A total of 1 412 thoracic esophageal carcinoma patients underwent radical esophagectomy and mediastinal and abdominal lymphadenectomy by Ivor-Lewis procedure from 1990 to 2005 at Yangzhong People's Hospital; 517 of them underwent right para-trachea triangle field lymphadenectomy through the right pleural apical approach. The regulations of regional lymph node metastasis were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 1,412 patients, 323 (22.88%) had postoperative complications, 2 (0.14%) died during hospitalization, and 547 (38.74%) had lymph node metastasis. The lymph node metastasis rates were 32.30% in the right para-trachea triangle, 18.43% in the upper mediastinum, 5.31% in the lower mediastinum, and 17.28% in the upper abdomen(P<0.001). Of the 13 916 resected lymph nodes, 2 662 (19.13%) were positive; the metastasis degree (positive lymph nodes/resected lymph modes) were 23.83% in the right para-trachea triangle, 18.92% in the upper mediastinum, 21.07% in the lower mediastinum, and 17.20% in the upper abdomen. For those patients with the cancer focuses in the upper, middle and lower segments of the esophagus, the lymph node metastasis rates were 40.59%, 36.97% and 44.35% (P=0.093), respectively, while the lymph node metastasis degree in these 3 fields were 19.60%, 18.35%, and 21.82%, respectively. Both the lymph node metastasis rate and degree were significantly higher in the patients at advanced stage than in the patients at early stage (46.56% vs. 7.75%, 21.82% vs. 4.01%, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Regional lymph node metastasis, especially in the right para-trachea triangle and upper mediastinum, is a key factor for thoracic esophageal carcinoma. Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy with two-field lymph node dissection is a safe operation for thoracic esophageal carcinoma, and may increase the chances of complete resection.