胸段食管癌淋巴结转移规律及其影响因素*

目的:探讨胸段食管癌淋巴结转移规律及其影响因素。方法:选择行根治性手术切除、胸腹二野淋巴结清扫术的229 例胸段食管癌进行研究，手术共清扫淋巴结2 458 枚。分析食管癌不同病变部位淋巴结转移度分布情况以及肿瘤浸润深度、病变长度、大体病理形态、肿瘤分化程度等因素对淋巴结转移的影响。结果:1）102 例食管癌发生淋巴结转移，淋巴结转移率为44.5%（102/229）。 258 枚淋巴结发生转移，淋巴结转移度为10.5%（258/2 458）。2）胸上段食管癌上纵隔、中纵隔、下纵隔和腹腔淋巴结转移度分别为19.0% 、6.7% 、9.8% 和14.2% ；胸中段食管癌分别为26.1% 、7.4% 、11.8% 和11.9% ；胸下段食管癌分别为0、1.6% 、5.3% 和10.0% 。3）Tis期无淋巴结转移。T1、T2、T3、T4 期淋巴结转移率分别为28.6% 、42.9% 、48.3% 和31.3% ；淋巴结转移度分别为7.9% 、10.8% 、10.7% 和10.8% ；T1~T4 期淋巴结转移率和转移度组间比较均无显著性差异（χ2=2.733，P=0.435 和χ2=0.686，P=0.876）。 4）病变长度≤3cm组、
3～5cm组和>5cm组淋巴结转移率分别为45.2% 、43.4% 和46.2% ，淋巴结转移度分别为9.1% 、11.6% 和11.7% ，组间比较差异均不显著（χ2=0.094，P=0.954 和χ2=3.933，P=0.140）。 5）髓质型、溃疡型、蕈伞型和缩窄型食管癌淋巴结转移度分别为14.0% 、9.6% 、4.3% 和18.3%（χ2=19.292，P=0.000），蕈伞型食管癌淋巴结转移度较低。6）鳞癌、低分化鳞癌淋巴结转移率为42.5% 和75.0%（χ2=4.852，P=0.028）；淋巴结转移度为9.5% 和18.6%（χ2=11.323，P=0.001）。 低分化者易发生淋巴结转移。结论:胸段食管癌淋巴结转移涉及部位多，播散广泛，且食管癌病变早期即可发生癌转移。大体病理形态及肿瘤分化程度是影响淋巴结转移的主要因素。 

The Pattern of Lymphatic Metastasis and Influencing Factors of Thoracic Esophageal Carcinoma

Objective: To explore the pattem of lymphatic metastasis and influencing factors of thoracic esophageal carcinoma. Methods: We reviewed the pathological specimens from 229 esophageal carcinoma patients who underwent radical esophagectomy with two-field lymphadenectomy. A total of 2,458 lymph nodes were dissected. We analyzed the lymph node metastasis pattern of the primary tumor in different loca-tions and the corresponding influencing factors such as pathological T stage, tumor length, pathological mor-phology and tumor differentiation. Results: Lymph node metastasis rates were 44.5% (102/229) and 10.5% (258/2458), respectively. For patients with upper thoracic esophageal carcinomas, lymphatic metastasis rates in the superior mediastinum, the middle mediastinum, the inferior mediastinum and the abdominal cavity were 19.0%, 6.7%, 9.8% and 12.2%, respectively. For patients with middle thoracic esophageal carcinomas, the rates were 26.1%, 7.4%, 11.8% and 11.9%, respectively. For patietns with lower thoracic esophageal carcino-mas, the rates were 0, 1.6%, 5.3%, and 10.0%, respectively. Lymphatic metastasis rate in T_1, T_2, T_3, T_4, stage cancer were 28.6%, 43.8%, 47.6%, and 31.3%, respectively; the rate of positive lymph nodes were 7.9%, 10.8%, 10.7%, and 10.8%, respectively, with no significant differences among the four stages (x~2=2.733, P=0.435 and x~2=0.686, P=0.876). Lymphatic metastasis rate and rate of positive lymph nodes in patients with tu-mor ≤3cm, 3 to 5cm, and >5cm were 45.2% and 43.4%, 46.2% and 9.1%, and 11.6% and 11.7%, respective-ly, with no significant differences (x~2=0.094, P=0.954 and x~2=3.933, P=0.140). Lymphatic metastasis ratios of the pathological morphology in medullary, ulcerative, mushroom and stenotic types were 14.0%, 9.6%, 4.3% and 18.3%, respectively (x~2=19.292, P=0.000). Lymphatic metastasis rate and rate of positive lymph nodes of squamous cell carcinoma of moderately and poorly differentiation were 42.5%, 75.0% and 9.5%, 18.6%, re-spectively (x~2=4.852, P=0.028 and x~2=11.323, P=0.001). Patients with squamous cell carcinoma of poorly dif-ferentiation had a higher rate of lymph node metastasis. Conclusion: Lymphatic metastasis of esophageal car-cinoma metastasize widely even if in early T stage. Pathological morphology and tumor differentiation are re-lating facors of lymph node metastasis of thoracic esophageal carcinoma.