Lymph node metastases identified with mediastinoscopy in a patient with superficial carcinoma of the esophagus.
Superficial esophageal cancers limited to the lamina propria are not associated with lymph node metastases. Mediastinoscopic transhiatal esophagectomy was planned in a patient with widespread superficial cancer of the midthoracic esophagus. Sampling of the upper mediastinal lymph nodes revealed metastases. The operation was converted to a transthoracic esophagectomy with radical lymphadenectomy. Histopathologic examination of the resection specimen showed three metastatic lymph nodes, despite local invasion limited to the lamina propria. This is the first report of a patient with superficial esophageal cancer and lymph node metastases.
Tangoku
A
A
Department of Surgery II, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, 755-8505, Japan. tangoku@po.cc.yamaguchi-u.ac.jp
Hayashi
H
H
Kanamura
S
S
Yoshino
S
S
Abe
T
T
Yoshimoto
Y
Y
Morioka
T
T
Oka
M
M
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008481:Mediastinoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness