[Right para-tracheal triangle lymphadenectomy for esophageal carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the incidence of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in the right para-tracheal triangle (RPT) of esophageal carcinoma patients and the technique of dissection.


METHODS
On the top of double mediastinal and abdominal lymphadenectomy, 333 esophageal carcinoma patients received RPT lymphadenectomy through the right pleural apical approach from 1990 to 2001.


RESULTS
In these 333 patients, the lymph node metastasis (LNM) rate in the RPT was 36.40%. A total of 457 nodes among 2 159 nodes removed gave a metastasis degree of 24.96%. The LNM rates in RPT for cervical, upper third, middle third, and lower third segments of esophagus were 66.67%, 45.45%, 34.19% and 15.79% (P < 0.05), while their respective metastasis degrees were 44.44%, 27.04%, 24.32% and 18.92% (P > 0.05). The frequency of positive nodes in the RPT for PTI, PT1, PT2, PT3 and PT4 was 0, 17.24%, 28.7%, 45.16% and 53.57%, while those of metastasis degree were 0, 8.77%, 17.62%, 33% and 41.17% (P < 0.01). The frequency of LNM in the RPT in papillary, erosive, patch-like and covert type of early tumor was 40%, 3.85%, 0 and 0 (P < 0.05), while those of the metastasis degree were 29.41%, 1.82%, 0 and 0 (P < 0.01). Higher rate of LNM in progressive stenotic esophageal carcinoma was observed compared with those of the other gross types (56.52%, P < 0.05), so was the degree (P < 0.01). The frequency of LNM in the RPT for mono-focal and multi-focal tumor was 34.98% and 70% without significant difference (P > 0.05), while the degree was 24.29% and 53.33% (P < 0.05). Postoperative complications were: leak (0.6%), and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury (1.2%). No injury of vein or infra-clavicular artery, tracheal damage or mortality occurred.


CONCLUSIONS
1. The lymph node metastasis from esophageal carcinoma has a tendency of wide spread and right para-tracheal triangle is an important region to be doomed. 2. With location, depth of tumor invasion and differentiation of tumor as major factors affecting LNM of esophageal carcinoma, dissection of this region should be paid more emphasis. 3. In early lesions, higher frequency of LNM in the RPT is found in papillary and erosive lesions than in the other macroscopic types. 4. Exposing the RPT, lymph node by dissection through a right pleural apical approach is very important and significant.
Xue
Heng-chuan
HC
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Yangzhong People Hospital, Yangzhong 212200, China.
Wu
Chang-rong
CR
Zhang
Zhen-bin
ZB
Zhu
Zong-hai
ZH
Ma
Zhen-kai
ZK
Lin
Ai-ming
AM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002299:Cardia; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000379:methods; D004947:Esophagus / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008482:Mediastinum; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness