[Clinical study of lymph node metastatic pattern of thoracic esophageal squamous carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the patterns of lymph node metastases of thoracic esophageal carcinoma and define the adequate range of lymph node dissection.


METHODS
The clinical data of 217 patients with esophageal carcinoma undergoing radical surgical resection of the lymph nodes in three regions were retrospectively analyzed.


RESULTS
Lymph node metastases were found in 136 of the 217 patients (62.6%) and skip metastases of the lymph nodes in 12 patients (5.5%). In 3 989 lymph nodes desected, metastases were identified in 454 lymph nodes (11.38%). The rates of lymph node metastasis were 31.7%, 21.2% and 12.1% in the neck, thoracic mediastinum and abdominal cavity, respectively, in upper thoracic esophageal carcinoma, 21.9%, 30.5% and 15.6% in middle thoracic carcinoma, and 9.75%, 12.7% and 34.5% in lower thoracic carcinoma. The degree of tumor differentiation, depth of tumor invasion and lymphatic vessel invasion were factors influencing lymph node metastases (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Because of the upward, downward and skip metastasis of esophageal carcinoma cells to the lymph nodes, the operable patients with thoracic esophagus carcinoma should receive radical desection of the lymph nodes in the 3 regions to promote the patients' survival.
Xie
Ying-tao
YT
Esophageal Carcinoma Research Center of Guangdong Province, Jieyang People's Hospital, Jieyang 522000, China.
Wang
Shu-qin
SQ
Zuo
Qiang
Q
Huang
Jin-qiu
JQ
An
Feng-shan
FS
Chen
Shao-hu
SH
Luo
Rong-cheng
RC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged