title: [Clinical study of lymph node metastatic pattern of thoracic esophageal squamous carcinoma].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Esophageal Carcinoma Research Center of Guangdong Province, Jieyang People's Hospital, Jieyang 522000, China.
authors.forename: Ying-tao
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Shu-qin
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zuo
authors.forename: Jin-qiu
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Feng-shan
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: An
authors.forename: Shao-hu
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Rong-cheng
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Luo
mesh_terms: 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