title: Lymph node dissection in surgical treatment of esophageal neoplasms.
abstract: The optimal lymphadenectomy for esophageal cancer remains controversial. The choice of surgical access determines to a great extent the type of lymphadenectomy possible. En bloc resections and three-field lymphadenectomy are concepts pioneered in the West and East, respectively; both should be performed in specialized centers because such extended lymph node dissection has substantial morbidity rates. Recent focus in research is on refining the indications for these procedures. Patient management strategies should be individualized.
authors.affiliation: Division of Esophageal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong Medical Centre, Queen Mary Hospital, 102 Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China. slaw@hku.hk
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Law
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D011379:Prognosis