Adjuvant radiotherapy after modified Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy: can it prevent lymph node recurrence of the mid-thoracic esophageal carcinoma?
BACKGROUND
Even if complete resection was performed, some patients with esophageal carcinoma still develop tumor recurrence. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of adjuvant radiotherapy after modified Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy on preventing lymph node recurrence of the mid-thoracic esophageal carcinoma.


METHODS
Three hundred sixty-six patients with mid-thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent modified Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy between June 1999 and June 2004 were retrospectively reviewed. All patients were followed up within 3 years after surgery to detect lymph node recurrence. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the recurrence rate, and Cox regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors of lymph node recurrence.


RESULTS
The overall 3-year and 5-year survival rates in all patients were 57.9% and 43.7%, respectively. Lymph node recurrence occurred in 105 patients (28.7%) within 3 years after surgery. The lymph node recurrence rate of patients with postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy was significantly lower than that of those with adjuvant chemotherapy (p = 0.03) and those without adjuvant therapy (p < 0.01). Cox regression analysis showed that T stage, N status, and postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy were independent relevant factors for lymph node recurrence.


CONCLUSIONS
Postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy after modified Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy might prevent lymph node recurrence of mid-thoracic esophageal carcinoma.
Chen
Gang
G
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, China.
Wang
Zhou
Z
Liu
Xiang-Yan
XY
Liu
Fan-Ying
FY
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012189:Retrospective Studies