Clinicopathological features in N0 oesophageal cancer patients.
BACKGROUND
The prognosis for patients with N0 oesophageal cancer is favourable, but relevant prognostic factors and appropriate surveillance protocols have not been identified for these patients.


METHODS
A total of 210 oesophageal cancer patients were included in this study. Of these, 92 (43.8%) had no lymph node metastasis. Predictive factors for lymph node metastasis were evaluated in N0 oesophageal cancer. Survival, prognostic factors, causes of death and pattern of recurrence were assessed between patients with and without lymph node metastasis.


RESULTS
Logistic regression analysis revealed that depth of tumour invasion (T1) was an independent predictive factor for N0. The Cox proportional hazard regression model showed that venous invasion was an independent prognostic factor for disease-specific survival in N0 oesophageal cancer patients (hazard ratio=3.977, p=0.042). Locoregional recurrence was less frequent in patients with N0 oesophageal cancer (p=0.0319).


CONCLUSIONS
Meticulous and long-term follow-up is necessary even for patients with N0 oesophageal cancer, particularly for those with adverse prognostic factors.
Kunisaki
Chikara
C
Department of Surgery, Gastroenterological Center, Yokohama City University/4-57 Urafune-cho, Minami-ku, Yokohama 232-0024, Japan. s0714@med.yokohama-cu.ac.jp
Makino
Hrochika
H
Oshima
Takashi
T
Fujii
Shoichi
S
Takagawa
Ryo
R
Kimura
Jun
J
Kosaka
Takashi
T
Ono
Hidetaka A
HA
Akiyama
Hirotoshi
H
Endo
Itaru
I
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D015996:Survival Rate