title: Clinicopathologic factors predicting lymph node metastasis in superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Surgical resection is the treatment of choice for superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SESCC), but it is associated with high mortality and morbidity rates. Recently, endoscopic resection for SESCC has been indicated for patients with a low risk of lymph node metastasis (LNM). Therefore, to successfully treat SESCC with endoscopic resection, it is very important to identify patients with a low risk for LNM. The objective of this study was to investigate clinicopathologic factors that predict LNM in patients who underwent esophagectomy for SESCC.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 104 patients with SESCC from three university hospitals in Pusan, Korea. Clinicopathologic factors were evaluated to identify independent factors predicting LNM by univariate and multivariate analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In univariate analysis, the depth of tumor invasion and lymphovascular invasion had significant influences on LNM (p=0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). Gross type, tumor size, and tumor differentiation were not predictive for LNM. In multivariate analysis, the depth of tumor invasion and lymphovascular invasion were signiﬁcantly associated with LNM in patients with SESCC (OR 9.04, p=0.049; OR 11.61, p=0.002, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The depth of tumor invasion and lymphovascular invasion were independent predictors of LNM in patients with SESCC. Therefore, endoscopic resection could be performed in patients with SESCC that is limited to the mucosa, without lymphovascular invasion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine , Busan , Korea.
authors.forename: Jung Youn
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Gwang Ha
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ji Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyung Hun
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kwang Duck
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Seong Oh
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Bong Eun
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Geun Am
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D016629:Esophagectomy; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D042601:Lymphatic Vessels / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009092:Mucous Membrane; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors