title: Atlas of the thoracic lymph nodal delineation and recommendations for lymph nodal CTV of esophageal squamous cell cancer in radiation therapy from China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To construct an anatomical atlas of thoracic lymph node regions of esophageal cancer (EC) based on definitions from The Japan Esophageal Society (JES) and generate a consensus to delineate the nodal clinical target volume (CTVn) for elective nodal radiation (ENI) of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  An interdisciplinary group including two dedicated radiation oncologists, an experienced radiologist, a pathologist and two thoracic surgeons were gathered to generate a three-dimensional radiological description for the mediastinal lymph node regions of EC on axial CT scans. Then the radiological boundaries of lymph node regions were validated by a relatively large number of physicians in multiple institutions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An atlas of detailed anatomic boundaries of lymph node station No. 105-114 was defined on axial CT, along with illustrations. From the previous work, the study provided a guide of CTVn contouring for ENI of thoracic ESCC from a single center.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is feasible to use such an atlas of thoracic lymph node stations for radiotherapy planning. A phase III study based on the atlas is ongoing in China to measure quantitatively the ENI received by patients with ESCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology (Chest Section), Shandong's Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, PR China. Electronic address: weihuang@mcw.com.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Shandong Cancer Hospital, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, PR China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgical Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, PR China.
authors.forename: Jujie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Shandong Cancer Hospital, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, PR China.
authors.forename: Xibin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology (Chest Section), Shandong's Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, PR China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology (Chest Section), Shandong's Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, PR China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgical Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, PR China.
authors.forename: Baijiang
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology (Chest Section), Shandong's Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, PR China. Electronic address: alvinbird@163.com.
authors.forename: Baosheng
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: Computed tomography; Esophageal cancer; Lymph nodes; Radiation therapy