title: Characteristics of Postoperative Recurrence in Lymph Node-Negative Superficial Esophageal Carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to evaluate the recurrence rates, timings, locations, and risk factors, and survival in patients with lymph node-negative superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCCs).
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated 167 patients with pathological T1 thoracic ESCC who underwent curative esophagectomy with lymphadenectomy between 1986 and 2013. They were classified into lymph node-negative and lymph node-positive groups, each of which included 15 relapsed patients. The recurrence rates, timings, locations, and risk factors, and survival were examined retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significantly better recurrence (12.4 %) and the 5-year overall survival (85.7 %) rates were seen in patients with node-negative superficial ESCC compared with those with node-positive superficial ESCC. Relapsed patients with node-negative superficial ESCC showed a 5-month delay in the time to recurrence compared with relapsed patients with node-positive superficial ESCC, but the recurrence locations were similar. Upper thoracic tumors and the presence of lymph node metastases were independent risk factors for recurrence in superficial ESCC patients, but we did not determine any risk factors in patients who were node negative only. The 5-year overall survival rates did not differ between relapsed node-negative and node-positive patients. Furthermore, the mean times to death and the survival rates from recurrence to death were similar in the node-negative (20.3 months and 9.3 %, respectively) and in the node-positive patients (19.1 months and 13.6 %, respectively) who had relapsed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Node-negative and node-positive superficial ESCC patients should be followed up similarly, because when recurrences occur, the prognoses and the times to death are similar in node-negative and node-positive superficial ESCC patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Advanced Surgical Science and Technology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8574, Japan. ozawa.youhei@opal.plala.or.jp.
authors.forename: Yohei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ozawa
authors.affiliation: Division of Advanced Surgical Science and Technology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8574, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kamei
authors.affiliation: Division of Advanced Surgical Science and Technology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8574, Japan.
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.affiliation: Division of Advanced Surgical Science and Technology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8574, Japan.
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Taniyama
authors.affiliation: Division of Advanced Surgical Science and Technology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8574, Japan.
authors.forename: Shigehito
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miyagi
authors.affiliation: Division of Advanced Surgical Science and Technology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8574, Japan.
authors.forename: Noriaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ohuchi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate