title: Comparison of robot-assisted esophagectomy and thoracoscopic esophagectomy in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the study was to compare robot-assisted esophagectomy (RE) with thoracoscopic esophagectomy (TE) for the treatment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 105 patients who underwent RE (n=62) or TE (n=43) due to ESCC were included in this study. Early postoperative outcomes and long-term survivals between the two groups were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The RE and TE groups were comparable in preoperative clinical characteristics. Total operation times were not significantly different between the two groups (490 minutes in REvs. 458 minutes in TE; P=0.118). The total number of dissected lymph nodes was significantly greater in the RE group (37.3±17.1vs. 28.7±11.8; P=0.003), and intergroup differences were significant for numbers of lymph nodes dissected from the upper mediastinum (10.7±9.7 in REvs. 6.3±9.3 in TE; P=0.032) and the abdomen (12.2±8.7 in REvs. 7.8±7.1 in TE; P=0.007). Five-year overall survival was not different between the two groups (69% in RE and 59% in TE; P=0.737).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Better quality lymphadenectomy could be achieved in RE although survival benefit was not clear. Prospective randomized studies comparing the RE and TE are necessary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Samina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yoohwa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Joo
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: In Kyu
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Young Tae
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Chang Hyun
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kang
keywords: Esophageal neoplasms; robotic surgical procedures; thoracoscopy