OBJECTIVESTo analyze associated factors and the prognosis of patients with residual cancer after esophagectomy for squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus, and to assess outcomes after salvage treatment.

METHODSClinical and pathological data of 1074 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus who underwent esophagectomy in the Cancer Center of Sun Yat-sen University from 1997 to 2003 were analyzed retrospectively. The relationship between the associated factors (differentiation, location, length of the lesion, surgical route, anastomosis site, T stage, N stage) and the incidence of residual cancer was analyzed, using the chi-squared test and Logistic regression analysis methods. The value and the modality of the salvage treatment were investigated.

RESULTSForty-four patients had residual cancer (4.3%). Cancers in the upper esophagus were associated with the highest incidence of residual cancer on esophageal stump (6.5%), while the lower esophagus had the highest incidence of residual cancer on gastric stump (0.78%). The Incidence correlated with T and N stage. Logistic regression analysis showed that T and N stage were the risk factors of residual cancer. Three-year survival rate was 22.7% in patients with residual cancer. The mean survival time was 25.2+/-3.3 months. Three-year survival rates of patients with and without salvage treatment were 53.2% and 7.8%, respectively (P=0.027). Three-year survival rate of patients with salvage radiotherapy was 56.0%.

CONCLUSIONSAdvanced T and N stage are the risk factors of residual cancer after esophagectomy in the patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. Salvage treatment can improve the survival of the patients.