OBJECTIVETo investigate the lymph node metastasis and the rational lymphadenectomy in thoracic esophageal carcinoma.

METHODSEighty-seven patients with thoracic esophageal squamous carcinoma received esophagectomy plus two-field or three-field lymphadenectomy based on cervical ultrasonography.

RESULTSThirty-five patients (40.2% ) with enlarged cervical nodes revealed by cervical ultrasonography received cervical lymphadenectomy. The proportion of cervical lymphadenectomy was 66.7% (16/24) in upper thoracic esophageal carcinomas, significantly higher than 30.2% (19/63) in middle and lower esophageal carcinomas (P=0.002). Regional and cervical lymph node metastasis were found in 48(55.2% ) and 17(19.5% ) patients respectively. The regional lymph node metastatic rates were 37.5% (9/24), 62.3% (33/53) and 60.0% (6/10) respectively in the patients with upper, middle, and lower thoracic esophageal carcinoma. The cervical lymph node metastatic rates in the patients with or without regional lymph node metastasis were 31.3% (15/48) and 5.1% (2/39) respectively(P=0.002). The rates of upper, mid, lower mediastinal and upper abdominal lymph node metastasis were 25.3%, 23.0%, 5.7%, and 24.1% respectively. Cervical lymph node metastasis was significantly correlated with upper and mid mediastinal metastasis (both P< 0.01), but not with lower mediastinal and upper abdominal lymph node metastasis. The overall postoperative morbidity rate was significantly higher in three field lymphadenectomy group than that in two field group(60.0% vs. 34.6%, P=0.020).

CONCLUSIONSelective 3-field lymphadenectomy based on cervical ultrasonography should be performed in thoracic esophageal carcinoma, especially with upper and mid mediastinal lymph node metastasis.