Prognostic factors of curatively resected esophageal carcinoma associated with multiple metastatic lymph nodes.

Background/aims: Prognosis of esophageal carcinoma with multiple metastatic lymph nodes is dismal despite radical operation and adjuvant therapy. We investigated prognostic factors for curatively resected esophageal carcinoma with multiple positive nodes.

Methodology: From January 1983 to December 2002, 343 patients with thoracic esophageal carcinoma underwent an esophagectomy with curative intent.

Three-field dissection or two-field dissection?--A proposal of new algorithm for lymphadenectomy.

Background/aims: There are no systematic criteria for cervical lymphadenectomy in esophageal carcinoma. We provide a new algorithm for deciding whether to use three-field dissection or two-field dissection.

Methodology: Ninety-eight patients underwent curative esophagectomies with three-field lymph node dissections for squamous cell carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus.

The width of a gastric tube has no impact on outcome after esophagectomy.

Background: We evaluated the impact of the size of gastric tubes on tissue blood flow of the anastomotic site, the frequency of leakage and the postoperative nutritional status.

Methods: Forty-four patients were randomly allocated to either reconstruction using subtotal stomach (n = 22) or to reconstruction using slender gastric tube (n = 22) after esophagectomy. The tissue blood flow at the anastomotic site was measured.

Outcome of histologically node-negative esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

The outcome of node-negative esophageal carcinoma and the prognostic significance of lymph node micrometastasis remain unknown. The aim of this retrospective study was to clarify these two points. A series of 98 patients who underwent curative operation for histologically node-negative (pN0 in TNM classification) esophageal carcinoma were enrolled in the study.

All pathological T4 esophageal carcinomas should be categorized as stage IV.

Background/aims: The prognosis of pathological T4 (pT4) esophageal carcinoma is still dismal, however, the current TNM classification categorizes some pT4 cancers (pT4M0) as stage III. The purpose of this study was to evaluate of the relevance of this classification.

Methodology: One hundred and thirty-five patients who underwent esophagectomy for pathological stage III (n = 85) and IV (n = 50) esophageal tumors were enrolled in the study.