Preoperative chemoradiation therapy decreases the number of lymph nodes resected during esophagectomy.

Background: This study aimed to analyze the effect of preoperative chemoradiation on the adequacy of lymph node dissection.

Methods: Patients with esophageal cancer treated with esophagectomy by the same surgeon between 2004 and 2011 were reviewed. Specimens were examined by the same pathologist.