Cervical lymph node metastasis classified as regional nodal staging in thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after radical esophagectomy and three-field lymph node dissection

Sex differences in survival following surgery for esophageal cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The impact of sex on the prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer remains unclear. Evidence supports that sex- based disparities in esophageal cancer survival could be attributed to sex- specific risk exposures, such as age at diagnosis, race, socioeconomic status, smoking, drinking, and histological type. The aim of our study is to investigate the role of sex disparities in survival of patients who underwent surgery for esophageal cancer. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the existing literature in PubMed, EMBASE, and CENTRAL from December 1966 to February 2023, was held. Studies that reported sex-related differences in survival outcomes of patients who underwent esophagectomy for esophageal cancer were identified. A total of 314 studies were included in the quantitative analysis. Statistically significant results derived from 1-year and 2-year overall survival pooled analysis with Relative Risk (RR) 0.93 (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.90-0.97, I2 = 52.00) and 0.90 (95% CI: 0.85-0.95, I2 = 0.00), respectively (RR < 1 = favorable for men). In the postoperative complications analysis, statistically significant results concerned anastomotic leak and heart complications, RR: 1.08 (95% CI: 1.01-1.16) and 0.62 (95% CI: 0.52-0.75), respectively. Subgroup analysis was performed among studies with <200 and > 200 patients, histology types, study continent and publication year. Overall, sex tends to be an independent prognostic factor for esophageal carcinoma. However, unanimous results seem rather obscure when multivariable analysis and subgroup analysis occurred. More prospective studies and gender-specific protocols should be conducted to better understand the modifying role of sex in esophageal cancer prognosis.

Orofacial symptoms suggestive of malignant lesions and the role of imaging: literature review and case presentation

Among the patients seeking dental treatment, some may present with symptoms that cannot be resolved by dental treatment alone. Patients with orofacial symptoms associated with malignant diseases, which require medical treatment, often visit dental clinics for their initial consultation. Delays in making a definitive diagnosis worsen the patient's prognosis. Therefore, dental clinicians should also be aware of the signs and symptoms associated with malignant diseases. The chief complaints of these patients include numb chin syndrome (NCS), painless swelling of the palate and neck, trismus and temporomandibular disorders, and an enlarged tongue. This article aimed to review these orofacial symptoms and related diseases and describe representative cases of these diseases to obtain a definitive diagnosis via imaging. Panoramic radiograph is widely used in general dentistry, and this article reaffirmed the importance of panoramic radiograph anatomical landmarks in diagnosing the cases presented in this paper.

Three-Field Versus Two-Field Lymphadenectomy in Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy: 3-Year Survival Outcomes of a Randomized Trial

BACKGROUND

Minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) has been used widely for the treatment of esophageal cancer. However, the optimal extent of lymphadenectomy for esophagectomy in MIE remains unclear. This trial aimed to investigate the 3-year survival and recurrence outcomes in a randomized controlled trial comparing MIE with either three-field lymphadenectomy (3-FL) or two-field lymphadenectomy (2-FL).

METHODS

Between June 2016 and May 2019, 76 patients with resectable thoracic esophageal cancer were enrolled in a single-center randomized controlled trial and randomly assigned to MIE that included either 3-FL or 2-FL at a 1:1 ratio (n = 38 patients each). The survival outcomes and recurrence patterns were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

The 3-year cumulative overall survival (OS) probability was 68.2 % (95 % confidence interval [CI], 52.72-83.68 %) for the 3-FL group and 68.6 % (95 % CI, 53.12-84.08 %) for the 2-FL group. The 3-year cumulative probability of disease-free survival (DFS) was 66.3 % (95 % CI, 50.03-82.57 %) for the 3-FL group and 67.1 % (95 % CI, 51.03-83.17 %) for the 2-FL group.. The OS and DFS differences in the two groups were comparable. The overall recurrence rate did not differ significantly between the two groups (P = 0.737). The incidence of cervical lymphatic recurrence in the 2-FL group was higher than in the 3-FL group (P = 0.051).

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with 2-FL in MIE, 3-FL tended to prevent cervical lymphatic recurrence. However, it was not found to add survival benefit for the patients with thoracic esophageal cancer.

The prognostic value of 11th Japanese classification and 8th AJCC staging systems in Chinese patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Two staging systems, the 8th staging system by the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) and the 11th Japanese classification by Japan Esophageal Society (JES), are currently applied in the clinic for predicting the prognosis of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The differences between the two staging systems have been widely researched. However, little studies focus on the differences in specific staging between the two systems. Therefore, we aimed to compare the performance of different staging in predicting overall survival (OS) of Chinese patients with ESCC.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 268 patients who underwent radical esophagectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection for ESCC between January 2008 and December 2013. Patients were staged by the 8th AJCC and 11th JES staging systems. OS was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared between N stages and between stage groupings using the log-rank test. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was performed to identify factors independently related to outcome. Further, we compared the concordance indexes (C-indexes) of the two staging systems.

RESULTS

The mean age was 61.25 ± 7.056 years, median follow-up was 44.82 months, and 5-year OS rate was 47%. The OS was well predicted by the 8th AJCC N staging (P < 0.001) and the 11th JES N staging (P < 0.001), with a c-index of 0.638 (95% CI: 0.592-0.683) for AJCC N staging and 0.627 (95% CI: 0.583-0.670) for JES N staging (P = 0.13). In addition, the OS was also well predicted by stage groupings of the 8th AJCC (P < 0.001) and the 11th JES systems (P < 0.001), with a c-index of 0.658 (95% CI: 0.616-0.699) for 8th AJCC stage grouping and 0.629 (95% CI: 0.589-0.668) for the11th JES stage grouping (P = 0.211).

CONCLUSIONS

The prognostic effect of 11th JES staging system is comparable with that of AJCC 8th staging system for patients with ESCC. Therefore, both systems are applicable to clinical practice.

Extension of lymph node dissection in the surgical treatment of esophageal and gastroesophageal junction cancer: seven questions and answers

The role of two- or three-field nodal dissection in the surgical treatment of esophageal and gastroesophageal junction cancer in the minimally invasive era is still controversial. This review aims to clarify the extension of nodal dissection in esophageal and gastroesophageal junctional cancer. A basic evidence-based analysis was designed, and seven research questions were formulated and answered with a narrative review. Reports with little or no data, single cases, small series and review articles were not included. Three-field lymph node dissection improves staging accuracy, enhances locoregional disease control and might improve survival in the group of patients with cervical and upper mediastinal metastatic lymph nodal involvement from middle and proximal-third esophageal cancer.

Development and validation of a nomogram for prediction of cervical lymph node metastasis in middle and lower thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Background

Estimates of cervical lymph node (LN) metastasis in patients with middle and lower thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) are important. A nomogram is a useful tool for individualized prediction.

Methods

A total of 235 patients were enrolled in this study. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to screen for independent risk factors and construct a nomogram to predict the risk of cervical LN metastasis. The nomogram performance was assessed by discrimination, calibration, and clinical use.

Results

Totally, four independent predictors, including the maximum diameter of tumor, paraesophageal lymph node status, recurrent laryngeal nerve lymph node status, and the CT-reported cervical LN status, were enrolled in the nomogram. The AUC of the nomogram model in the training and validation dataset were 0.833 (95% CI 0.762–0.905), 0.808 (95% CI 0.696–0.920), respectively. The calibration curve demonstrated a strong consistency between nomogram and clinical findings in predicting cervical LN metastasis. Decision curve analysis demonstrated that the nomogram was clinically useful.

Conclusion

We developed a nomogram that could be conveniently used to predict the individualized risk of cervical LN metastasis in patients with middle and lower thoracic ESCC.

Safety and efficacy of minimally invasive McKeown esophagectomy in 1023 consecutive esophageal cancer patients: a single-center experience

Objective

By analyzing the perioperative, postoperative complications and long-term overall survival time, we summarized the 8-year experience of minimally invasive McKeown esophagectomy for esophageal cancer in a single medical center.

Methods

This retrospective follow-up study included 1023 consecutive patients with esophageal cancer who underwent MIE-McKeown between Mar 2013 and Oct 2020. Relevant variables were collected and evaluated. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were analyzed by Kaplan–Meier method.

Results

For 1023 esophageal cancer undergoing MIE-McKeown, the main intraoperative complications were bleeding (3.0%, 31/1023) and tracheal injury (1.7%, 17/1023). There was no death occurred during operation. The conversion rate of thoracoscopy to thoracotomy was 2.2% (22/1023), and laparoscopy to laparotomy was 0.3% (3/1023). The postoperative morbidity of complications was 36.2% (370/1023), of which anastomotic leakage 7.7% (79/1023), pulmonary complication 13.4% (137/1023), chylothorax 2.3% (24/1023), and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury 8.8% (90/1023). The radical resection rate (R0) was 96.0% (982/1023), 30-day mortality was 0.3% (3/1023). For 1000 cases with squamous cell carcinoma, the estimated 3-year and 5-year overall survival was 37.2% and 17.8% respectively. In addition, neoadjuvant chemotherapy offered 3-year disease-free survival rate advantage in advanced stage patients (for stage IV: 7.2% vs. 1.8%).

Conclusions

This retrospective single center study demonstrates that MIE-McKeown procedure is feasible and safe with low perioperative and postoperative complications’ morbidity, and acceptable long-term oncologic results.

Neck Dissection for Cervical Lymph Node Metastases from Remote Primary Malignancies

Background and Objectives: Patients with cervical lymph node metastases from remote primary tumours have poor prognoses because of the advanced stage of their cancer. Owing to recent progress in the nonsurgical management of various cancer types, options for surgical treatment to reduce tumour volume are increasing, and may help improve survival rates. For example, neck dissection may be a good option as a definitive therapy for some patients with resectable cervical metastases. We assessed patients who underwent neck dissection with curative intent and discuss the effectiveness of this approach for cervical metastases from remote malignancies. Material and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 18 patients (10 males and 8 females in an age range of 30–79 years) who underwent neck dissections for neck lymph node metastases from a remote primary tumour between 2010 and 2019. Patient clinical characteristics, preoperative accuracy of positive node localisation using fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography–computed tomography (FDG/PET-CT), and patient survival rates were estimated. Results: Primary sites included ten lungs, two mammary glands, one thymus, one thoracic oesophagus, one stomach, one uterine cervix, one ovary, and one testis per patient. There were 19 levels with FDG/PET-CT positive nodes in 17 out of 18 patients. Conversely, there were 28 pathological positive levels out of 50 dissected levels. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracy of FDG-PET/CT in predicting positive nodes were 69%, 88%, 95%, 47%, and 74%, respectively. The three-year overall survival (OS) rate for all patients was 70%. The three-year OS rate of the group with zero or one pathological positive nodes was 81%, which was significantly higher than that of the group with more than two positive nodes (51%) (p = 0.03). Conclusions: Neck dissection for cervical lymph node metastases from remote primary malignancies may improve prognoses, especially considering anticancer agents and radiotherapy advancements.

Novel technique for lymphadenectomy along left recurrent laryngeal nerve during thoracoscopic esophagectomy

BACKGROUND

In esophageal squamous carcinoma, lymphadenectomy along the left recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) is recommended owing to its highly metastatic potential. However, this procedure is difficult due to limited working space in the left upper mediastinum, and increases postoperative complications.

AIM

To present a novel method for lymphadenectomy along the left RLN during thoracoscopic esophagectomy in the semi-prone position.

METHODS

The fundamental concept of this novel method is to exfoliate a bilateral pedicled nerve flap, which is a two-dimensional membrane, which includes the left RLN, lymph nodes (LNs) along the left RLN, and tracheoesophageal vessels, by suspending the esophagus to the dorsal side and pushing the trachea to the ventral side (named “bilateral exposure method”). Then, the hollow-out method is performed to transform the two-dimensional membrane to a three-dimensional structure, in which the left RLN and tracheoesophageal vessels are easily distinguished and preserved during lymphadenectomy along the left RLN. This novel method was retrospectively evaluated in 116 consecutive patients with esophageal squamous carcinoma from August 2016 to February 2018.

RESULTS

There were 58 patients in each group. No significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of age, gender, postoperative pneumonia, anastomotic fistula, and postoperative hospitalization. However, the number of dissected LNs along the left RLN in this novel method was significantly higher than that in the conventional method (4.17 ± 0.359 vs 2.93 ± 0.463, P = 0.0447). Moreover, the operative time and the rate of postoperative hoarseness in the novel method were significantly lower than those in the conventional method (306.0 ± 6.774 vs 335.2 ± 7.750, P = 0.0054; 4/58 vs 12/58, P = 0.0312).

CONCLUSION

This novel method for lymphadenectomy along the left RLN during thoracoscopic esophagectomy in the semi-prone position is much safer and more effective.

Survival Impact of Delaying Postoperative Radiotherapy in Patients with Esophageal Cancer

The purpose of the current study was to retrospectively assess the effect of postoperative radiotherapy (RT) delay on survival for patients with esophageal cancer. From 2008 to 2011, patients with esophageal cancer who had undergone postoperative RT in five different hospitals in China were reviewed. Clinical data, including time interval between surgery to RT, were prospectively collected. Kaplan-Meier method was conducted to estimate the effect of each variable on progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), with differences assessed by log-rank test. Univariate Cox proportional-hazards models were performed for both PFS and OS for all assumed predictor variables. Statistically significant predictor variables (P < .05) on univariate analysis were then included in multivariate Cox proportional-hazards models, which were performed to compare the effects of RT delay on PFS and OS. A total of 316 patients were finally enrolled in this prospectively multicentric study. Time to RT after surgery varied from 12 days to over 60 days (median, 26 days). Multivariate analysis showed that delay to RT longer than the median does not appear to be a survival cost. There was also no statistically difference in PFS (P = .513) or OS (P = .236) between patients stratified by quartiles (≤21 days vs ≧35 days). However, patients with particularly long delays (≧42 days) demonstrated a detrimental impact on OS (P = .021) but not PFS (P = .580). Delaying postoperative RT of esophageal cancer does not impact PFS, but results in a significant reduction on OS if delaying longer than 6 weeks.

Prognostic value of EGFR family expression in lymph node-negative esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients

The human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family has been widely studied in cancer, however, the prognostic role of EGFR family expression in lymph node-negative esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients have not been invalidated. This study was designed to determine the prognostic value of EGFR family expression in a population of lymph node-negative ESCC patients treated with curative resection. EGFR family protein expression was examined by immunohistochemical analysis of tissue microarrays of 94 patients with lymph node-negative ESCC after radical esophagectomy with three-field lymphadenectomy. Survival differences were compared using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Cox regression analyses were performed to determine the prognostic factors for overall survival and disease-free survival (DFS). ErbB4 expression was found to be an independent prognostic factor for DFS in patients without lymph node metastasis; increased ErbB4 expression was associated with decreased DFS. Additionally, patients with high ErbB4 expression tended to have worse overall survival. EGFR, ErbB2 and ErbB3 expression were not significantly associated with survival in lymph node-negative ESCC patients. Increased ErbB4 immunohistochemical expression was associated with poor prognosis in lymph node-negative ESCC patients.

Cytological Findings of Malignant and Benign Head and Neck Masses in Somalia

OBJECTIVE

There are no up-to-date records on head and neck masses (HNMs) in Somalia. This cytological study is the first to demonstrate the benefits and findings of fine-needle aspiration cytology in evaluating HNMs in the adult population of Somalia.

STUDY DESIGN

A total of 116 aspiration samples were taken from different levels of the neck region, except for the thyroid. Cases were classified as salivary gland, lymph node, or soft tissue/cystic lesions. They were classified according to age, gender, and cytological diagnosis.

RESULTS

Patients included 54 (46.6%) males and 62 (53.4%) females, with a mean age of 40.6 years. Seventy-two patients (62.1%) had benign lesions, while 44 (37.9%) had malignant lesions. Necrotizing granulomatous lymphadenitis (n = 51, 70.8% of the benign findings) and lymph node metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma (n = 13, 29.5% of the malignant findings) were the most frequent findings.

CONCLUSION

Fine-needle aspiration is a useful procedure in the diagnosis of neck masses. It is a cheap and easy guiding method for diagnosing granulomatous lymphadenitis and advanced-stage metastatic cancers, which are common in this country.

Predictive factors for major postoperative complications related to gastric conduit reconstruction in thoracoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer: a case control study

Background

Regardless of developments in thoracoscopic esophagectomy (TE), postoperative complications relative to gastric conduit reconstruction are common after esophagectomy. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the predictive factors of major complications related to gastric conduit after TE.

Methods

From 2006 to 2015, 75 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent TE were evaluated to explore the predictive factors of major postoperative complications related to gastric conduit.

Results

Patients with major complications related to gastric conduit had a significantly longer postoperative hospital stay than patients without these complications (P <  0.01). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that three-field lymph node dissection (3FLND) and high serum levels of creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and C-reactive protein (CRP) at 1 postoperative day (1POD) after TE were significant predictive factors of major complications related to gastric conduit [odds ratio (OR) 5.37, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.41–24.33, P = 0.02; OR 5.40, 95% CI 1.60–20.20, P <  0.01; OR 5.07, 95% CI 1.47–20.25, P = 0.01, respectively]. The incidence rates of major complications related to gastric conduit for 0, 1, 2, and 3 predictive factors were 5.3%, 18.8%, 58.8%, and 85.7%, respectively (P <  0.01).

Conclusions

Two or more factors in 3FLND and the high levels of CPK and CRP at 1POD after TE were identified as the risk model for major complications related to gastric conduit after TE.

Trial registration

UMIN Clinical Trials Registry, ID: UMIN000024436, Registered date: Oct/17/2016.

Regional hyperthermia combined with radiotherapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with supraclavicular lymph node metastasis

To assess the efficacy and toxicity of Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and hyperthermia for upper and middle thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (UMT-ESCC) with supraclavicular lymph node metastasis. A total of 50 patients with UMT-ESCC with supraclavicular lymph node metastasis were evaluated in this retrospective study. All patients received IMRT. Hyperthermia was delivered simultaneously with irradiation, in 45 minutes twice a week for 5-6 weeks. Hyperthermia included supraclavicular lymph node metastasis. Forty-four patients (88.0%) received concurrent chemoradiotherapy based on cisplatin regimens. The most common types of hematological toxicities were anemia (62.0%) and leukopenia (60.0%). Most of these events were grade 1-2 and transient. The 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate and overall survival (OS) rate were 34.9% and 42.5%, respectively. Cox regression revealed that tumor length and number of supraclavicular lymph node metastasis were two independent predictors of OS (tumor length: HR=3.65, p=0.008; nodal stage: HR=8.07, p=0.019). The IMRT combined with supraclavicular regional hyperthermia has low toxicity and well tolerated with excellent local control in UMT-ESCC with supraclavicular lymph node metastasis.

Three-field lymph node dissection in treating the esophageal cancer

There are many controversies in lymphadenectomy for thoracic esophageal cancer, and whether 3-field lymphadenectomy or 2-field lymphadenectomy is better have still been in doubt. The aim of this article is to review the role of the lymph node dissection by introducing the merits and demerits in 3-field lymphadenectomy, and the development in lymphadenectomy's selection, treatment and diagnosis. All the literatures related to esophageal lymphadenectomy and minimally invasive surgery (MIE) were searched in PubMed database and the cross references were added and reviewed to complete the reference list. Several researches elucidated that better overall survival (OS) in patients with esophageal cancer after 3-field lymphadenectomy had been reported worldwide, and 3-field lymphadenectomy is more suitable for treating esophageal cancer with cervical and/or upper mediastinal lymph nodes metastasis than 2-field lymphadenectomy regardless of the tumor's histology and location. Many approaches based on the characteristics of esophageal cancer lymph node metastasis are taken to improve the accuracy of 3-field lymphadenectomy and decrease the postoperative morbidity and mortality, while every approach needs further studies to demonstrate its feasibility. The benefits of the recently rapid-developed techniques performed in treating esophageal cancer: the MIE and the robotic-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy are illuminated as well, and both of them are technically safe and feasible for esophageal cancer, whereas further evaluations are still necessary.

A new method (the "Pincers maneuver") for lymphadenectomy along the right recurrent laryngeal nerve during thoracoscopic esophagectomy in the prone position for esophageal cancer

BACKGROUND

In esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, the number of dissected lymph nodes (LNs), including those along the recurrent laryngeal nerves (RLNs), influences prognosis and nodal staging accuracy. However, dissection of LNs along the RLN increases the risk of complications, especially RLN palsy. Therefore, complete dissection of these LNs with prevention of RLN palsy is recommended. We present herein a new method for lymphadenectomy along the right RLN, named the Pincers maneuver, during thoracoscopic esophagectomy in the prone position (TEP).

METHODS

The fundamental concept in this new method is to first exfoliate the two-dimensional membrane (lateral pedicle), which includes the right RLN, LNs along the right RLN, and the primary esophageal artery, from the right side of the trachea toward the neck. Using a Pincers strategy, closing in from the inner and outer sides of the two-dimensional membrane (lateral pedicle), lymphadenectomy along the right RLN toward the right inferior thyroid artery should be easy. This technique was evaluated in 30 consecutive cases of TEP for squamous cell cancer.

RESULTS

There were 15 patients who underwent the new method (Pincers maneuver; Pm) and 15 patients who underwent the conventional method (Cm). There were no significant differences between the two groups in the duration of the thoracic procedure and dissection along the right RLN. No intraoperative and postoperative morbidity related to the right RLN was observed in either group. The Pm group had a higher number of dissected LNs along the right RLN than the Cm group (6.3 vs 3.1, p = 0.044).

CONCLUSIONS

The Pincers maneuver for lymphadenectomy along the right RLN during TEP is technically safe and feasible. It increases the number of dissected LNs along the right RLN.