ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the local-regional recurrence in thoracic esophageal cancer after radical surgery including two-field lymph node dissection and provide evidence for postoperative radiotherapy. Methods We reviewed local-regional recurrence for 134 cases with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after radical surgery from 2004 to 2009. Results In 134 cases, lymph node metastasis rate,anastomosis recurrence rate and tumor bed recurrence rate was 94. 0%, 9. 7% and 3.7%, respectively. As to the 126 cases with lymph node metastasis, significant difference was detected between mediastinal metastasis, supraclavicular metastasis and abdominal lymph node metastasis (80. 2%, 43.7% and 13.5%,respectively, χ2= 113. 15, P = 0. 000). Furthermore, the relative metastasis rate in upper mediastinum,middle mediastinum and the lower mediastinum was 73.8%, 39.7% and 1.6%, respectively, the difference was statistically significant ( χ2 = 139. 11, P = 0. 000 ). Significant difference was identified between right and left supraclavicular lymph node metastasis (31.7% vs 16. 7%, χ2= 7. 81, P = 0. 005 ).To confirm the analysis above,lymph node metastasis rate of left recurrent laryngeal nerve nodes, (including region 1L, 2L, 4L and 5) ,right recurrent laryngeal nerve nodes, azygos nodes, subcarinal nodes, and 2R region was 38.9%, 43.7%, 15.1%, 34.1% and 25.4%, respectively. Conclusions The main characteristics of local-regional recurrence may be lymph node metastasis for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after radical surgery. On the contrary, tumor bed recurrence is rare. Dangerous regions include supraclavicular nodes, recurrent laryngeal nerve nodes, azygos nodes as well as subcarinal nodes.