Lymph node failure pattern after radiotherapy/chemotherapy in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma without initial clinical metastasis / 中国肿瘤临床

ABSTRACT

Objective:To analyze the factors affecting lymph node failure pattern after radiotherapy/chemotherapy in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma without initial clinical metastasis. Methods:A total of 263 patients, who were diagnosed as thoracic esopha-geal carcinoma from January 2002 to December 2009, were included in this retrospective study. Factors affecting lymph node failure pattern with general clinical data and tumor local factors were analyzed. Results:Among the 263 esophageal cancer cases, 31 (11.8%) had lymph node metastasis after treatment, including 18 cases of simple lymph node metastasis and 13 other cases of lymph node metas-tasis with esophageal and other organ metastasis or recurrence. The numbers of cases for lymph node metastasis in the upper, middle, and lower thoracic esophagus were 11 (13.3%), 13 (10.1%), and 7 (13.7%), respectively. Univariate analysis showed that recent cura-tive effect, length of tumor on X-rays, maximum tumor diameter, and tumor volume were the significant factors associated with lymph node metastasis (χ2=7.597, 9.717, 5.361, and 4.815;P=0.006, 0.002, 0.021, and 0.028). Logistic regression analysis results showed that recent curative effect and length of tumor on X-rays were independent significant factors (P=0.004 and 0.026). Conclusion:Recent cu-rative effect and length of tumor on X-rays were the significant factors associated with lymph node failure pattern after radiotherapy/chemotherapy in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma without initial clinical metastasis.