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Lymph Node Metastasis Extent Reflects the Prognosis of Patients with Esophageal Cancer after Esophagectomy Better Than Lymph Node Number

Objective To improve esophageal lymph node staging and investgate an ideal esophageal lymph node metastasis staging method. Methods The clinical pathological data and followup data of the 236patients who had undergone thoracic esophagectomy with at least 6 lymph nodes (LN) removed from January 1985 to December 1989 were analyzed retrospectively. Cox proportional hazard model was used to screen risk factors, and Logrank test was applied to perform survival analysis according to lymph node metastasis staging (number, distance and extent). Results The 10-year follow-up rate was 92.3%（218/236）. The overall 1-year, 5-year and 10-year survival rates were 80.2%, 43.1% and 34.2% respectively. One hundred and twelve (47.4%) patients had LN metastasis, and their 5-year survival rates were lower than that of patients without LN metastasis (14.8% vs. 66.6%; χ2=77.18, P=0.000). Cox regression analysis showed that besides depth of invasion, differentiation grade and LN metastasis, the number, distance and extent of LN metastasis were the independent risk factors which could influence prognosis. A further analysis was given via univariate Logrank test. When grouped according to the number of LN metastasis, there were significant differences in overall survival rates (χ2=96.00,P=0.000), but no significant difference was found in survival rates between N2 and N3 group(Pgt;0.05). When grouped according to the distance of LN metastasis, there were significant differences in overall survival rates (χ2=79.29, P=0.000), but no significant difference was found in survival rates among S1, S2 and S3 group(Pgt;0.05). When grouped according to the extent of LN metastasis (0, 1, and ≥2 fields), there were significant differences in overall survival rates (χ2=87.47, P=0.000), and so were the survival rates among groups (χ2=5.14, P=0.023). Conclusion Revising the current Nclassification of TNM staging of esophageal cancer according to the extent of LN metastasis(0, 1, and ≥2 fields) is more reasonable, and can reflect the prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer after esophagectomy better.