Characteristics of lymph node metastasis of right recurrent laryngeal nerve in thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma / 中华肿瘤杂志

Objective: To understand the characteristics and influencing factors of lymph node metastasis of the right recurrent laryngeal nerve in thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), and to explore the reasonable range of lymph node dissection and the value of right recurrent laryngeal nerve lymph node dissection. Methods: The clinicopathological data with thoracic ESCC were retrospectively analyzed, and the characteristics of lymph node metastasis along the right recurrent laryngeal nerve and its influencing factors were explored. Results: Eighty out of 516 patients had lymph node metastasis along the right recurrent laryngeal nerve, the metastasis rate was 15.5%. Among 80 patients with lymph node metastasis along the right recurrent laryngeal nerve, 25 cases had isolated metastasis to the right recurrent laryngeal nerve lymph node but no other lymph nodes. The incidence of isolated metastasis to the recurrent laryngeal nerve lymph node was 4.8% (25/516). A total of 1 127 lymph nodes along the right recurrent laryngeal nerve were dissected, 115 lymph nodes had metastasis, and the degree of lymph node metastasis was 10.2%. T stage, degree of tumor differentiation and tumor location were associated with right paraglottic nerve lymph node metastasis (all P<0.05). The lymph node metastasis rate along the right recurrent laryngeal in patients with upper thoracic squamous cell carcinoma (23.4%, 26/111) was higher than that of patients with middle (13.5%, 40/296) and lower (12.8%, 14/109) thoracic squamous cell carcinoma (P=0.033). In patients with poorly differentiated ESCC (20.6%, 37/180) the metastasis rate was higher than that of patients with moderately (14.6%, 39/267) and well-differentiated (5.8%, 4/69; P<0.05). The lymph node metastasis rate of patients with stage T4 (27.3%, 3/11) was higher than that of patients with stage T1 (9.6%, 19/198), T2 (19.0%, 16/84) and T3 (18.8%, 42/1 223; P<0.05). Multivariate regression analysis showed that tumor location (OR=0.61, 95% CI: 0.41-0.90, P=0.013), invasion depth (OR=1.46, 95% CI: 1.11-1.92, P=0.007), and differentiation degree (OR=1.67, 95% CI: 1.13-2.49, P=0.011) were independent risk factors for lymph node metastasis along right recurrent laryngeal nerve of ESCC. Conclusions: The lymph node along the right recurrent laryngeal nerve has a higher rate of metastasis and should be routinely dissected in patients with ESCC. Tumor location, tumor invasion depth, and differentiation degree are risk factors for lymph node metastasis along right recurrent laryngeal nerve in patients with ESCC.

Analysis of risk factors for depth of invasion and angiolymphatic invasion for circumferential superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and precancerous lesion / 中华肿瘤杂志

Objective: To analyze clinicopathological features of circumferential superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and precancerous lesions and investigate the risk factors for deep submucosal invasion and angiolymphatic invasion retrospectively. Methods: A total of 116 cases of esophageal squamous epithelial high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia or squamous cell carcinoma diagnosed by gastroscopy, biopsy pathology and endoscopic resection pathology during November 2013 to October 2021 were collected, and their clinicopathological features were analyzed. The independent risk factors of deep submucosal invasion and angiolymphatic invasion were analyzed by logistic regression model. Results: The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that drinking history (OR=3.090, 95% CI: 1.165-8.200; P<0.05), The AB type of intrapapillary capillary loop (IPCL) (OR=11.215, 95% CI: 3.955-31.797; P<0.05) were the independent risk factors for the depth of invasion. The smoking history (OR=5.824, 95% CI: 1.704-19.899; P<0.05), the presence of avascular area (AVA) (OR=3.393, 95% CI: 1.285-12.072; P<0.05) were the independent factors for the angiolymphatic invasion. Conclusions: The risk of deep submucosal infiltration is greater for circumferential superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients with drinking history and IPCL type B2-B3 observed by magnifying endoscopy, while the risk of angiolymphatic invasion should be vigilant for circumferential superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients with smoking history and the presence of AVA observed by magnifying endoscopy. Ultrasound endoscopy combined with narrowband imagingand magnification endoscopy can improve the accuracy of preoperative assessment of the depth of infiltration of superficial squamous cell carcinoma and precancerous lesions and angiolymphaticinvasion in the whole perimeter of the esophagus, and help endoscopists to reasonably grasp the indications for endoscopic treatment.

Study on the prognostic influencing factors of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and the predictive value of inflammatory reaction indexes on its postoperative recurrence / 中华肿瘤杂志

Objective: To explore the influence factors of poor prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and the predictive value of inflammatory reaction indexes including neutrophils and lymphocytes ratio (NLR), platelet and lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte and lymphocyte ratio (MLR) provision and differentiation degree, infiltration depth, lymph node metastasis number on the postoperative recurrence of ESCC. Methods: A total of 130 patients with ESCC who underwent radical resection from February 2017 to February 2019 in Nanyang Central Hospital were selected and divided into good prognosis group (66 cases) and poor prognosis group (64 cases) according to the prognostic effect. The clinical data and follow-up data were collected. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent influencing factors of poor prognosis. Spearman correlation analysis was used to determine the correlation between preoperative NLR, PLR and MLR with the degree of differentiation, depth of invasion and number of lymph node metastases. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the efficacy of NLR, PLR and MLR in predicting poor prognosis of ESCC. Results: Univariate analysis showed that the degree of differentiation, the degree of invasion and the number of lymph node metastasis were related to the prognoses of patients with ESCC (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the degree of differentiation, depth of invasion and number of lymph node metastases were independent influencing factors for poor prognosis of patients with ESCC, moderate differentiation (OR=2.603, 95% CI: 1.009-6.715) or low differentiation (OR=9.909, 95% CI: 3.097-31.706), infiltrating into fibrous membrane (OR=14.331, 95% CI: 1.333-154.104) or surrounding tissue (OR=23.368, 95% CI: 1.466-372.578), the number of lymph node metastases ≥ 3 (OR=9.225, 95% CI: 1.693-50.263) indicated poor prognosis. Spearman correlation analysis showed that NLR was negatively correlated with the degree of differentiation and the number of lymph node metastases (r=-0.281, P=0.001; r=-0.257, P=0.003), PLR was negatively correlated with the degree of differentiation, depth of invasion and number of lymph node metastasis (r=-0.250, P=0.004; r=0.197, P=0.025; r=-0.194, P=0.027), MLR was positively correlated with the degree of differentiation and the number of lymph node metastasis (r=0.248, P=0.004; r=0.196, P=0.025). ROC curve analysis showed that the areas under the curve of NLR, PLR and MLR in predicting poor prognosis of ESCC were 0.971, 0.925 and 0.834, respectively. The best cut-off value of NLR was 2.87. The sensitivity and specificity of NLR in predicting poor prognosis of ESCC were 90.6% and 87.9%, respectively. The optimal cut-off value of PLR was 141.75. The sensitivity and specificity for predicting poor prognosis of ESCC were 92.2% and 87.9%, respectively. The best cut-off value of MLR was 0.40. The sensitivity and specificity of MLR in predicting poor prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were 54.7% and 100.0%, respectively. Conclusions: The degree of differentiation, the degree of invasion and the number of lymph node metastases are closely related to the poor prognosis of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. NLR, PLR and MLR can provide important information for predicting the poor prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Application value of CT examination of lymph node short diameter in evaluating cardia-left gastric lymph node metastasis in thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma / 中华肿瘤杂志

Objective: To investigate the application value of computed tomography (CT) examination of lymph node short diameter in evaluating cardia-left gastric lymph node metastasis in thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods: A total of 477 patients with primary thoracic ESCC who underwent surgical treatment in the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2013 to December 2017 were collected. All of them underwent McKeown esophagectomy plus complete two-field or three-field lymph node dissection. Picture archiving and communication system were used to measure the largest cardia-left gastric lymph node short diameter in preoperative CT images. The postoperative pathological diagnosis results of cardia-left gastric lymph node were used as the gold standard. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the efficacy of CT lymph node short diameter in detecting the metastasis of cardia-left gastric lymph node in thoracic ESCC, and determine the optimal cut-off value. Results: The median short diameter of the largest cardia-left gastric lymph node was 4.1 mm in 477 patients, and the largest cardia-left gastric lymph node short diameter was less than 3 mm in 155 cases (32.5%). Sixty-eight patients had cardia-left gastric lymph node metastases, of which 38 had paracardial node metastases and 41 had left gastric node metastases. The lymph node ratios of paracardial node and left gastric node were 4.0% (60/1 511) and 3.3% (62/1 887), respectively. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of CT lymph node short diameter for evaluating cardia-left gastric lymph node metastasis was 0.941 (95% CI: 0.904-0.977; P<0.05). The optimal cut-off value of CT examination of the cardia-left gastric lymph node short diameter was 6 mm, and the corresponding sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 85.3%, 91.7%, and 90.8%, respectively. Conclusion: CT examination of lymph node short diameter can be a good evaluation of cardia-left gastric lymph node metastasis in thoracic ESCC, and the optimal cut-off value is 6 mm.

Application value of CT examination of lymph node short diameter in evaluating cardia-left gastric lymph node metastasis in thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma / 中华肿瘤杂志

Objective: To investigate the application value of computed tomography (CT) examination of lymph node short diameter in evaluating cardia-left gastric lymph node metastasis in thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods: A total of 477 patients with primary thoracic ESCC who underwent surgical treatment in the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2013 to December 2017 were collected. All of them underwent McKeown esophagectomy plus complete two-field or three-field lymph node dissection. Picture archiving and communication system were used to measure the largest cardia-left gastric lymph node short diameter in preoperative CT images. The postoperative pathological diagnosis results of cardia-left gastric lymph node were used as the gold standard. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the efficacy of CT lymph node short diameter in detecting the metastasis of cardia-left gastric lymph node in thoracic ESCC, and determine the optimal cut-off value. Results: The median short diameter of the largest cardia-left gastric lymph node was 4.1 mm in 477 patients, and the largest cardia-left gastric lymph node short diameter was less than 3 mm in 155 cases (32.5%). Sixty-eight patients had cardia-left gastric lymph node metastases, of which 38 had paracardial node metastases and 41 had left gastric node metastases. The lymph node ratios of paracardial node and left gastric node were 4.0% (60/1 511) and 3.3% (62/1 887), respectively. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of CT lymph node short diameter for evaluating cardia-left gastric lymph node metastasis was 0.941 (95% CI: 0.904-0.977; P<0.05). The optimal cut-off value of CT examination of the cardia-left gastric lymph node short diameter was 6 mm, and the corresponding sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 85.3%, 91.7%, and 90.8%, respectively. Conclusion: CT examination of lymph node short diameter can be a good evaluation of cardia-left gastric lymph node metastasis in thoracic ESCC, and the optimal cut-off value is 6 mm.

A novel prognostic index in patients with resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: fibrinogen/prealbumin ratio

ABSTRACT Background: Fibrinogen (Fib) to albumin (ALB) fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio as a prognostic index for esophageal cancer has been confirmed. A novel prognostic index was initially proposed with fibrinogen to prealbumin ratio (FPR) in patients with resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Objective: The objective of the study was to study the prognostic role of the novel prognostic index (FPR) in patients with resectable ESCC without any neoadjuvant treatment. Methods: In this retrospective study, a total of 372 resectable ESCC patients without any neoadjuvant treatment were included. The best cutoff values were selected by the receiver operating characteristic curves. Two Cox regression analyses with forward stepwise (one for categorical variables and the other for continuous variables) were used to evaluate the overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). Results: The best cutoff point was 0.014 for FPR. Patients with lower levels of FPR (≤0.014) had better CSS (50.7% vs. 18.0%, p < 0.001) and OS (48.0% vs. 17.6%, p < 0.001) than patients with higher levels of FPR (> 0.014). Multivariate Cox analyses (categorical and continuous) demonstrated that FPR was an independent prognostic factor in CSS (categorical: hazard ratio [HR]: 2.014, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.504-2.697, p < 0.001; continuous per 0.01: HR: 1.438, 95% CI: 1.154-1.793, p = 0.001) and OS (categorical: HR: 1.964, 95% CI: 1.475-2.617, p < 0.001; continuous per 0.01: HR: 1.429, 95% CI: 1.146-1.781, p = 0.002). Conclusions: Our study indicated that FPR served as an independent prognostic factor in patients with resectable ESCC.

Lymphoparietal index in esophageal cancer is stronger than tnm staging in long-term survival prognosis in a latin-american country / índice linfoparietal no câncer esofágico é mais forte do que tnm no prognóstico de sobrevivência em longo prazo em um país latinoamericano

ABSTRACT Background: The identification of prognostic factors of esophageal cancer has allowed to predict the evolution of patients. Aim: Assess different prognostic factors of long-term survival of esophageal cancer and evaluate a new prognostic factor of long-term survival called lymphoparietal index (N+/T). Method: Prospective study of the Universidad de Chile Clinical Hospital, between January 2004 and December 2013. Included all esophageal cancer surgeries with curative intent and cervical anastomosis. Exclusion criteria included: stage 4 cancers, R1 resections, palliative procedures and emergency surgeries. Results: Fifty-eight patients were included, 62.1% were men, the average age was 63.3 years. A total of 48.3% were squamous, 88% were advanced cancers, the average lymph node harvest was 17.1. Post-operative surgical morbidity was 75%, with a 17.2% of reoperations and 3.4% of mortality. The average overall survival was 41.3 months, the 3-year survival was 31%. Multivariate analysis of the prognostic factors showed that significant variables were anterior mediastinal ascent (p=0.01, OR: 6.7 [1.43-31.6]), anastomotic fistula (p=0.03, OR: 0.21 [0.05-0.87]), N classification (p=0.02, OR: 3.8 [1.16-12.73]), TNM stage (p=0.04, OR: 2.8 [1.01-9.26]), and lymphoparietal index (p=0.04, RR: 3.9 [1.01-15.17]. The ROC curves of lymphoparietal index, N classification and TNM stage have areas under the curve of 0.71, 0.63 and 0.64 respectively, with significant statistical difference (p=0.01). Conclusion: The independent prognostic factors of long-term survival in esophageal cancer are anterior mediastinal ascent, anastomotic fistula, N classification, TNM stage and lymphoparietal index. In esophageal cancer the new lymphoparietal index is stronger than TNM stage in long-term survival prognosis.

RESUMO Racional: A identificação de fatores prognósticos do câncer de esôfago permitiu prever a evolução dos pacientes. Objetivo: Avaliar diferentes fatores prognósticos da sobrevida em longo prazo do câncer de esôfago e avaliar um novo fator prognóstico da sobrevida em longo prazo chamado índice linfoparietal (N+/T). Método: Estudo prospectivo do Hospital Clínico da Universidade do Chile, entre janeiro de 2004 e dezembro de 2013. Incluiu todas as operações de câncer de esôfago com intenção curativa e anastomose cervical. Os critérios de exclusão incluíram: câncer em estágio 4, ressecções R1, procedimentos paliativos e operações de emergência. Resultados: Cinquenta e oito pacientes foram incluídos, 62,1% eram homens, a idade média foi de 63,3 anos. Um total de 48,3% eram escamosos, 88% eram cânceres avançados, a colheita média de linfonodos foi de 17,1. A morbidade cirúrgica pós-operatória foi de 75%, com 17,2% de reoperações e 3,4% de mortalidade. A sobrevida global média foi de 41,3 meses, a sobrevida em três anos foi de 31%. A análise multivariada dos fatores prognósticos mostrou que variáveis significativas foram elevação pelo mediastinal anterior (p=0,01, OR: 6,7 [1,43-31,6]), fístula anastomótica (p=0,03, OR: 0,21 [0,05-0,87]), classificação N (p=0,02, OR: 3,8 [1,16-12,73]), estágio TNM (p=0,04, OR: 2,8 [1,01-9,26]) e índice linfoparietal (p=0,04, RR: 3,9 [1,01-15,17]. As curvas ROC do índice linfoparietal, classificação N e estádio TNM apresentam áreas abaixo da curva de 0,71, 0,63 e 0,64, respectivamente, com diferença estatística significativa (p=0,01). Conclusão: Os fatores prognósticos independentes de sobrevida em longo prazo no câncer de esôfago são a elevação mediastinal anterior, fístula anastomótica, classificação N, estágio TNM e índice linfoparietal. No câncer de esôfago, o novo índice linfoparietal é mais forte que o estágio TNM no prognóstico de sobrevida em longo prazo.

Pathologic complete response (ypt0 ypn0) after chemotherapy and radiotherapy neoadjuvant followed by esophagectomy in the squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus / Resposta patológica completa (ypt0 ypn0) após quimioterapia e radioterapia neoadjuvantes seguido de esofagectomia no carcinoma epidermóide avançado do esôfago: resultados e sobrevida

ABSTRACT Background: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is an aggressive neoplasia that requires a multidisciplinary treatment in which survival and prognosis are still not satisfactory. The complete pathologic response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy is considered a good prognosis factor, and esophagectomy is indicated. Aim: Survival analysis of cases with pathologic complete response (ypT0 ypN0) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, submmitted to esophagectomy. Methods: Between 1983-2014, 222 esophagectomies were performed, and 177 were conducted to neoadjuvant treatment. In 34 patients the pathologic response was considered complete. Medical records of the patients were retrospectively reviewed regarding type of chemotherapy applied, amount of radiotherapy, interval between the neoadjuvant therapy and the surgery, body mass index; postoperative complications; hospital admission time and survival. Results: The average age was 55.8 years. Twenty-five patients were subjected to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and nine to neoadjuvant radiotherapy. The total radiation dose ranged from 4400 until 5400 cGy. The chemotherapy was performed with 5FU, cisplatin, and carbotaxol, concomitantly with the radiotherapy. The esophagectomy was transmediastinal, followed by the cervical esophagogastroplasty performed on a average of 49.4 days after the neoadjuvant therapy. The hospital admission time was an average of 14.8 days. During the follow-up period, 52% of the patients submitted to radiotherapy and chemotherapy were disease-free, with 23.6% of them presenting more than five years survival. Conclusions: The neoadjuvant treatment followed by esophagectomy in patients with pathologic complete response is beneficial for the survival of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

RESUMO Racional: O carcinoma epidermoide do esôfago é neoplasia de natureza agressiva, que requer tratamento multidisciplinar e tem taxas de sobrevida e prognóstico ainda não satisfatórios. A resposta patológica completa à neoadjuvância com quimioterapia e radioterapia é considerada fator de bom prognóstico e a esofagectomia está indicada. Objetivo: Análise de sobrevida dos casos com resposta patológica completa (ypT0 ypN0) à neoadjuvância com quimioterapia e/ou radioterapia, submetidos à esofagectomia. Métodos: Entre 1983-2014, 222 esofagectomias foram realizadas e 177 foram submetidas ao tratamento neoadjuvante. Em 34 pacientes, a resposta patológica foi considerada completa. Os prontuários dos pacientes foram revisados retrospectivamente quanto ao tipo de quimioterapia aplicada, quantidade de radioterapia, intervalo entre a terapia neoadjuvante e a operação, índice de massa corporal (IMC), complicações pós-operatórias, tempo de internação hospitalar e sobrevida. Resultados: A idade média foi de 55,8 anos. Vinte e cinco pacientes foram submetidos a quimioterapia e radioterapia e nove à radioterapia neoadjuvante. A dose total de radiação variou de 4400 até 5400 cGy. A quimioterapia foi realizada com 5FU, cisplatina e carbotaxol, concomitantemente à radioterapia. A esofagectomia foi transmediastinal, seguida da esofagogastroplastia cervical realizada em média 49,4 dias após a terapia neoadjuvante. O tempo de internação hospitalar foi em média de 14,8 dias. Durante o período de seguimento, 52% dos pacientes submetidos a radioterapia e quimioterapia estavam livres de doença, com 23,6% apresentando sobrevida maior que cinco anos. Conclusão: O tratamento neoadjuvante seguido de esofagectomia, nos pacientes com resposta patológica completa, oferece benefícios na sobrevida de portadores de carcinoma epidermoide do esôfago.