Editorial Comment: Oesophageal cancer staging: refining regional lymph node classification (N)

Abstract

We read with great interest the article by D’Annoville et al. [1], which investigates the association of metastatic oesophageal cancer extension outside the capsule of regional lymph nodes (ECLNI) and ‘disease-free survival’. ECLNI, a site-specific factor in the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 7th edition staging manual, should be recorded for all oesophageal cancer patients with regional lymph node metastases (positive nodes) [2]. It is being actively collected by the Worldwide Esophageal Cancer Collaboration (WECC) for inclusion in the analysis that will produce the 8th edition cancer staging recommendations.