Paratracheal lymph node metastasis in operable localized esophageal and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.

Abstract

e15526 Background: Paratracheal lymph node (LN) is considered regional for esophageal cancer, but its metastatic rate and influence to survival remain unclear. We aimed to evaluate the frequency of paratracheal LN metastasis and its prognostic influence. Methods: 1199 patients with localized esophageal or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (EAC) (January 2002 and December 2016) in our Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology Database were analyzed. 1R, 1L, 2R, 2L, 4R, and 4L according to 8th AJCC classification were defined as paratracheal LN. Results: Of 1199 patients, 73 (6.1%) had positive parataracheal LN at diagnosis. The median overall survival (OS) in 73 patients with initial paratracheal LN involvement was 2.10 years (range, xx). Of 1071 patients who were eligible for recurrence evaluation, 70 patients (6.5%) developed positive paratracheal LN recurrences as first recurrence. The median time to recurrence was 1.28 years (range; 0.28-5.96 years) and the median OS after recurrence was 0.95 years (range; 0.03-7.89). OS in 35 patients who had only patatracheal LN recurrence was significantly longer than in patients who had with other distant recurrences (median 2.26 vs 0.51 years; p < 0.0001). Higher T stage (T3/T4) was an independently risk factor for paratracheal LN recurrence (OR 5.10, 95% CI 1.46-17.89). We segregated patients in 3 groups based on the distance from esophagogastric junction to tumor proximal edge (lower; ≤2cm, middle; 2.0-7.0cm, higher; > 7.0cm), positive paratrachal LN metastases were more frequent in the proximal tumors (lower 4.2%, middle 12.0%, higher 30.3%; Cochran-Armitage Trend test, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Paratracheal LN metastases were associated with shorter survival in localized EAC patients. Careful investigation and surveillance for paratracheal LN are warranted.