Abstract

Abstract Background Salvage Lymphadenectomy is regarded as the only curative surgery to residual or recurrence lymph nodes of esophageal cancer after definitive chemoradiotherapy (dCRT). However, salvage lymphadenectomy is not described in the Japanese esophageal cancer treatment guideline because of little evidences for the safety and efficacy. Methods From January 2011 to December 2015, we performed 14 salvage lymphadenectomies to residual or recurrence LN of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC) in Osaka University. We assessed postoperative complications and long-term outcome. Results Average age was 64 year-olds (SD: 5.2). Male: Female = 11: 3. cStage I: II-IV = 7: 7. Surgery to cervical LN were 11 patients and abdominal LN were 3 patients. Surgery to residual LN (res-LN) were 9 patients and recurrence LN (rec-LN) were 5 patients. rec-LN patient's median time to recurrence after dCRT was 14.3 months (10.2–29.3). 4 patients were performed lymphadenectomy resecting with adjacent organs, 3 patients were bronchus (trachea? ) and 1 patient was right subclavian artery. 4 patients had postoperative complication, two were pneumonia, one was pulmonary thrombosis and one was lymphorrhea, but there was no serious case (Clavien-Dindo Grade II or less). We didn’t have hospital death. Six of 14 patients had recurrence and died after salvage lymphadenectomy. Recurrence sites were 2 mediastinal lymph nodes and liver, lung, loco-regional and peritoneal. But no patients had recurrence of main tumor. 5-year overall survival rate was 51.1%. Median survival time in 9 patients, surgery to res-LN, was 18.9 months (10.4–132 months) and 5 patients, surgery to rec-LN, was 4.9 months (1.4–26.6 months). Surgery to res-LN patients were longer than rec-LN patients in overall survival after salvage lymphadenectomy (P = 0.395). There was no difference due to the difference in recurrence site of the cancer in overall survival after salvage lymphadenectomy. Conclusion Our data show salvage lymphadenectomy safety and effectiveness after dCRT. Salvage lymphadenectomy may extend the prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer after dCRT. Thus, salvage lymphadenectomy may be one of the treatment options for the patients with residual or recurrent, especially the former, lymph node after definitive CRT, although it is necessary to evaluate in many cases. Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

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