Subcarinal Lymph Node Dissection Research Articles

Pattern of subcarinal lymph node metastasis and dissection strategy for thoracic esophageal cancer.

BackgroundThis study aimed to assess the role of subcarinal lymph nodes in lymph node metastasis in thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and to investigate the adequate range of lymph node dissection during esophagectomy.MethodsThis study included 782 thoracic ESCC patients who underwent esophagectomy between July 2008 and December 2010. The metastatic rate of subcarinal lymph nodes and their influencing factors were investigated. The outcome of subcarinal lymph node dissection was assessed using the efficacy index (the incidence of metastasis to a lymph node station (%) multiplied by the 5-year survival rate (%) of patients with metastasis to that lymph node station and divided by 100). Additionally, postoperative complications were compared between the subcarinal lymph node resection and reservation groups.ResultsThe metastatic rates of subcarinal lymph nodes in the upper, middle, and lower thoracic ESCC were 8.3% (4/48), 19.1% (79/414), and 16.2% (23/142), respectively (χ2=3.669, P>0.05) and in T1, T2, T3, and T4 tumors were 0% (0/71), 4% (4/100), 22.2% (85/383), and 34% (17/50), respectively (χ2=42.859, P<0.05). Tumor invasion and size were significantly correlated with metastasis. For upper thoracic ESCC with positive subcarinal lymph nodes, metastasis tendency was mainly to the lower mediastinum. In middle third esophageal cancer, after subcarinal lymph nodes were involved, metastasis to the lower mediastinal lymph nodes increased by nearly 50%, and bidirectional metastasis increased by nearly three times compared with that before involvement. For lower third cancer with positive subcarinal lymph nodes, metastasis tendency was mainly to the upper mediastinum. The postoperative complication rates in the resection and reservation groups were as follows: overall, 19% and 14.6%, respectively (P>0.05), and pulmonary, 10.3% and 7.3%, respectively (P>0.05). The efficacy indexes of lymph node dissection at the upper, middle, and lower third esophagus were 0%, 7.6%, and 27.5%, respectively.ConclusionsDissection of subcarinal lymph nodes, which does not increase postoperative complications, should be performed routinely in lower thoracic ESCC after submucosal invasion of tumor; meanwhile, tumors larger than 3cm should also result in subcarinal lymph node dissection in patients with a tumor located in the upper esophagus and T1-T2 ESCC.

Predictive factors of cough after uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic pulmonary resection.

BackgroundCough is one of the shared complications after lung surgery. In this study, a prospective analysis was conducted for exploring the risk factors of persistent cough after uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic pulmonary resection.MethodsOne hundred thirty-five patients with pulmonary nodules who underwent surgical treatment in the same surgical group from November 2019 to January 2020 were enrolled in this prospective study. The severity of cough and its impact on patients’ quality of life before and after surgery were assessed by the Mandarin Chinese version of the Leicester cough questionnaire (LCQ-MC), and postoperative cough was tested by the cough visual analog scale (VAS) and cough symptom score (CSS). Risk factors of cough after pulmonary resection (CAP) were determined by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis.ResultsThe incidence of postoperative cough was 24.4% (33 of 135 patients). Univariate analysis showed that gender (female), the surgical site (upper right), the resection (lobectomy), subcarinal lymph node dissection, postoperative acid reflux, length of hospitalization contributed to the development of CAP resection. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the resection (lobectomy) (OR 3.590, 95% CI: 0.637–20.300, P=0.017), subcarinal lymph node dissection (OR 4.420, 95% CI: 1.342–14.554, P=0.001), postoperative acid reflux (OR 13.55, 95% CI: 3.186–57.633, P<0.001) and duration of anesthesia (over 153 minutes, OR 0.987, 95% CI: 0.978–0.997, P=0.011) were independent risk factors for postoperative cough.ConclusionsThe application of uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic techniques to several types of lung surgery are conducive to enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS). Postoperative cough is related to an ocean of factors, the resection (lobectomy), subcarinal lymph node dissection, postoperative acid reflux, and duration of anesthesia (over 153 minutes) are independent high-risk factors for CAP resection.Trial registrationThis study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04204148).

P221 THE ROLE OF SUBCARINAL LYMPH NODE DISSECTION IN ESOPHAGECTOMY - A 5-YEAR SINGLE CENTER EXPERIENCE

Abstract Aim To evaluate the involvement of subcarinal lymph node dissection (SLND) in the surgical treatment of esophageal cancer, as well as its impact on surgical outcomes following esophagectomy. Background &amp; Methods Data on patients that underwent esophagectomy from 01/03/2014 to 01/03/2019 were prospectively collected and retrospectively reviewed. Based on the medical records, the following parameters were collected and analyzed: patient demographics, histopathological parameters, surgical- oncological outcomes. All patients were staged according to the AJCC 8th edition. Results A total of 79 patients underwent Ivor Lewis or McKeown esophagectomy for either squamous cell carcinoma (n= 7 patients) or adenocarcinoma of the esophagus or gastroesophageal junction (n= 72 patients). In 26 cases, esophagectomy was performed without SLND, while 53 cases underwent SLND. Among the 53 patients, 50 (94.3%) were men, and 3 (5.7 %) were women. Mean age was 61.4 years, (range 34-78). Mean nodal harvest was 34.7 lymph nodes per patient. Lymph node invasion was noted in 33 patients (62.2%), with a mean of 9 positive lymph nodes per patient. Subcarinal lymph nodes were involved in 5 out of 53 patients (9.4%). The ratio of positive subcarinal lymph nodes to resected ones was 1/2 (50%), 3/3 (100%), 1/2 (50%), 1/2 (50%) and 1/1 (100%) for each patient. Final histopathological report showed adenocarcinoma of moderate or poor differentiation (G2 2/5, G3 3/5) in all five patients (100%). Four out of 5 patients had not received neoadjuvant treatment and their pathological staging was T3N3M0. One patient had received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and his final staging was ypT3N2M0. Noteworthy, the seven patients diagnosed with squamous carcinoma, were subjected to SLND and were 100% negative for invasion histologically. Conclusion Subcarinal lymph nodes were infiltrated in 9.4% of patients operated for esophageal cancer. In the squamous cell cancer group, the relative infiltration rate was notably 0%. It seems that omission of subcarinal lymph node dissection during transthoracic esophagectomy cannot be justified.

Endoscopic lymph node dissection for thymic malignancies: lateral thoracic intercostal and subxiphoid approaches.

The significance of lymph node dissection for thymic malignancies is currently unclear. Recently, endoscopic surgery has been indicated for the surgical treatment of thymic malignancies. We discussed the range of possible lymph node metastasis following surgery for thymic malignancies, depending on whether the lateral thoracic intercostal or the subxiphoid approach was used. While the video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lateral approach cannot be used for lymph nodes in the anterior region on the opposite side, it is simple enough to be used for deep-region lymph nodes. Taking an approach from the right facilitates paratracheal lymph node dissection. Taking an approach from the left may facilitate para-aortic and subaortic lymph node dissection. In addition, placing the patient in the lateral decubitus position also facilitates subcarinal lymph node dissection. The advantages of the subxiphoid approach are that a good field of vision of the cervical region can be obtained with a camera inserted from the midline of the body and the phrenic nerve on both sides can be confirmed. Accordingly, anterior lymph node dissection can be performed in a manner similar to median sternotomy. Deep-region lymph node dissection is more difficult via the subxiphoid approach than via the lateral thoracic intercostal approach. While paratracheal lymph nodes can be dissected to some extent, it is difficult to dissect subcarinal lymph nodes. If one prioritizes thorough anterior region lymph node dissection, either the subxiphoid or the bilateral lateral thoracic region approach needs to be taken. The subxiphoid approach offers the same view from the body midline as median sternotomy. Therefore, it is superior to the VATS lateral approach with regard to region lymph node dissection.

Thoracoscopic esophagectomy with subcarinal lymph node dissection in the prone position for esophageal cancer with a right superior pulmonary vein anomaly: a case report

BackgroundSuperior posterior pulmonary vein anomaly in the right upper lobe (anomalous V2), which is one of the anomalies of the right superior pulmonary vein (RSPV), runs behind the right main or intermediate bronchus. Although this rarely occurs, attention should be given to this venous anomaly during thoracoscopic esophagectomy with subcarinal lymph node dissection. Here, we report a case of thoracoscopic esophagectomy with subcarinal lymph node dissection in the prone position for lower thoracic esophageal cancer with anomaly of the superior posterior pulmonary vein in the right lobe (anomalous V2).Case presentationA 61-year-old man was diagnosed as having lower esophageal cancer with swelling of multiple lymph nodes in the mediastinum and abdomen. His clinical diagnosis based on the eighth TNM classification system was cT3 N2 M0 stage IIIB. In addition, an anomalous V2 was recognized on preoperative computed tomography imaging before the operation. The vein ran behind the intermediate bronchus and drained into the RSPV located at the area of the subcarinal lymph node. We performed preoperative simulation by using virtual thoracoscopic imaging with the same view as that during operation to help us better dissect the lymph nodes. As a result, thoracoscopic esophagectomy and subcarinal lymph node dissection were performed in the prone position without injuring the anomalous V2. Severe complications did not occur in the postoperative course except for paralysis of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 17.ConclusionsInjury to an anomalous V2 can cause severe hemorrhage during subcarinal lymph node dissection in esophagectomy. Preoperative simulation by using virtual thoracoscopic imaging is useful to avoid this complication in patients with an anatomical anomaly.

Is Routine Subcarinal Lymph Node Dissection Necessary in Superficial Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma? A Propensity Score Matching Analysis.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of subcarinal lymph node dissection on short-term and long-term outcomes after esophagectomy in patients with superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).Methods: From January 2010 to December 2015, 490 patients with pT1 ESCC were enrolled in the study. Patients in subcarinal dissection or non-dissection group were matched randomly in a 2:1 ratio, eventually, 255 patients were selected for further statistical analysis.Results: The metastasis rate of subcarinal lymph nodes in superficial ESCC was 1.24% and significantly lower than the other stations (7.14-9.96%). Compared with dissection group, non- dissection group had shorter operation time (193±35 vs. 204±39, P=0.016), less blood loss (157±48 vs. 178±29, P=0.011) as well as lower incidence of pulmonary complications (9.4 vs. 20%, P=0.032). At a median follow-up of 46 months, the recurrent rate in each group was similar (16.5 vs. 15.3%, P=0.809). Survival analysis revealed no overall survival (P=0.992) and disease-free survival (P=0.665) reductions in non-dissection group. In univariate and multivariate analyses, subcarinal lymph node dissection was not a predictive factor of overall and disease-free survival in superficial ESCC.Conclusion: Subcarinal lymph node dissection was not beneficial and could be omitted in superficial ESCC.

PS01.185: STATUS OF SUBCARINAL LYMPH NODE METASTASIS AND DISSECTION STRATEGY FOR THORACIC ESOPHAGEAL CARCINOMA

Abstract Background The subcarinal lymph node metastasis, although with the debate whether it is a characteristic of lung cancer or esophageal cancer, is prevalent in esophageal carcinoma, and with the incidence of 4.1%-17.5% according to some estimates. The aim of this study is to assess the pattern of subcarinal lymph node metastasis and the dissection strategy for thoracic esophageal carcinoma. Methods A large cohort, retrospective study was conducted on 596 patients with thoracic esophageal carcinoma treated from July 2008 to December 2010. The metastasis rate of subcarinal lymph node was investigated. Survival of patients treated by different dissection strategies was compared. The effectiveness index was used to assess the outcome of subcarinal lymph node dissection. Results Of 596 patients, 447 had documented subcarinal lymph node dissection (75.0%). According to whether the subcarinal lymph node was harvested or not, they were divided into two groups: dissection group (n = 447) and non-dissection group (n = 149). Their 5-year survival rates were 48.3 ± 1.7 months for dissection group vs. 38.1 ± 2.8 months for non-dissection group (P &lt; 0.001). The overall subcarinal node metastasis rate in the dissection group was 12.5% (56/447). Based on the status of subcarinal nodes, there was a significant difference in survival, 52.3 ± 1.8 months with negative nodes (n = 391) compared to 19.9 ± 2.2 months for those with positive nodes (n = 56) (P &lt; 0.001). Subgroup analysis was further conducted for the positive subcarinal nodes patients. The metastasis rates in patients with upper, middle and lower esophageal cancer were 5.4%, 15.1% and 10.1%, respectively (P &lt; 0.05 for comparison between patients with upper and other segments). The effectiveness indices for these three groups of patients were as 0%, 4.8% and 27.2%, respectively. The metastasis rates for T0, T1, T2, T3 and T4 esophageal carcinoma were 0%, 0%, 3.5%, 10.7% and 19.0%, respectively (P &lt; 0.05 for comparison between T0/T1/T2 and T3/T4 tumors. Conclusion Thoracic esophageal carcinoma has a high incidence of subcarinal lymph node metastasis, especially among those with middle and lower esophageal cancer, and for deeper invaded tumors. Therefore, for middle and lower esophageal tumors, subcarinal lymph node dissection is necessary, whereas for T1/2 upper esophageal tumors, subcarinal lymph node dissection can be spared from subcarinal lymph node dissection. Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Suture closure of the right main bronchial laceration in left subcarinal lymph node dissection

Suture closure of the right main bronchial laceration in left subcarinal lymph node dissection

Lymph node cancer of the mediastinum with a putative necrotic primary lesion in the lung: a case report

BackgroundAlthough mediastinal lymph node cancer is presumed to originate in the lung, the primary site is usually unidentified, so the pathological course remains unclear. We recently encountered a case of mediastinal lymph node cancer having a putative primary lesion remaining in the lung as a necrotic focus.Case presentationThe patient was a 56-year-old man who visited our department because computed tomography screening had revealed a nodular shadow in the lingular segment. However, on positron emission tomography, fluorine-18 deoxyglucose accumulation was detected in a subcarinal lymph node and not in the nodule in the lingular segment. Biopsy of the lung tumor and the lymph node was performed via minimal thoracotomy. Intraoperative pathologic examination showed necrosis alone and no malignant findings in the lung tumor. By contrast, carcinoma was detected in the lymph node. Additional subcarinal lymph node dissection was performed. Results of postoperative histopathologic examination indicated poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the subcarinal lymph node. Meanwhile, the nodule in the lingular segment was speculated to be a spontaneously resolved primary focus of lung cancer.ConclusionsIn this case, the primary lung cancer focus resolved spontaneously after lymph node metastasis, explaining the pathogenesis underlying mediastinal lymph node cancer of unknown primary site. For similar cases of malignancy, aggressive treatment, including surgery, is effective.

Subcarinal Lymph Nodes Should be Dissected in All Lobectomies for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer—Regardless of Primary Tumor Location

Mediastinal staging is of paramount importance for planning of treatment in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Single institution reports recently claimed that subcarinal lymph node dissection during resection of upper lobe NSCLC could be spared. We used a complete national lung cancer registry to investigate patterns of unsuspected mediastinal lymph node involvement after lobectomy. During an 11-year period (2004 to 2014) 5,577 consecutive patients who underwent operations for NSCLC were investigated for unsuspected mediastinal lymph node involvement (N2 disease) discovered at final histopathology. The analysis excluded patients with clinical N2 disease. We used a national registry to extract information for each patient about tumor location, histopathology, clinical and pathologic TNM stage, preoperative imaging modalities, and type of invasive mediastinal staging. Mediastinal lymph node dissection was performed in 5,577 patients during the operation, and unsuspected N2 disease was discovered in 612 (11.0%), and 193 (3.5%) had subcarinal metastasis. Subcarinal N2 disease was significantly more common in patients with lower-lobe or middle-lobe cancers compared with upper-lobe cancers (5.8% vs 1.6%, p < 0.01). Preoperative invasive mediastinal staging was performed in 73.4% (4,097 of 5,577) of all patients and significantly more frequently in patients who eventually had N2 disease (87.3% [534 of 612], p < 0.01) as well subcarinal N2 disease (89.6% [173 of 193], p < 0.01). Subcarinal lymph node metastases were common despite frequent use of preoperative invasive mediastinal staging in lower-lobe, middle-lobe, and upper-lobe NSCLC. Subcarinal lymph nodes should be dissected or sampled routinely during operations for NSCLC to avoid understaging-regardless of preoperative invasive mediastinal staging and tumor location.

Subcarinal lymph node dissection. This video shows the difficulty and complexity of station 7 lymph node dissection, exposure and instrumentation is complicated by the diaphragm and heart

Subcarinal lymph node dissection. This video shows the difficulty and complexity of station 7 lymph node dissection, exposure and instrumentation is complicated by the diaphragm and heart

Thoracoscopic left mediastinal lymph node dissection.

In Japan, the use of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for primary lung cancer is increasing. However, it is not easy to perform mediastinal lymph node dissection using VATS as effectively as it is performed using thoracotomy. Herein, I have presented two techniques for subcarinal lymph node dissection from the left thoracic cavity: one involves the retraction of the lower bronchus towards the visceral and cranial side before inferior pulmonary vein resection to secure the view of the right lower portion. The other involves the separation of lymph nodes from the right main bronchus before separation from the left bronchus, to prevent the lymph nodes from falling down and interrupting the right-side view. Moreover, I have also described a technique that facilitates left upper mediastinal lymph node dissection. It involves traction of a thoracic cardiac branch from the recurrent laryngeal nerve allowing visualization of the bottom of the #4L lymph node, so that it can be dissected easily. There has been no observation of recurrent nerve paralysis using this procedure.

The Prognostic Relevance of Subcarinal Lymph Node Dissection in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the prognostic relevance of subcarinal lymph node dissection in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and to identify a subset of patients in whom subcarinal lymph node dissection can be omitted. We retrospectively analyzed 342 consecutive patients with thoracic ESCC who underwent R0 subtotal esophagectomy. All patients underwent subcarinal lymph node dissection. The efficacy index (frequency of metastasis to a particular lymph node station multiplied by the 5-year disease-specific survival rate of patients with metastasis to the station) was calculated for the subcarinal lymph node station, and the prognostic impact of dissecting this station was estimated with reference to the main tumor location. Independent predictive factors for pathological subcarinal lymph node metastasis were analyzed using a proportional hazards model. The overall frequency of metastasis to the subcarinal lymph nodes was 7.0 % (2.4, 8.9, and 5.8 % in patients with upper, middle, and lower thoracic ESCC, respectively). The efficacy index for the middle thoracic esophagus was 2.9, and that for the upper and lower thoracic esophagus was 0.0. The 5-year disease-free survival rate was significantly lower in patients with pathological subcarinal lymph node metastasis than those without (23.1 vs. 67.5 %, respectively; log-rank p < 0.0001). In multivariate analysis, clinical T stage (T2-T4) was the independent predictive factor for pathological subcarinal lymph node metastasis (p = 0.021). Subcarinal lymph node dissection might have little value in patients with upper and lower thoracic ESCC and could be omitted, especially for superficial carcinoma.

Attention to anomalies of the right pulmonary vein in subcarinal lymph node dissection in radical esophagectomy for cancer

Here, we report on an anomaly of the right pulmonary vein in the subcarinal area and emphasis the importance of its focus in subcarinal lymph node dissection. A 51-year-old Japanese man underwent thoracoscopic radical esophagectomy with regional lymph node dissection for esophageal carcinoma T1bN1M0, stage IIB. While dissecting the subcarinal lymph node, we encountered a thick vein crossing posterior to the intermediate right bronchus. We recognized the anomalous right pulmonary vein (anomalous V2) that drained into the left atrium from the right posterior segment (S2). We cautiously dissected the subcarinal lymph node and were able to preserve the anomalous vein. This anomalous pulmonary vein can cause serious complications. If the anomalous V2 had been injured or ligated, congestion of the right S2 or cardiac tamponade might have develop. Since anomalous pulmonary veins are easily identified by enhanced computed tomography, careful observation is essential for avoiding their unnecessary injury.

Teaching video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lobectomy.

Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lobectomy has become the standard of care for early stage lung cancer throughout the world. Teaching this complex procedure requires adequate case volume, adequate instrumentation, a committed operating room team and baseline experience with open lobectomy. We outline what key maneuvers and steps are required to teach and learn VATS lobectomy. This is most easily performed as part of a thoracic surgery training program, but with adequate commitment and proctoring, there is no reason experienced open surgeons cannot become proficient VATS surgeons. We provide videos showing the key portions of a subcarinal lymph node dissection, posterior hilar dissection of the right upper lobe, fissureless right middle lobectomy, and fissureless left lower lobectomy. These videos highlight what we feel are important principals in VATS lobectomy, i.e., N2 and N1 lymph node dissection, fissureless techniques, and progressive responsibility of the learner. Current literature in simulation of VATS lobectomy is also outlined as this will be the future of teaching in VATS lobectomy.

Abstract 2429: Airway necrosis after salvage esophagectomy.

Abstract Background: Recently definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) without surgery has been accepted as an alternative treatment for esophageal cancer. However, unfortunately, the tumors of 5-33% patients were resistant to CRT and persistent disease was detected soon after treatment, and 16-54% patients initially showed a response but locoregional disease was discovered later. Salvage esophagectomy is the sole curative intent treatment for patients with persistent or recurrent locoregional disease after definitive CRT for esophageal carcinoma. However, salvage esophagectomy is a very high-risk operation, and airway necrosis is a fatal complication. Methods: Between 1997 and 2007, 49 patients with thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma underwent salvage esophagectomy after definitive CRT. All patients received more than 50 Gy of radiation plus concurrent chemotherapy for curative intent. We retrospectively compared patients with and without airway necrosis. Additionally, airway necrosis was categorized primary necrosis and secondary necrosis according to the cause of necrosis, and operative procedures related to airway necrosis were investigated. Result: Overall 23of 49 patients had at least one complication (morbidity: 46.9%), and 5 died during their hospitalization (mortality: 10.2%). Airway necrosis occurred in five patients (10.2%), of four patients (80%) died during their hospitalization. Airway necrosis seemed to be closely related to operative procedures, such as resection of bronchial artery (BA), cervical and subcarinal lymph node dissection (LND) and reconstruction route. Primary necrosis occurred in 3 patients with resection of BA, cervical LND, or subcarinal LND. And bronchogastric fistula following necrosis of gastric conduit occured in 2 patients reconstructed through posterior mediastinal route. Conclusions: Airway necrosis is a highly lethal complication after salvage esophagectomy. It is important in salvage esophagectomy to take airway blood supply into consideration sufficiently and to reconstruct through retrosternal route to prevent bronchogastric fistula. Citation Format: Norimitsu Tanaka, Nobukazu Hokamura, Yuji Tachimori. Airway necrosis after salvage esophagectomy. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2429. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-2429

The clinical significance of subcarinal lymph node dissection in the radical resection of oesophageal cancer

To explore the rule of subcarinal lymph node metastasis in thoracic oesophageal cancer and its clinical significance in the radical resection of oesophageal cancer. We retrospectively analysed 2223 patients with oesophageal cancer who were admitted to Henan Cancer Hospital during 2004-2011 and underwent surgery as the first treatment option. Routine subcarinal lymph node dissections were performed, and the sections from the resected lymph nodes were embedded in paraffin for routine pathological examination. Subcarinal lymph node metastasis was observed in 200 patients (9%). Logistic regression analysis identified the following risk factors (P < 0.05): tumour location, depth of invasion into the oesophageal wall, tissue type, number of lymph node metastases, paraoesophageal lymph node metastasis (level 8 lymph nodes), left gastric cardiac lymph node metastasis. Unpaired t-test and χ(2)-test showed that more lymph node metastases, longer tumour length, deeper tumour invasion, middle oesophageal cancer, squamous-cell carcinoma, lower degree of differentiation, paraoesophageal lymph node metastasis and left gastric cardiac lymph node metastasis were associated with a higher frequency of subcarinal lymph node metastases (P < 0.05). Using the Kaplan-Meier method, recurrence and metastasis were shown to be more likely with solitary subcarinal lymph node metastasis than with solitary paraoesophageal lymph node metastasis (P = 0.001). Tumour location, depth of invasion, pathological type, degree of differentiation and other factors are closely associated with subcarinal lymph node metastasis. Recurrence and metastasis after oesophageal dissection are more likely with subcarinal lymph node metastasis.

Subcarinal lymph node metastasis and strategy of lymphadenectomy in thoracic esophageal carcinoma

To assess the metastatic frequency of subcarinal lymph nodes of thoracic esophageal carcinoma and its influencing factors, in order to determine the adequate range of lymph node dissection during esophagectomy. The clinical data from a cohort of 782 patients with thoracic esophageal carcinoma who underwent esophagectomy with lymphadenectomy were analyzed retrospectively with respect to the impact of subcarinal lymph nodes dissection or no dissection on the incidence of postoperative complications. The metastasis rate of subcarinal lymph nodes was 17.5%. The metastasis rates in the upper, middle and lower esophageal carcinomas were 8.3%, 19.1% and 16.2%, respectively (P > 0.05). For T1, T2, T3 and T4, they were 0, 4%, 22.2% and 34%, respectively (P < 0.05). The overall incidence of postoperative complications with and without subcarinal lymph nodes dissection was 19.0% versus 14.6% (P > 0.05), and the incidence of pulmonary complications was 10.3% versus 7.3% (P > 0.05). Thoracic esophageal carcinomas have a high metastasis rate of subcrinal lymph nodes, and subcarinal lymph nodes dissection is not associated with increasing perioperative complications. Therefore, for the thoracic esophageal carcinoma, no matter the tumor site, esophageal cancer length or size, once the tumor invades the outer membrane, routine subcarinal lymph node dissection should be done.

Extensive Mediastinal Lymphadenectomy During Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy: Optimal Results from a Single Center

IntroductionRecent advances in thoracoscopic surgery have made it possible to perform esophagectomy with conventional lymphadenectomy (paraesophageal and subcarinal lymph node dissection) using minimally invasive techniques. However, minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) combined with extensive lymphadenectomy along the recurrent laryngeal nerves (RLN) has remained technically challenging for thoracic surgeons. The aim of this study was to examine the safety and efficacy of extensive lymphadenectomy when compared to conventional lymphadenectomy during MIE. MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed data from a cohort of 147 consecutive patients who underwent MIE for esophageal cancer (EC) over a 3-year period at our institution. During thoracoscopic esophagectomy, extensive lymphadenectomy along the RLN was performed on 76 patients from June 2009 to December 2010 (group A), while 71 patients underwent conventional lymphadenectomy from June 2008 to May 2009 (group B) and were enrolled as historical controls. Clinical characteristics including patient demographics, operation features, and the rate and type of complications were recorded for both groups. The number of dissected lymph nodes and the number of patients with nodes positive for cancer on histological examination were determined for both groups. Statistical analysis was used to identify differences between the two groups. ResultsAll patients underwent thoracoscopic esophagectomy without conversion to open thoracotomy. Patient demographics and operation features were similar between the two groups. Of the 76 patients that underwent extensive lymphadenectomy there were 13 patients (17.11%) who were RLN positive, which resulted in upstaging of TNM in 5 patients (6.58%). The overall incidence of postoperative complications (42.10% versus 39.47%, p = 0.742) and permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy (1.32% versus 0%, p = 0.517) was similar between the two groups. ConclusionsExtensive mediastinal lymphadenectomy during minimally invasive esophagectomy is a feasible procedure for EC patients. It is technically safe and oncologically adequate in experienced hands, and improves the accuracy of tumor staging. Further study is required to discuss its long-term prognostic value for esophagus cancer patients.

Subcarinal lymph node in upper lobe non-small cell lung cancer patients: Is selective lymph node dissection valid?

Little is known about selective lymph node dissection in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. We sought to gain insight into subcarinal node involvement for its frequency and impact on outcome to evaluate whether it is valid to omit subcarinal lymph node dissection in upper lobe NSCLC patients. We reviewed node metastases distribution according to node region, tumor location, and histology among 1099 patients with upper lobe NSCLC. We paid special attention to subcarinal metastases patients without superior mediastinal node metastases, because their pathological stages would have been underdiagnosed if subcarinal node dissection had been omitted. We also assessed the outcome and the pattern of failure among subcarinal metastases patients. To identify subcarinal node involvement predictors, we analyzed 7 clinical factors. Subcarinal node metastases were found in 20 patients and were least frequent among squamous cell carcinoma patients (0.5%). Two of them were free from superior mediastinal metastases but died of the disease at 1 month and due to an unknown cause at 18 months, respectively. Seventeen of the 20 patients developed multi-site recurrence within 37 months. The 5-year survival rate of the 20 patients with subcarinal metastases was 9.0%, which was significantly lower than 32.0% of patients with only superior mediastinal metastases. Clinical diagnosis of node metastases was significantly predictive of subcarinal metastases. Subcarinal node metastases from upper lobe NSCLC were rare and predicted an extremely poor outcome. It appears valid to omit subcarinal node dissection in upper lobe NSCLC patients, especially in clinical N0 squamous cell carcinoma patients.