Recurrence Pattern and Lymph Node Metastasis of Adenocarcinoma at the Esophagogastric Junction

The surgical approach for adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEJ) still is controversial despite revised tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) classification. This study aimed to evaluate the oncologic outcome of a routine transhiatal approach for AEJ in terms of recurrence and lymph node (LN) metastasis of AEJ.

Recurrence patterns and LN metastasis of a single, primary AEJ (n = 463) treated by a surgical resection using a transhiatal approach without routine complete mediastinal LN dissection or routine splenectomy were analyzed respectively. To validate current treatment for recurrence, a validation index of recurrence (ViR; overall survival/incidence of solitary recurrence factor) was developed.

The overall recurrence rate for AEJ was 20.3%, which did not differ significantly between AEJ II (20.8%; n = 125) and AEJ III (20.1%; n = 338). Mediastinal recurrence did not differ significantly among the subtypes of AEJ, irrespective of gastroesophageal junction involvement. Splenic hilar LN recurrence-free survival did not differ significantly between the gastrectomy-only group, the gastrectomy-plus-splenectomy group, and the gastrectomy plus distal pancreatectomy group. The solitary recurrence rate for the mediastinal LN was 0.7% for AEJ, and the overall median survival with that recurrence was 30.5 months. The ViR for mediastinal LN recurrence (43.6) was higher than for regional LN (20.9) or distant LN (14.6) metastasis.

In terms of LN metastasis and recurrence, a transhiatal approach without complete mediastinal LN dissection can be acceptable, and routine splenectomy is not necessary for AEJ II or AEJ III arising within the stomach.