Impact of Radial Margin Status After Esophagectomy for Adenocarcinoma

The clinical impact of a positive radial margin after esophagectomy for cancer has not been clearly  identified. The goal of this study was to identify risk factors for a positive radial margin and determine the impact on recurrence and survival.

Retrospective review of 196 patients with pathological T3 N0-3 esophageal adenocarcinoma undergoing esophagectomy between 2002 and 2017. Mortality data was extracted from Electronic Medical Records and Social Security Death Index.

Mean age was 63.7 ± 11.4 years, and there were 166 (84.7%) men. Neoadjuvant therapy was given in 141(71.9%) patients. We identified 29(14.8%) patients with a positive radial margin. Factors significantly associated with a positive radial margin include not receiving neoadjuvant therapy and presence of lymphatic, vascular, or perineural invasion. Overall, there were 94(48%) recurrences during a mean follow-up of 24.7 months. Involvement of the radial margin was not significantly associated with recurrence-free survival (HR 1.24, CI 95% 0.73-2.12, p = 0.425). Overall survival for the entire cohort was 41.6% and 28.9% at 3 and 5 years, respectively. Involvement of the radial margin did not have a significant impact on overall survival (HR 1.23, CI 95% 0.68-2.22, p = 0.493).

The likelihood of encountering a positive margin is associated with lack of neoadjuvant treatment and the presence of lymphatic, vascular, or perineural invasion in the esophagectomy specimen. An involved radial margin after esophagectomy for locally advanced cancer was not associated with tumor recurrence or overall survival in our cohort, and other factors such as lymph node involvement are stronger in determining outcome.