Lymph Node Metastasis and Recurrences from Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Patients with Previous Gastrectomy

Esophageal cancer patients sometimes have a history of previous gastrectomy. To determine whether we should resect or preserve the remnant stomach, we need to understand the frequency and sites of abdominal lymph node (LN) metastasis from esophageal cancer after gastrectomy.

In 46 patients with thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) who had a history of previous gastrectomy due to gastric cancer (n = 20) or benign disease (n = 26), the frequency and sites of any LN metastasis including LN metastasis at surgery and LN recurrence were investigated. The factors associated with abdominal LN metastasis were also examined.

The incidence of metastasis to cervical, mediastinal, and abdominal LNs at surgery was 10.8%, 30.4%, and 30.4%, respectively. The incidence of abdominal LN recurrence was 6.5%. Of 46 patients, 16 patients (34.8%) had any abdominal LN metastasis, including abdominal LN metastasis at surgery or abdominal LN recurrence. There was no significant difference in the incidence of any abdominal LN metastasis between the gastric cancer group and the benign disease group (25.0% vs. 42.3%, p = 0.222). Clinically, nodal status was identified as the only independent factor associated with the occurrence of any abdominal LN metastasis, although neither tumor location nor the reason for gastrectomy was.

The present study showed that the incidence of abdominal LN metastasis from ESCC after gastrectomy was not necessarily low, regardless of the tumor location and the reason for previous gastrectomy. This result suggests that gastrectomy should not be omitted easily in ESCC patients after previous gastrectomy.