Objective To determine the risk factors and prognostic survival of patients with para-aortic lymph node metastasis of advanced esophagogastric junction malignancy by comparing their general clinicopathological characteristics and regional lymph node metastasis status with those of patients with negative para-aortic lymph node metastasis.

Methods This single-center retrospective case study collected the clinical and pathological data of 224 patients with esophagogastric junction malignant tumors undergoing radical resection. Single factor affecting lymph node metastasis in group 16 was analyzed by chi square test, and multiple factors were examined using logistic regression. Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis, and Log rank test was used for survival rate comparison.

Results Among the 224 patients with advanced esophagogastric junction malignant tumors, (1) Univariate analysis showed that Siewert classification, tumor diameter, pathological stage, T stage, and N stage were associated with positive para-aortic lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). Meanwhile, multivariate logistic analysis showed that Siewert type and tumor diameter were independent risk factors for positive metastasis (P<0.05); (2) Among the 17 groups of regional lymph nodes with para-aortic lymph node metastasis, univariate analysis revealed that No.5, No.6, No.111, and No.112 lymph nodes were not correlated with positive para-aortic lymph node metastasis (P>0.05). The remaining 13 groups of regional lymph nodes were all associated with para-aortic lymph node metastasis. Meanwhile, multivariate logistic analysis revealed that No.7, No.11p, and No.110 lymph nodes were independent risk factors for metastasis (P<0.05). When the regional lymph node metastasis in these three groups was negative, the positive rate of para-aortic lymph node metastasis was only 4.7%. When at least one of these groups had regional lymph node metastasis, the positive metastasis rate was up to 47.4%; (3) The 1- and 3-year cumulative survival rates of the patients with positive para-aortic lymph node metastasis after surgery were 76.5% and 8.1%, respectively, and those in negative patients were 98.3% and 76.8%, respectively. Log rank test showed a significant difference in overall survival rate between the patients with positive and negative para-aortic lymph node metastasis (P<0.001).

Conclusion (1) Preoperative examination of patients with advanced esophagogastric junction malignant tumors should clarify the tumor type and maximum diameter. Patients with Siewert type Ⅱ and Ⅲ and maximum tumor diameter of >6 cm are recommended to undergo para-aortic lymph node dissection. (2) Frozen biopsy of lymph nodes of No.7 and No.11p is performed during the operation, and the para-aortic lymph nodes should be dissected if the metastasis is found to be positive, which is helpful for the clinical surgeon to judge the dissection of the para-aortic lymph nodes.