Characteristics and Influence Factors of Lymph Node Metastasis and Their Effect on Survival of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients

Objective To investigate the characteristics and influence factors of lymph node metastasis(LNM) and its effect on the survival of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC) patients, to provide the evidence for guiding standard clinical treatment.

Methods We retrospectively analysed clinicopathological characteristics of 299 ESCC patients.

Results (1) The difference of LNM in tumor site, the longest diameter and T staging were significantly different(all P < 0.05). The rate of LNM from high to low was the lower, the middel and the upper thoracic segment in turn, and it was increased with the increase of tumor's longest diameter and T stage. (2) The longest diameter < 3cm and 3-5cm, Tis+T1 stage and T2 stage were with less risk of LNM(all P < 0.05). (3) The 1-, 3-, 5-year survival rates were 87%, 69% and 49%, respectively. The survival period of N0 and N1 patients were superior to N3 patients significantly(all P < 0.05). As to the pairwise comparison of survival period in each layer, the N0 patients had better survival, and the N3 patients had the worst. (4) The death risk of G2 patients was 2.168 times compared to G1 patients, and that of N3 patients was 3.57 times compared to N0 patients.

Conclusion LNM is related to tumor location, the longest diameter and T staging in ESCC patients. Larger tumor longest diameter and higher T staging are with higher risk of LNM. The patients with poor differentiation and LNM have poor prognosis.