Aggressive Node Dissection for Esophageal Cancer

Fifty-eight patients with esophageal cancer were compared by dividing into two groups, the two-field and the three-field lymphadenectomy groups. The modes of node involvement were estimated according to grading of the depth of cancer infiltration. When cancer infiltration extends beyond the submucosal layer, the nodes were extensively involved thoroughout the three fields. Therefore, an extensive lymphadenectomy is mandatory for curative operation and it is the only way to improve the surgical outcome with help of surgical techniques