Pattern of relapse in surgical treated patients with thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and its possible impact on target delineation for postoperative radiotherapy

ObjectiveTo provide a reference for determination of the postoperative radiotherapy target volume for thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.Background dataThe irradiation target volume is important for effective postoperative treatment of thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.MethodsOne hundred forty patients with recurrent or metastatic thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who had been treated with radical surgery but not with postoperative radiotherapy were enrolled in this study. The information of locoregional recurrence and distant metastasis for these patients was analyzed.ResultsThe median time to progression in the 140 patients with recurrence or metastasis was 18.3 months (range 15.4–21.1 months). Anastomotic recurrence accounted for 13.6% of treatment failures. The supraclavicular and station 1–5 and 7 lymph nodes had high metastasis rates for esophageal squamous cell carcinomas in all locations. The order from highest to lowest metastasis rate for the station 3 and 4 lymph nodes was middle, upper and lower thoracic esophageal regions and the order for upper abdominal lymph nodes was lower, middle, and upper thoracic esophageal regions. Locoregional recurrence was the most common type of recurrence.ConclusionsFor upper and middle thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinomas, the anastomosis, supraclavicular, and station 1–5 and 7 lymph nodes should be delineated as the postoperative prophylactic irradiation target volume with upper abdominal lymph nodes excluded; for lower thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinomas, anastomosis, supraclavicular, station 1–5 and 7 lymph nodes and upper abdominal lymph nodes should be delineated as the postoperative prophylactic irradiation target volume.