Original ResearchAppropriate extent of lymphadenectomy for squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagogastric junction

•Metastasis in the upper/middle mediastinal nodes: seen in 25% of ECJ SCC patients.•Tumor length was an independent risk factor, with the cutoff value of 54 mm.•The therapeutic value of upper/middle mediastinal lymphadenectomy was high.•Extended mediastinal lymphadenectomy may be required for patients at risk.

AimTo investigate the appropriate extent of lymphadenectomy for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the esophagogastric junction (ECJ).MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the cases of 52 patients with SCC of the ECJ who underwent extended mediastinal lymphadenectomy. We assessed potential risk factors for lymph node metastasis (LNM) in the upper/middle mediastinum by conducting univariate and multivariate analyses, and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the predictive value. Survival rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and the therapeutic value index of each nodal basin dissection was calculated by multiplying the frequency of metastasis at the basin and the 5-year overall survival rate of patients with metastasis at that basin.ResultsTwenty patients (38%) had mediastinal LNM; 13 (25%) had metastasis in the upper/middle mediastinum, and 13 (25%) had metastasis in the lower mediastinum. Tumor length (P = 0.03) and pathological nodal status (P = 0.01) were independent risk factors for upper/middle mediastinal LNM. The optimal ROC cutoff value of tumor length was 54 mm. The 5-year overall survival rate of the patients with LNM in the upper/middle mediastinum was 46%. The therapeutic value index of upper/middle mediastinal lymphadenectomy was 11.6, which was inferior to that of perigastric lymphadenectomy at 17.3, but superior to that of lower mediastinal lymphadenectomy at 5.8.ConclusionAn upper/middle mediastinal lymphadenectomy may be required for patients with tumors that are ≥54 mm long, and in those with suspected LNM.