Influence of number of metastatic lymph nodes on survival of curative resected thoracic esophageal cancer patients and value of radiotherapy: Report of 549 cases

Conclusion: The number of metastatic lymph nodes is one of the important factors affecting the survival of patients with thoracic esophageal carcinoma. In our study, postoperative RT improved the survival of patients with positive lymph nodes. Additionally, postoperative RT reduced the incidence of intrathoracic recurrence and supraclavicular lymph node metastasis for all patients.