Perigastric lymph node metastasis does not affect the survival of squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus treated with two‐field oesophagectomy

Aim:  There are some discrepancies as to the prognostic value of perigastric lymph node (LN) metastasis in the survival of squamous oesophageal carcinoma. The present study aimed to compare survival following standard oesophagectomy in the treatment of squamous oesophageal carcinoma with or without perigastric abdominal LN metastasis.Methods:  From 1998 to 2003, 17 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the mid or lower oesophagus who had abdominal LN metastasis upon pathological examination underwent Ivor Lewis oesophagectomy. They did not receive further adjuvant therapy. The clinical outcomes of this cohort were compared to a control of 34 patients of similar age, gender and T staging who had no perigastric nodal diseases upon oesophagectomy.Results:  There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the demographics, tumour size, differentiation of the tumour, duration of operation, volume of blood loss, and the type of oesophagectomy. The cumulative 3‐year survival rate was similar between those with abdominal LN metastasis or those without abdominal LN metastasis (52.9% vs 47.1%; log–rank test P = 0.61).There was also no significant difference in the rates of recurrence between the two groups (58.8% vs 58.8%; P = 0.1).Conclusions:  Perigastric LN metastasis over the lesser curvature, left gastric artery and pericardial regions does not affect the survival of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus treated by two‐field oesophagectomy.