RT Journal
A1 Tachibana M, Kinugasa S, Yoshimura H, Dhar D, Nagasue N
T1 EXtended esophagectomy with 3-field lymph node dissection for esophageal cancer
JF Archives of Surgery
JO Archives of Surgery
YR 2003
FD December 1
VO 138
IS 12
SP 1383
OP 1389
DO 10.1001/archsurg.138.12.1383
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archsurg.138.12.1383
AB Objective 
    To review the surgical outcomes of extended esophagectomy with 3-field lymph node dissection (3FLND) for esophageal cancer.Data Sources 
    Only articles written in English and written after 1980 were selected from MEDLINE. The following terms were identified: 3FLND, extensive or extended lymph node dissection (lymphadenectomy), radical lymph node dissection, cervical lymph node dissection, and extended or radical esophagectomy in esophageal cancer.Study Selection 
    There were no exclusion criteria for published information relevant to the topic. The most representative articles were selected when there were several articles from the same institution. Case reports were excluded.Data Extraction 
    Twenty-six articles were finally col-lected from MEDLINE. Eleven articles were also selected from reference lists of the pertinent literature.Data Synthesis 
    The collected information was organized.Conclusions 
    The conclusions drawn from those articles showed that extended esophagectomy with 3FLND would be a safe procedure in experienced hands, with low morbidity and acceptable mortality rates. When strict patient selection criteria were maintained, this procedure reduced locoregional recurrence and improved long-term survival rates. Although the therapeutic value of 3FLND is unproved in a randomized trial, extended esophagectomy with 3FLND would be the treatment of choice in selected patients.