Salvage Lymphadenectomy Versus Salvage Radiotherapy/Chemoradiotherapy for Recurrence in Cervical Lymph Node After Curative Resection of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

[esophageal carcinoma]

A consensus treatment strategy for patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC ) that recurs after definitive esophagectomy has not been established . This study compared outcomes in ESCC patients who underwent salvage lymphadenectomy and those who underwent salvage radiotherapy /chemoradiotherapy for recurrence in cervical lymph nodes .Clinical characteristics of 79 patients were analyzed . Overall survival was calculated from the day of salvage treatment to the time of death or last follow-up . Survival rates were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method , and statistical analysis was performed using the log-rank test for equality of the survival curves . The Ï‡ (2 ) test was used to compare patient and tumor characteristics . Univariate analysis was performed using the log-rank test , and multivariate analysis was performed using the Cox proportional hazards model .Initial treatment against recurrence (salvage lymphadenectomy vs . salvage radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy ) was the only significant prognostic factor with a hazard ratio of 2 .358 and 95 Â % confidence interval of 1 .067 -5 .210 . Survival curves were significantly different between patients receiving salvage surgery and those receiving salvage radiotherapy /chemoradiotherapy (p Â =Â 0 .0269 ).Compared with salvage radiotherapy /radiochemotherapy , salvage cervical lymphadenectomy might be the main treatment for esophageal carcinoma patients who developed cervical lymph node recurrence after curative esophagectomy .