Lymphadenectomy as a Benchmark to Surgical Quality in Esophagectomy

Nodal Yield <15 Is Associated With Reduced Survival in Esophagectomy and Is a Quality MetricThe Annals of Thoracic SurgeryVol. 116Issue 1PreviewSurgical resection after neoadjuvant therapy remains the cornerstone of curative management of esophageal adenocarcinoma and is frequently used for squamous cell carcinoma. The optimal extent of lymphadenectomy and whether increasing lymph node yields confer a survival benefit remains unclear. Guidelines suggest resecting and examining a minimum of 15 lymph nodes at esophagectomy. This study assessed the impact of lymph node yield and lymph node ratio (LNR) on survival, identifying factors influencing nodal yield and radicality of resection. Full-Text PDF