RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Clinical Outcomes and Prognosis after Thoracoscopic Esophagectomy with Two-field Lymph Node Dissection for Lower Thoracic Esophageal Cancer JF Anticancer Research JO Anticancer Res FD International Institute of Anticancer Research SP 601 OP 608 VO 33 IS 2 A1 MASASHI TAKEMURA A1 TAKAAKI HORI A1 YUSHI FUJIWARA YR 2013 UL http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/33/2/601.abstract AB Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes and prognostic factors of thoracoscopic esophagectomy with two-field lymph node dissection for lower thoracic esophageal cancer. Patients and Methods: From January 2003 to December 2011, 84 patients with lower thoracic esophageal cancer underwent thoracoscopic esophagectomy with two-field lymph node dissection. Clinicopathological information, postoperative complications, mortality, type of recurrent diseases and factors predictive of survival were analyzed. Results: Postoperative complications were diagnosed in 37 patients and the mortality was 1.2%. Lymph node metastases were found in 43 patients (51.2%). The 5-year survival rate of all patients was 60.5%. Pathological T factor, lymph node metastasis, pathological staging, and venous invasion were independent prognostic factors. Among the patients with lymph node metastasis, the survival rate of those with upper mediastinal and/or celiac area involvement was significantly worse than that of those without involvement of these areas. Conclusion: Thoracoscopic esophagectomy with two-field lymph node dissection is a safe and appropriate surgical intervention for patients with lower thoracic esophageal cancer without complication of lymph node metastases to the upper mediastinum and/or celiac area.