BACKGROUND: The number of metastatic lymph nodes is applied to the staging system of @entity356 and @entity14 . However, it has not been evaluated in @entity5 . @entity1 AND METHODS: Of 258 @entity1 with primary @entity957 of the thoracic oesophagus between February 1981 and December 1999, 160 underwent three-field oesophagectomy with a curative intent. Clinicopathologic characteristics of those 160 @entity1 were retrospectively investigated according to the number of metastatic lymph nodes. RESULTS: Seventy-eight @entity1 had no lymph node @entity3 and 82 (51.3%) had lymph node @entity3 ; 51 [31.9%)] had between 1 and 4 positive lymph nodes, and 31 (19.4%) had > or =5. The number of metastatic lymph nodes was significantly correlated with @entity5 size, macroscopic classification, histological differentiation, pT, pN, and vessel invasions. Multivariate analysis showed that lymph vessel invasion (relative risk 12.6), histological differentiation (relative risk 4.2), and @entity5 size (relative risk 3.8) were independent factors correlated with number of metastatic lymph nodes. The number of metastatic lymph nodes was also well correlated with the Japanese nodal level and @entity2802 stage, respectively (p<0.001). The 5-year disease-specific survival rate according to the number of positive lymph nodes was 90% for @entity1 without lymph node @entity3 , 52.2% with 1-4, and 28.9% with > or =5, respectively, p<0. 0001; 0 vs 1-4, p<0.05; 1-4 vs > or =5). CONCLUSION: The number of positive lymph nodes is well correlated with @entity5 progression and provides a useful prognostic indicator after oesophagectomy for @entity5 .

Clinicopathologic factors correlated with number of metastatic lymph nodes in XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'PATIENTS'] @entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['oesophageal cancer', 'tumour'] @entity957 :: ('MESH:D002294', 'Disease') :: ['squamous cell carcinoma'] @entity2802 :: ('10178', 'Gene') :: ['TNM'] @entity14 :: ('MESH:D015179', 'Disease') :: ['colorectal cancer'] @entity3 :: ('MESH:D009362', 'Disease') :: ['metastases'] @entity356 :: ('MESH:D013274', 'Disease') :: ['gastric cancer']
@entity5 :: (MESH:D009369,Disease) :: ['oesophageal cancer']
