INTRODUCTION: Lymphovascular invasion (LVI) is a histopathological feature that is associated with an increased risk for micrometastasis. The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic and staging value of LVI among @entity1 with @entity1721 ( @entity1721 ) undergoing esophagectomy. METHODS: A prospective database of @entity1 with @entity1721 was used to retrospectively analyze 666 cases to identify the relationship between LVI and survival, and to evaluate predictive accuracy of prognosis after combining LVI and the @entity5 , node, and @entity3 (TNM) system. Pathological slides were reassessed by gastrointestinal pathologists according  to the strict criteria; 1000-bootstrap resampling was used for internal validation, and 222 cases from an independent multicenter database were used for external validation. RESULTS: LVI was present in 33.8% of @entity1 , and the proportion increased with advancing T and N classification. LVI was an independent predictor of unfavorable @entity66 ( @entity66 ) (hazard ratio  = 1.59, 95% confidence interval: 1.30-1.94) and @entity66 ( @entity66 ) (hazard ratio  = 1.62, 95% confidence interval: 1.32-1.98) after T classification. Among node-negative @entity1 , LVI and T classification were two independent predictors of @entity66 and @entity66 (p < 0.001). The risk score model combing LVI and T classification improved the predictive accuracy of the TNM system for @entity66 and @entity66 by 3.5% and 4.8%, respectively (p < 0.001). The external validation showed congruent results. The @entity66 of TxN0MO disease with LVI was similar to the @entity66 of TxN1M0 (both p > 0.05). In contrast, LVI was not associated with @entity66 or @entity66 among node-positive @entity1 . CONCLUSIONS: The independent prognostic significance of  LVI existed only in node-negative @entity1 with @entity1721 , and  the combination of LVI and the TNM system enhanced the  predictive accuracy of prognosis. After confirmation, node-negative @entity1 with LVI might be considered for upstaging in pathological staging.

Identification and Validation of Lymphovascular Invasion as a Prognostic and Staging Factor in Node-Negative XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity66 :: ('MESH:D004194', 'Disease') :: ['DFS', 'DSS', 'disease-specific survival', 'disease-free survival'] @entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['tumor'] @entity1721 :: ('MESH:C562729', 'Disease') :: ['ESCC', 'esophageal squamous cell carcinoma'] @entity3 :: ('MESH:D009362', 'Disease') :: ['metastasis']
@entity1721 :: (MESH:C562729,Disease) :: ['Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma']
