Tumor spread in superficial esophageal cancer: histopathologic basis for rational surgical treatment.

To formulate a rational approach for the surgical treatment of patients with superficial esophageal cancer (SEC), tumor spread was clinicopathologically studied in 89 patients with SEC. There were 31 mucosal and 58 submucosal tumors. Lymph node metastases were not found in any of those with a mucosal tumor, while one or more lymph nodes were positive for cancer in 41.4% of those with a submucosal tumor. Furthermore, cancer metastasized to extramediastinal nodes, including cervical and abdominal nodes, in 14 patients, accounting for 58.3% of those with nodal metastasis. The 5-year survival rate was 100% and there were no recurrences after esophagectomy in those with a mucosal tumor, whereas the survival rate of those with a submucosal tumor was 64.3% at 5 years (p < 0.01). Based on the different biological behavior of mucosal and submucosal esophageal cancer, we conclude that mucosal tumors may be adequately treated by any type of local resection but submucosal tumors require a subtotal esophagectomy with systematic lymphadenectomy involving the cervical, mediastinal, and abdominal nodes for cure.