scholarly journals Mapping patterns of metastatic lymph nodes for postoperative radiotherapy in thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a recommendation for clinical target volume definition

BMC Cancer ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Yu ◽  
Wen Ouyang ◽  
Chunyang Li ◽  
Jiuling Shen ◽  
Yu Xu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The clinical target volume (CTV) for postoperative radiotherapy for thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (TESCC) needs to be defined. The study aim was to map metastatic lymph nodes (LNMs) in a computed tomography (CT)-based atlas and delineate the postoperative radiotherapy target area. Methods Sixty-nine TESCC patients with first recurrent regional LNMs after esophagectomy were included. The LNM epicenters were registered onto corresponding anatomic axial CT images of a standard patient in the treatment position, with reference to the surrounding vascular and bony structures. The LNM sites were based on lymph node map of esophageal cancer, AJCC 8th. The lymph metastasis risk for different segments of thoracic esophagus was assessed. Results One hundred and seventy-nine LNMs were mapped onto standard axial CT images. The upper-middle mediastinum region (station 1 to 8 M) contained 97% of metastases in the upper segment of thoracic esophagus, 90% in the middle segment, and 66% in the lower one. Advanced pathological stage (≥IIIB) might be a predictive factor for upper abdominal region (UAR) relapse in lower TESCC. Lower cervical para-tracheal LNMs were within a 4.3-cm bilaterally expanded area from the midline of the body and a 2.2-cm expanded area from the anterior of vertebral body, from the superior border of the C7, to the inferior border of the first thoracic vertebra. Conclusion A modified target from the upper border of C7 to the lower border of caudal margin of the inferior pulmonary vein level could cover the high-risk area of TESCC underwent postoperative radiotherapy. UAR seems to be an elective irradiation target for lower TESCC at pathological IIIB stage and higher.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaofei Zhang ◽  
Dashan Ai ◽  
Juanqi Wang ◽  
Yun Chen ◽  
Qi Liu ◽  
...  

BackgroundThis trial aims to explore the feasibility and safety of postoperative radiotherapy covering all regional lymph node areas for locally advanced thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients treated with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT).MethodsThis was a single-center single-arm, phase II clinical trial initiated in 2014. Patients who were treated with radical transthoracic resection and had negative margins within 3 months and histologically confirmed esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (pT3-4 or N+, M0 determined by the 7th edition of the AJCC guidelines) were recruited in this trial. Postoperative radiotherapy was performed with a total dose of 40 Gy in 20 fractions using IMRT. Clinical target volumes (CTVs) included the tumor bed, anastomosis, bilateral supraclavicular region, mediastinal lymph nodes, left gastric lymph nodes and celiac trunk lymph nodes. The primary endpoint was the 2-year local control rate, and the secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and adverse events (AEs).ResultsA total of 70 eligible patients were recruited from 2014 to 2016. The 2-year local control rate, as the primary endpoint, was 67.3%. In addition, the median OS was 57.0 months, with 1-year and 3-year OS rates of 92.8% and 60.9%, respectively. Among the patients, 28/40 (40%) developed locoregional recurrence, with 25.7% involving hematogenous recurrences. All reported AEs occurred during the course of IMRT or within 6 months thereafter. None of them suffered grade 4 hematological or nonhematological AEs. Nearly all patients completed the entire course of postoperative radiotherapy, with a completion rate of 97.1%.ConclusionFor an extensive target volume, 40 Gy is feasible and shows acceptable toxicity in patients with locally advanced thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, although the local recurrence rate is relatively high. Our findings provide a basis for further exploration of high-dose radiation with extensive CTV combined with chemotherapy.Clinical Trial Registration[http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?cond=&term=NCT02384811&cntry=&state=&city=&dist=], identifier [NCT02384811].


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiantian Cui ◽  
Hongjiao Zhang ◽  
Tao Yu ◽  
Yiru Chen ◽  
Chengxin Liu ◽  
...  

PurposeThis study aimed to analyze the recurrence patterns of thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) after radical surgery, and to understand its implication in the clinical target volume (CTV) design of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) in patients with ESCC.Methods and materialsA total of 428 recurrent ESCC patients after radical surgery between 2014 and 2018 were included in this study. Recurrence patterns, especially anastomotic and regional lymph node recurrence (LNR), were analyzed. A T-shaped CTV were proposed for PORT and were evaluated whether it could cover most of regional LNR.ResultsThese patients all experienced anastomotic and/or regional LNR. Among the 428 patients, 27 cases (6.3%) had anastomotic recurrence only, and184 cases (43.0%) had LNR only. Those sites with an LNR rate higher than 15% in upper thoracic ESCC were as follows: No.101, No.104R, No.104L, No.106recR, No.106recL, No.106pre, No.106tb, No.107, and No. 109. Those with middle thoracic ESCC were as follows: No.104R, No.104L, 106recR, No.106recL, No.106pre, No.106tb, and No.107. Lastly, individuals with lower thoracic ESCC were as follows: No.104L, 106recR, No.106recL, No. 106pre, No. 106tb, No.107, and abdominal No. 3. The proportion of LNR not included in the proposed T-shaped CTV was 12.5% (1/8), 4.7% (6/128), and 10.4% (5/48) in the upper, middle, and lower thoracic segments, respectively.ConclusionsLNR was the most common type of local-regional recurrence in patients after radical surgery. Supraclavicular, superior and middle mediastinal lymph nodes had the highest recurrence rate, the rate of LNR which was outside T-shaped PORT CTV we proposed was less than 15%.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yichun Wang ◽  
Dongmei Ye ◽  
Mei Kang ◽  
Liyang Zhu ◽  
Mingwei Yang ◽  
...  

BackgroundThe lower neck and upper mediastinum are the major regions for postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) in thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (TESCC). However, there is no uniform standard regarding the delineation of nodal clinical target volume (CTVnd). This study aimed to map the recurrent lymph nodes in the cervical and upper mediastinal regions and explore a reasonable CTVnd for PORT in TESCC.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed patients in our hospital with first cervical and/or upper mediastinal lymph node recurrence (LNR) after upfront esophagectomy. All of these recurrent lymph nodes were plotted on template computed tomography (CT) images with reference to surrounding structures. The recurrence frequency at different stations was investigated and the anatomic distribution of recurrent lymph nodes was analyzed.ResultsA total of 119 patients with 215 recurrent lymph nodes were identified. There were 47 (39.5%) patients with cervical LNR and 102 (85.7%) patients with upper mediastinal LNR. The high-risk regions were station 101L/R, station 104L/R, station 106recL/R, station 105 and station 106pre for upper TESCC and station 104L/R, station 106recL/R, station 105, station 106pre and station 106tbL for middle and lower TESCCs. LNR in the external group of station 104L/R was not common, and LNR was not found in the narrow spaces where the trachea was in close contact with the innominate artery, aortic arch and mediastinal pleura. LNR below the level of the cephalic margin of the superior vena cava was also not common for upper TESCC.ConclusionsThe CTVnd of PORT in the cervical and upper mediastinal regions should cover station 101L/R, station 104L/R, station 106recL/R, station 105 and station 106pre for upper TESCC and station 104L/R, station 106recL/R, station 105, station 106pre and station 106tbL for middle and lower TESCCs. Based on our results, we proposed a useful atlas for guiding the delineation of CTVnd in TESCC.


2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e15504-e15504
Author(s):  
Bo Cheng ◽  
Xue Meng

e15504 Background: The correlation between the clinical target volume (CTV) margin and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) recurrence pattern is not completely clear. Our aim was to retrospectively evaluate the recurrence patterns in ESCC patients who received definitive radiotherapy (RT) with different CTVs, and determine the optimum longitudinalmargin. Methods: Patients with histologically proven ESCC (N = 134) were classified into the following three groups according to the initial expanding margin of CTV at the recurrence side: CTV1 with longitudinal margin ≥ 3cm (N = 73), CTV2 with 2-3cm (N = 37), and CTV3 with < 2cm (N = 24). The recurrence patterns were analyzed relative to the CTV margins, as well as the radiation dose, tumor stage, comorbidities etc. Results: The recurrence sites were significantly different between the CTV1 and CTV3 (p < 0.001), but not between the CTV1 and CTV2 groups (p = 0.052). In addition, 42 (91.3%) of the 46 patients that received low-dose (55-60Gy) RT showed recurrence at the site of the primary tumor, an obviously greater proportion compared to those who underwent a high-dose ( > 60Gy) treatment (77.3%, p = 0.018). Drinking was also a clear contributing factor (p = 0.025). Age, smoking, comorbidities,tumor location, stage and treatment mode were not significant prognostic factors for ESCC recurrence. Conclusions: CTV with a 2-3cm longitudinal expansion to the gross tumor volume (GTV) is acceptable for radical RT for ESCC, and recurrence at the primary tumor site is associated with low radiation dose ( < 60Gy).


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