Effect of non-tumor supraclavicular lymph nodes on surgical therapy of esophageal carcinoma

Objective It is to investigate the effect of non-tumor supraclavicular lymph nodes on surgical therapy and prognosis of esophageal carcinoma. Methods Forty-five patients with non-tumor supraclavicular lymph nodes and seventy-three patients without intumescent supraclavicular lymph nodes received surgical therapy. Histopathologic analysis was performed postoperatively. Results The infiltration degree, the positive rate of lymph nodes and lymph nodes metastasis in two groups had significant differences (P all 0.01). Conclusion Lymph nodes, especially in superior segment, in patients with non-tumor supraclavicular lymph nodes should be scavenged. And whatever histopathologic result was, the patients should be deal with radiotherapy, the area included supraclavicular lymph nodes.