The importance of grouping of lymph node stations and rationale of three‐field lymphoadenectomy for thoracic esophageal cancer

Abstract

Our investigation clearly shows the effectiveness and importance of wide range lymph node dissection defined as D3 according to the Japanese N-grouping system for thoracic esophageal cancer. The three-field lymphadenectomy is regarded as a standard procedure for upper and middle thoracic esophageal cancer.