A retrospective analysis of lymph node dissection in Siewert II adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction

Background Analyze the pattern of lymph node metastasis in Siewert II adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG) and provide a basis for the principles of surgical access. Methods The clinical data of 112 Siewert type II AEG patients admitted to the Fifth Department of Thoracic Surgery, the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University from 2020 to 2022 were retrospectively collected. The probability of lymph node metastasis in each site and the clearance rate of lymph nodes in each site by different surgical approaches were analyzed. Results The lymph node metastasis rates in the middle and upper mediastinum group, the lower mediastinum group, the upper perigastric + supra pancreatic group, and the lower perigastric + hepatoduodenal group were 0.0%, 5.4%, 61.6%, and 17.1%, (P < 0.001). The number of lymph nodes cleared in the middle and upper mediastinum group was 0.00, 0.00, 4.00 in the transabdominal approach (TA), left thoracic approach (LT), and Ivor-Lewis (IL) group, (P < 0.001); The number of lymph nodes cleared in the lower mediastinal group was 0.00, 2.00, 2.00, (P < 0.001); The number of lymph node dissection in the perigastric + hepatoduodenal group was 3.00, 0.00, and 8.00, (P < 0.001). The overall complication rates were 25.7%, 12.5%, and 36.4%, (P = 0.058). Conclusion Siewert II AEG has the highest rate of lymph node metastasis in the upper perigastric + supra-pancreatic region, followed by the lower perigastric + hepatoduodenal, lower mediastinal, middle, and upper mediastinal regions. Ivor-Lewis can be used for both thoracic and abdominal lymph node dissection and does not increase the incidence of postoperative complications.