Nodal Yield <15 Is Associated with Reduced Survival in Esophagectomy and Is a Quality Metric

In a single-center experience of 397 patients undergoing esophagectomy for adenocarcinoma (76 percent) or squamous cell carcinoma (22 percent)—of whom 60 percent were either pathologic stage one or two and 90 percent had neoadjuvant therapy—forty-two patients had fewer than fifteen lymph nodes resected and examined. Resecting at least fifteen lymph nodes was associated with a survival benefit in multivariate analysis. The authors conclude that a minimum nodal yield of fifteen should remain standard of care.