[Treatment outcomes of patients with cervical lymph node recurrence after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer].

Herein, we report the treatment outcomes of patients with limited cervical lymph node recurrence after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Between April 2010 and December 2013, 8 patients with cervical lymph nodes recurrence were diagnosed and treated in our department. All patients were detected with recurrent disease by using positron emission tomography computed tomography(PET-CT), and among these, 5 patients had solitary node recurrence. Initial treatments were irradiation therapy in 5 patients and lymphadenectomy in 3 patients. Four of 5 patients underwent irradiation therapy and lymphadenectomy. Four of 5 patients with solitary node recurrence are still alive without relapse of disease. In conclusion, PET-CT can be useful for early detection of recurrent disease after esophagectomy. Appropriate therapy for patients with solitary cervical lymph node recurrence is associated with long-term survival after recurrence.