Celiac lymph nodes and esophageal cancer

Abstract

Celiac lymph nodes are considered a distant metastatic site (M1) in esophageal cancer. The M1a subclassification is recommended for distal thoracic esophageal cancer metastatic to celiac lymph nodes. This suggests that although these cancers are beyond cure, they are different from esophageal cancers with other sites of distant metastases (M1b). Of 46 disease sites for which the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) has staging recommendations, only 7 (15%) require subdivision of M1: 2 with 3 subclassifications (M1a, M1b and M1c) - cutaneous melanoma and prostate; and 5 with 2 subclassifications (M1a and M1b) - bone, retinoblastoma, testis, gestational trophoblastic tumor, and esophagus. Only prostate, testis, and esophagus designate nonregional nodes as M1a. © 2007 Springer-Verlag London Limited.