Background

Esophageal cancer is the eighth most common cancer and the sixth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide [1]. It is important for surgeons to determine the accurate patterns of lymph node metastasis in patients with esophageal cancer because lymph node metastasis will affect patient prognosis and decide appropriate treatment strategies [2, 3]. However, it is controversial for surgeons to choose the best strategy for lymph node dissection.

Generally, surgeons commonly use contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) as a preoperative work-up to determine esophageal cancer staging. With technological developments, positron emission tomography CT (PET-CT) and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) are regarded as additional methods to improve the diagnostic accuracy in cases of lymph node metastasis. Unfortunately, some researchers find and demonstrate lack of reliability in PET-CT and EUS staging [4, 5]. The diagnostic accuracy of PET-CT in the context of regional lymph nodal metastasis is controversial because of the relatively low sensitivity of the technique. Furthermore, in patients with tuberculosis, false-positive lymph nodes in esophageal cancer will always be found because the specificity of nodal staging may be reduced [6, 7]. Meanwhile, additional diagnostic methods such as EUS cannot be routinely used to screen patients and are only performed when surgeons are informed by radiologists of their suspicion of metastatic lymph nodes by contrast-enhanced CT [8, 9].

Although surgeons prefer to choose the extended systematic nodal dissection as the best way to provide accurate pathological nodal staging and remove all possible metastasis of lymph nodes, the possibility of omitting positive lymph nodes also exists and the occurrence of postoperative complications increases. There are two opposite opinions about extended systematic nodal dissection. The benefit of extended systematic nodal dissection is under intense discussion [10, 11]. Surgeons aim to identify an accurate strategy of lymph node dissection to improve prognosis and reduce the possibility of postoperative complications in patients with esophageal cancer.

Regional lymph node maps for esophageal cancer were revised in the 8th edition of tumor–node–metastasis (TNM) staging [12]; lymph nodes were classified into three regions: cervical, thoracic, and abdominal. For increased accuracy, we divided the thoracic region into three regions: the upper thoracic region: 2R/2 L and 4R/4 L; the middle thoracic region: 7, 8 U, and 8 M; and the lower thoracic region: 8Lo,9R/9 L, and 15. Few studies have been performed to explore different patterns of regional lymph nodes. If strategy of lymph node dissection can be designed by obtaining accurate patterns of regional lymph nodes metastasis, patients would benefit substantially.

However, there are different clinical and pathological characteristics in each patient intraoperatively diagnosed with esophageal cancer. Many researchers have demonstrated that individual clinical parameters and the histological components of the tumor will greatly influence the occurrence of lymph node metastasis [13,14,15]. Metastatic patterns of regional lymph nodes will be also affected by patient heterogeneity.

Therefore, the aim of the present study was to identify clinicopathologic characteristics and to develop and validate three nomograms that incorporated these risk factors to intraoperatively predict patterns of regional lymph nodes in patients with esophageal cancer. These nomograms will provide surgeons with additional guidance to make appropriate decisions for lymph node dissection and minimize damage to patients.

Methods

Patient selection

In our medical center, 760 patients underwent operations for esophageal cancer in 2016, and of these, we excluded 73 patients from this study because of low-quality medical records. Of the remaining 687 patients, 200 were excluded because they did not meet the study inclusion criteria. The remaining 487 patients were enrolled in this retrospective analysis as an independent training cohort. Patients were intraoperatively diagnosed with esophageal cancer by rapid frozen-section pathological analysis and diagnosis. We used the 8th edition of the TNM staging for esophageal cancer to define the pathological stage of all patients [16]. In 2017, 596 patients with esophageal cancer underwent operations at our medical center, and of these, we excluded 96 patients from this study because of low-quality medical records. Of the remaining 500 patients, 294 were excluded by using the same criteria as used for the training cohort. An independent validation cohort of 206 consecutive patients was constructed. Patients with any one of the following characteristics were excluded: 1) distant metastasis by contrast-enhanced CT and further confirmed by PET-CT; 2) receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy preoperatively; 3) diagnosing as tuberculosis preoperatively; 4) the number of stations dissected in operation did not meet the current standards of complete lymph node dissection (i.e., all lymph node stations, including 1R, 2R, 4R, 7, 8 U, 8 M, 8Lo, 9R, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20 in the right side and 1 L, 2 L, 4 L, 7, 8 U, 8 M, 8Lo, 9 L, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20 in the left side); 5) other types of cancer.

Contrast-enhanced chest CT and whole abdominal CT, brain magnetic resonance imaging, and bone scintigraphy were used as routine preoperative assessment for patients. We used contrast-enhanced CT to determine preoperative N-staging. All patients received three-incision esophagectomy as the approach for esophageal cancer resection.

Tissue specimens comprised esophagus-containing tumors and lymph nodes. Esophageal cancers were analyzed by sending rapid frozen sections to the Pathology Department at our medical center. The diagnostic criteria in rapid frozen sections are similar to that in permanent sections. Lymph-vascular space invasion is defined as the invasion of cancer to the lymphatic and vascular spaces or in the lumens. Neural invasion is defined as the invasion of cancer to the space surrounding or in the peripheral neural plexus. We used 10% formalin to fix remaining tumor and lymph nodes, and pathological department performed conventional formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded pathological tests postoperatively.

Statistical analysis

SPSS v23 (IBM Corp.) was used for statistical testing. Continuous variables with abnormal distributions were presented as medians (range). We used the Mann–Whitney U test to compare groups of data. Categorical data is described as the count (percentage) and we used chi-squared or Fisher’s exact test to compare difference. In the training cohort, univariate analysis was used to evaluate the significance of associations with the three patterns of regional lymph node metastases (P < 0.20). Independent predictors were determined by further analyzing these significant variables by multivariable logistic analysis (P < 0.05). we calculated Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We used the rms package in R v3.5.1 (http://www.r-project.org/) to generate three nomograms of multivariable analysis results. The area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve was used to quantify the nomogram prediction accuracy and the null hypothesis is AUC = 0.5. Calibration curves was used to assess the Consistency between actual patient outcomes and predicted outcomes. In the validation cohort, the AUC and calibration curves were performed using the same methods. We used the rmda package in R to depict Decision curve analysis (DCA) based on the net benefit. A two-tailed P value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Basic clinicopathologic characteristics

In this study, a total of 693 patients diagnosed with esophageal cancer was enrolled and were separated by different years into a training cohort (n = 487) in 2016 and a validation cohort (n = 206) in 2017. The ratio of patients in the training and validation cohorts was almost 2:1. The clinicopathologic characteristics of individuals in the training and validation cohorts are outlined in Table 1. There were no significant differences in the clinical characteristics between the training and validation cohorts (P > 0.05). Lymph node metastasis positivity affirmed by routine pathology was 43.1% (210/487) in the training cohort and 35.9% (74/206) in the validation cohort, respectively. The validation cohort is justified as a better population of patients to verify the practicability of the nomogram. The CT report of lymph node status provided in the validation cohort was confirmed by two radiologists at our center. Lymph node metastasis positivity suspected by contrast-enhanced CT was only 8.25% (17/206), which is less than that affirmed by routine pathology (35.9%; 74/206).

Table 1 Clinicopathologic characteristics
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Predictors of different metastatic patterns in regional lymph nodes

For regional lymph nodes, univariate analysis in the training cohort was conducted. 12 significant risk factors associated with regional lymph node metastasis were identified. Only age (OR = 0.959, 95% CI 0.926–0.994; P = 0.021), depth of tumor invasion (OR = 1.373, 95% CI 1.091–1.727; P = 0.007), and lymph–vascular space invasion (OR = 3.286, 95% CI 1.829–5.526; P < 0.01) were identified as independent predictors of regional lymph node metastasis by Multivariable analysis of these risk factors acquired from univariate analysis (Table 2).

Table 2 multivariate analysis of different metastatic patterns of regional Lymph Nodes in the training cohort
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For continuous regional lymph nodes, seven significant risk factors associated with continuous regional lymph node metastasis were revealed by univariate analysis in the training cohort. Only age (OR = 0.947, 95% CI 0.899–0.997; P = 0.037), APTT (G) (OR = 0.408, 95% CI 0.197–0.843; P = 0.016), and neural invasion (OR = 2.658, 95%CI 1.212–5.829; P = 0.015) were identified as independent predictors of continuous regional lymph node metastasis by multivariable analysis of these risk factors obtained from univariate analysis (Table 2).

For skipping regional lymph nodes, seven significant risk factors associated with skipping regional lymph node metastasis were revealed by univariate analysis in the training cohort. Only lymph–vascular space invasion (OR = 3.632, 95% CI 1.499–8.797; P = 0.004) and tumor length (OR = 1.208, 95% CI 1.019–1.431; P = 0.029) were identified as independent predictors of skipping regional lymph node metastasis by multivariable analysis of these risk factors obtained from univariate analysis (Table 2).

Nomogram construction and validation

Those factors found to be independently predictive of different patterns of regional lymph node metastasis in the multivariable analyses were performed to construct the models and nomograms (Table 3).

Table 3 Nomogram for Prediction of different metastatic patterns of regional Lymph Nodes
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With respect to the nomogram of regional lymph node metastasis (Fig. 1a), the training and validation cohort AUC values were 0.737 (P < 0.001) and 0.728 (P < 0.0001), respectively (Fig. 2a, d).

Fig. 1
figure 1

Nomograms for prediction of different metastatic patterns of regional lymph nodes in patients intraoperatively diagnosed with esophageal cancer. a, regional lymph nodes. Lymph-vascular space invasion: 1: positive, 0: negative. b, continuous regional lymph nodes. APTT: 1: > 26.6 s, 0: < 26.6 s; Neural invasion: 1: positive, 0: negative. c, skipping regional lymph nodes. Lymph-vascular space invasion: 1: positive, 0: negative

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Fig. 2
figure 2

ROC curves of nomograms for prediction of different metastatic patterns of regional lymph nodes in patients intraoperatively diagnosed with esophageal cancer. a, regional lymph nodes. b, continuous regional lymph nodes. c, skipping regional lymph nodes in training cohort. d, regional lymph nodes. e, continuous regional lymph nodes. f, skipping regional lymph nodes in the validation cohort. ROC, receiver operating characteristic

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As for the nomogram for continuous regional lymph node metastasis (Fig. 1b), the training and validation cohort AUC values were 0.738 (P < 0.001) and 0.668 (P = 0.001), respectively (Fig. 2b, e).

In the case of the nomogram of skipping regional lymph node metastasis (Fig. 1c), the training and validation cohort AUC values were 0.707 (P < 0.001) and 0.657 (P = 0.005), respectively (Fig. 2c, f).

Moreover, the calibration curves indicate good consistency between observed actual outcomes of lymph node metastasis and predicted values for regional lymph nodes (Fig. 3a, d), continuous regional lymph nodes (Fig. 3b, e), and skipping regional lymph nodes (Fig. 3c, f) in the two cohorts.

Fig. 3
figure 3

Calibration curves of nomograms for prediction of different metastatic patterns of regional lymph nodes in patients intraoperatively diagnosed with esophageal cancer. a, regional lymph nodes. b, continuous regional lymph nodes. c, skipping regional lymph nodes in training cohort. d, regional lymph nodes. e, continuous regional lymph nodes. F, skipping regional lymph nodes in validation cohort

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Clinical application of the nomogram

The clinical value of the nomograms was assessed by DCA based on the net benefit and threshold probabilities. As for regional lymph node metastasis, we demonstrated nomogram had superior net benefit with a wide range of threshold probabilities compared with contrast-enhanced CT in the validation cohort (Fig. 4a). For continuous regional lymph node metastasis, using the nomogram to predict lymph node metastases is more beneficial than using contrast-enhanced CT within the threshold probability range of 20 and 50% (Fig. 4b). For skipping regional lymph node metastasis, the nomogram also provided a greater superior net benefit with a wide range of threshold probabilities comparative with contrast-enhanced CT, similar to that observed with regional lymph node metastasis (Fig. 4c). DCA curves indicated that the nomograms had superior clinical usefulness compared with the routine screening method of contrast-enhanced CT to predict different patterns of regional lymph node metastasis.

Fig. 4
figure 4

DCA for prediction of different metastatic patterns of regional lymph nodes in patients intraoperatively diagnosed with esophageal cancer. a, regional lymph nodes. b, continuous regional lymph nodes. c, skipping regional lymph nodes in validation cohort. DCA, decision curve analysis. N, nomogram; CT, contrast-enhanced computed tomography. The x-axis and y-axis represent threshold probability and net benefit, respectively. The black line corresponds to net benefit when all patients are considered to not have metastasis of the regional lymph nodes. The gray line corresponds to net benefit when all patients are considered to have metastasis of the regional lymph nodes

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Discussion

The TNM staging system is used worldwide to determine proper treatment and establish prognosis for patients with esophageal cancer [17]. With this staging system, regional lymph nodes, “N”, are an important direct guide that enables surgeons to perform lymph node dissection. Transverse penetration of the esophageal wall and flowing longitudinally in a cephalic or caudal direction are the two main patterns of lymphatic spreading in the esophagus. The longitudinal lymphatic flow of the esophagus is more plentiful than the transverse distribution [18], so the patterns of metastatic regional lymph nodes generally include metastatic regional lymph nodes, metastatic continuous regional lymph nodes, and metastatic skipping regional lymph nodes [19, 20].

In our study, we accurately divided the thoracic region into three: the upper thoracic region; the middle thoracic region; and the lower thoracic region. Metastatic regional lymph nodes are defined as the location of positive lymph nodes (> 1) that correspond to the position of the esophageal tumor. Metastatic continuous regional lymph nodes are defined as positive lymph nodes (> 1) also found in the adjacent region besides the positive lymph nodes (> 1) in the corresponding position of the esophageal tumor. Metastatic skipping regional lymph nodes are defined as positive lymph nodes (> 1) found in the other regions by the absence of regional lymph node metastasis in the corresponding position of the esophageal tumor.

However, in clinical practice, although extended systematic nodal dissection is regarded as the best treatment for patients, the possibility of omitting positive lymph nodes also exists and a high occurrence of postoperative complications makes it difficult for surgeons to choose the best strategy of lymph node dissection [21, 22]. Surgeons face a dilemma about how to perform lymph node dissection and they must make this decision based on their experience [23, 24]. Surgeons aim to obtain additional guides for accurate lymph node dissection.

Fortunately, nomograms, which can more accurately predict metastatic lymph nodes and provide superior stratification compared with traditional methods, have been developed and validated in several types of cancer [25, 26]. In our study, a total of 693 patients were analyzed retrospectively following radical three-incision esophagectomy. Nomograms that were reasonably effective in predicting metastasis for different patterns of regional lymph nodes based on independent risk factors were constructed and validated. Our nomograms showed more accurate prediction, with AUC values of 0.737, 0.738, and 0.707 in the training cohort and 0.728, 0.668, and 0.657 in the validation cohort, respectively. Moreover, the calibration curves indicate a good consistency between the predicted outcomes and actual outcomes of lymph node metastasis. In addition, DCA demonstrated that these novel nomograms display an improved overall benefit and superior clinical utility compared with contrast-enhanced CT.

Using nomograms, the patterns of metastatic regional lymph nodes can be estimated. The possibility of metastasis of regional lymph nodes will increase when patients are younger, have deeper tumor invasion, and present with lymph–vascular space invasion. Metastasis risks of regional lymph node can be evaluated using nomograms within the range from 10 to 80% (Fig. 1a). By using ROC curve, the cut-off value is 35%. Metastasis risk of regional lymph node more than 35% is defined as high level risk. To assess the pattern of metastatic continuous regional lymph nodes, the possibility of metastasis of continuous regional lymph nodes will increase when patients are younger, have an APTT of < 26.6, and are in a condition of neural invasion. Metastasis risks of continuous regional lymph nodes can be evaluated using nomograms within the range from 5 to 50% (Fig. 1b). By using ROC curve, the cut-off value is 10%. Metastasis risks of continuous regional lymph nodes more than 10% is defined as high level. To assess the pattern of metastatic skipping regional lymph nodes, the possibility of metastasis of skipping regional lymph nodes will increase when patients have an increased tumor length and are in a condition of lymph–vascular space invasion. Metastasis risks of skipping regional lymph nodes can be evaluated using nomograms within the range from 5 to 30% (Fig. 1c). By using ROC curve, the cut-off value is 10%. Metastasis risks of skipping regional lymph nodes more than 10% is defined as high level.

Nomograms can provide surgeons with an important guide for making decisions about the strategy for lymph node dissection. If we find that the predictive metastasis risk of continuous or skipping regional lymph nodes is high, then extended systematic nodal dissection must be performed to avoid omitting positive lymph nodes. If we find that the predictive metastasis risk of continuous and skipping regional lymph nodes is low and that of regional lymph nodes is high, then we can only perform systemic regional lymph node dissection corresponding to the position of the esophageal tumor. If we find that the predictive metastasis risk of continuous and skipping regional lymph nodes is low and that of regional lymph nodes is also low, we can only perform regional lymph node sampling corresponding to the position of the esophageal tumor. By using the nomogram, we can probably decrease damage to patients and achieve the goal of high-accuracy treatment.

There are some limitations in the present study. This study was a single institution retrospective research and demonstrates the necessity for further prospective studies. It is necessary to perform further prospective studies with multicenter trials to comprehensively evaluate nomograms in the context of predicting intraoperative metastasis of different regional lymph nodes in patients diagnosed with esophageal cancer.

Conclusions

In conclusion, powerful and simple nomograms using independent risk factors were developed and validated to predict intraoperative different patterns of regional lymph nodes in patients diagnosed with esophageal cancer. These novel nomograms suggest that they are of potential value for clinicians to select the best strategy of lymph node dissection because they displayed superior performance and discriminative power compared with traditional diagnostic systems.