Li-Hua Zhu,1,* Jun Yao,2,* Ting Wu,3 Yan Wang,1 Chen-Wei Wang,1 Chun-Quan Xue,1 Li-Guang Wu,1 Xing-Wen Fan,4 Chao-Yang Wu1 1Department of Radiation Oncology, The People’s Hospital Affiliated to Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province 212003, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Gastroenterology, The People’s Hospital Affiliated to Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province 212003, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Pathology, The People’s Hospital Affiliated to Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province 212003, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Chao-Yang WuDepartment of Radiation Oncology, The People’s Hospital Affiliated to Jiangsu University, Dianli Road 8 In, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province 212003, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 511 88915041Email wuchaoyang9@163.comXing-Wen FanDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, 270 Dong’an Road, Shanghai 200032, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 136 51669687Email wenxingfan@126.comPurpose: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a widely performed procedure for esophageal carcinoma when the depth of invasion reaches the epithelium and lamina propria. However, ESD for esophageal carcinoma with depth of invasion exceeding the muscularis mucosa is controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term outcomes of ESD for T1N0M0 (tumor invading the mucosa and submucosa [T1], no regional lymph node metastasis [N0], no distant metastasis [M0]) esophageal cancer.Patients and Methods: Esophageal cancer was evaluated via pathology and computed tomography (CT) in consecutive patients with negative margin and without additional therapy. A total of 84 patients were included. The mean follow-up time was 42 (range, 9– 99) months.Results: No recurrence and metastasis were detected in the M1 and M2 group. The 5-year locoregional recurrence rate and distant metastasis rate were 4.2% and 5.6% for the M3 group and were 0% and 1.4% for the SM group, respectively. The 3- and 5-year overall survival were 94.4% (M1+M2 group, 95.0%; M3 group, 95.0%; SM group, 92.9%) and 80.9% (M1+M2 group, 95.0%; M3 group, 95.0%; SM group, 92.9%). Meanwhile, the 3- and 5-year disease-specific survival rates were 100% (M1+M2 group, 100%; M3 group, 100%; SM group, 100%) and 90.8% (M1+M2 group, 100%; M3 group, 90.0%; SM group, 85.7%). The major complications were postoperative strictures, most of which were grade 1– 2. In total, two (4.8%) and one (1.2%) patient developed grade 3 and 5 late esophageal strictures, respectively.Conclusion: ESD complete resection yields low recurrence and metastasis rates in early esophageal cancer (T1N0M0). Thus, additional treatment is not necessary, and a watch and wait strategy may be reasonable.Keywords: esophageal carcinoma, endoscopic therapy, endoscopic submucosal resection, recurrence and metastasis
