Minimally invasive oesophagectomy with a total two-field lymphadenectomy after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus: A prospective study

INTRODUCTION: In the era of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACTRT), the safety and clinical significance of radical lymphadenectomy specifically lymphadenectomy along the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) has been questioned. Furthermore, the compliance to NACTRT with the CROSS regimen has not been well studied in the Indian population. This prospective study aimed to determine the compliance with CROSS regimen, feasibility and short-term outcomes of minimally invasive oesophagectomy (MIE) with a total two-field lymphadenectomy after NACTRT. METHODS: A prospective study (January 2014 to December 2018) of patients with locally advanced oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) eligible for NACTRT (cT1-4a, N0-1, M0) with CROSS regimen followed by MIE with total two-field lymphadenectomy. The compliance rate, post-operative complications and the pathological response rate were assessed. RESULTS: Of the 166 patients with locally advanced SCC, 76 (45.8%) were eligible for NACTRT and 34 completed NACTRT followed by MIE with a total two-field lymphadenectomy (study group). Twenty-nine (38.1%) patients did not complete NACTRT due to complications or poor compliance. Median (range) blood loss was 125 (50–450) ml and the median (range) operation time for the thoracoscopic phase was 205 (155–325) min. Total median (range) lymph node count and mediastinal lymph node counts were 20 (11–33) and 12, (8–21) respectively. Most common post-operative complications were pneumonia (n = 12, 35.3%) followed by RLN palsy (n = 10, 29.4%). Of the 22 patients who had a complete pathological response of the primary tumour, 7 (31.8%) patients had a node-positive disease. CONCLUSION: NACTRT followed by MIE is feasible in patients with locally advanced SCC. The nodal disease is common even in patients with the complete pathological response of the primary tumour. The dropout rate with NACTRT using the CROSS regimen is high in the present study.