LYMPH-NODE METASTASIS OF EARLY-STAGE CARCINOMA OF THE ESOPHAGUS AND OF THE STOMACH

We undertook a comparative histologic study of early stage carcinoma o f the esophagus and stomach, with tumor invasion limited to the submuc osa. Here we analyze lymph node metastasis, lymphatic invasion, and va scular invasion. Our study is based on a retrospective review of 77 pa tients with early stage carcinoma of the esophagus and 192 patients wi th early stage carcinoma of the stomach treated during the period from 1973 through 1991. The incidence of lymph node metastasis and lymphat ic invasion was significantly higher in intramucosal or submucosal eso phageal cancer than in intramucosal or submucosal gastric cancer. Howe ver, there was no significant difference between intramucosal esophage al cancer and submucosal gastric cancer. The metastatic site of lymph nodes in esophageal cancer tended to be distant from the location of p rimary tumor compared with lymph nodes invaded by gastric cancer. Lymp hatic invasion and vessel invasion between submucosal esophageal cance r and submucosal gastric cancer was statistically significant. From th ese results, we conclude that intraepithelial or intramucosal esophage al cancer is comparable to early stage carcinoma of the stomach, where as submucosal esophageal cancer is actually an advanced lesion.