Objective The aim of this study was to analyze the potential of thoracic esophageal carcinoma to metastasize into abdominal lymph nodes. Methods The data on abdominal lymph node metastasis in 164 patients who had undergone resection of thoracic esophageal carcinoma were analyzed retrospectively and grouped according to tumor position in the upper, middle, or lower thoracic esophagus. The difference in tumor infiltration depth, differentiation degree, pathological type, pathological stage, and the metastasis rate in abdominal lymph nodes among the three groups was evaluated and the correlation of abdominal lymph node metastasis with tumor infiltration depth, differentiation degree, and pathological type was analyzed. Results Clinical characteristics such as tumor infiltration depth, differentiation degree, pathological type, and pathological stage were not significantly different between the patients with upper, middle, and lower thoracic esophageal carcinomas. Although there was a difference in the metastasis rate in abdominal lymph nodes between the three groups(6.9%, 27.4%, and 39.6% for the upper, middle, and lower thoracic esophageal carcinomas, respectively), it was not statistically significant. There was also no association between the rate of abdominal lymph node metastasis and tumor infiltration depth, differentiation degree, and pathological type. Conclusion Esophageal carcinoma specifically metastasizes into lymph nodes. If the tumor infiltrates the upper thoracic submucosa, it could metastasize down to abdominal lymph nodes via the lymphatic capillary net. The majority of esophageal carcinomas were of T1 b or higher pathological stage at the diagnosis, indicating infiltration of the submucosa. Thus, tumors of the early stage, high degree of differentiation, or position in the upper thoracic esophagus were not less prone to metastasis into abdominal lymph nodes. Therefore, routine abdominal lymph node dissection during radical surgery for esophageal carcinoma is necessary.
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