Purpose: Although the majority of recurrence was found in 2 years after esophagectomy, esophageal cancer could recur lately. To find efficient follow up, the patients were compared by periods of recurrence detected.
Subjects and methods: Esophagectomized 227 patients were subjected. Median follow up period was 1289 days. The disease recurred in 84 patients (Group A) in 2 years after surgery and in 17 (Group B) lately. Clinicopathological factors were compared between these 2 groups.
Results: There was no difference in background and clinicopathological factors, except Group A was at significantly advanced stage than B. The most common pattern of recurrence was hematogeneous in Group A, whereas lymphatic in Group B, which was significantly different. In Group B, survival rate of patients detected by lymphatic recurrence, which responded to radiation, was higher than that detected by hematogeneous one.
Conclusion: To prolong survival, the patients should be carefully followed up later than 2 years after surgery with regard for lymphatic recurrence.