Supraclavicular lymph node metastasis in esophageal carcinoma: a topic of ongoing controversy

Lymph node metastasis is an important prognostic factor in esophageal carcinoma (EC). Currently, there are no consensus-based staging methods for EC with supraclavicular lymph node (SCLN) metastasis. In this review, we present a summary of several classification methods of the SCLNs and highlight th...

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Main Authors: Bowen Zhang, Huan Zhang, Yu Chen, Wanli Xia, Yichun Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Oncology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1527625/full
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author Bowen Zhang
Huan Zhang
Yu Chen
Wanli Xia
Yichun Wang
author_facet Bowen Zhang
Huan Zhang
Yu Chen
Wanli Xia
Yichun Wang
author_sort Bowen Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Lymph node metastasis is an important prognostic factor in esophageal carcinoma (EC). Currently, there are no consensus-based staging methods for EC with supraclavicular lymph node (SCLN) metastasis. In this review, we present a summary of several classification methods of the SCLNs and highlight their differences in anatomic definitions. Then, we analyze the lymphatic drainage of the SCLNs from esophagus and the distribution patterns of the SCLNs metastasis from EC. Moreover, we discuss the prognostic influence and different staging methods of the SCLN metastasis. In summary, the variations in different classification methods make the SCLNs confusing for clinical application. A standardized and precise definition of the SCLNs should be established urgently for EC. SCLNs can drain lymphatics at various levels of the esophagus, even from the intramural esophagus directly. Therefore, the SCLNs can be metastatic in superficial EC and even become sentinel nodes. Metastatic SCLNs are usually located on the surface of the scalenus anterior muscle and near the venous angle. Increasing pieces of evidence have shown that patients with SCLN metastasis have similar survival than those with regional lymph node metastasis and better survival than those with organ metastasis, which bring challenges to current staging methods.
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spelling doaj-art-2f94faa3a1344a769da29ead67518a782025-01-27T05:14:35ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Oncology2234-943X2025-01-011510.3389/fonc.2025.15276251527625Supraclavicular lymph node metastasis in esophageal carcinoma: a topic of ongoing controversyBowen Zhang0Huan Zhang1Yu Chen2Wanli Xia3Yichun Wang4Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, ChinaDepartment of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, ChinaDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, ChinaDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, ChinaDepartment of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, ChinaLymph node metastasis is an important prognostic factor in esophageal carcinoma (EC). Currently, there are no consensus-based staging methods for EC with supraclavicular lymph node (SCLN) metastasis. In this review, we present a summary of several classification methods of the SCLNs and highlight their differences in anatomic definitions. Then, we analyze the lymphatic drainage of the SCLNs from esophagus and the distribution patterns of the SCLNs metastasis from EC. Moreover, we discuss the prognostic influence and different staging methods of the SCLN metastasis. In summary, the variations in different classification methods make the SCLNs confusing for clinical application. A standardized and precise definition of the SCLNs should be established urgently for EC. SCLNs can drain lymphatics at various levels of the esophagus, even from the intramural esophagus directly. Therefore, the SCLNs can be metastatic in superficial EC and even become sentinel nodes. Metastatic SCLNs are usually located on the surface of the scalenus anterior muscle and near the venous angle. Increasing pieces of evidence have shown that patients with SCLN metastasis have similar survival than those with regional lymph node metastasis and better survival than those with organ metastasis, which bring challenges to current staging methods.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1527625/fullesophageal cancerlymphatic metastasiscancer stagingprognosissupraclavicular lymph node
spellingShingle Bowen Zhang
Huan Zhang
Yu Chen
Wanli Xia
Yichun Wang
Supraclavicular lymph node metastasis in esophageal carcinoma: a topic of ongoing controversy
Frontiers in Oncology
esophageal cancer
lymphatic metastasis
cancer staging
prognosis
supraclavicular lymph node
title Supraclavicular lymph node metastasis in esophageal carcinoma: a topic of ongoing controversy
title_full Supraclavicular lymph node metastasis in esophageal carcinoma: a topic of ongoing controversy
title_fullStr Supraclavicular lymph node metastasis in esophageal carcinoma: a topic of ongoing controversy
title_full_unstemmed Supraclavicular lymph node metastasis in esophageal carcinoma: a topic of ongoing controversy
title_short Supraclavicular lymph node metastasis in esophageal carcinoma: a topic of ongoing controversy
title_sort supraclavicular lymph node metastasis in esophageal carcinoma a topic of ongoing controversy
topic esophageal cancer
lymphatic metastasis
cancer staging
prognosis
supraclavicular lymph node
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1527625/full
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AT huanzhang supraclavicularlymphnodemetastasisinesophagealcarcinomaatopicofongoingcontroversy
AT yuchen supraclavicularlymphnodemetastasisinesophagealcarcinomaatopicofongoingcontroversy
AT wanlixia supraclavicularlymphnodemetastasisinesophagealcarcinomaatopicofongoingcontroversy
AT yichunwang supraclavicularlymphnodemetastasisinesophagealcarcinomaatopicofongoingcontroversy