cT2N0 esophageal adenocarcinoma: predictors of lymph nodal involvement and clinical significance

American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) classifies esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) into different T stages according to the depth of tumor infiltration. The treatment is stage dependent and has historically been associated with a dismal 5-year overall survival of ~10% for tumors crossing the submucosa. Early stage EAC includes tumor invasion to mucosal layers and without metastasis to nodes or other tissues (TisN0M0, T1aN0M0) while the terminology “superficial cancers” is reserved for tumors limited to the submucosa (T1bN0M0).