Three-field versus two-field lymphadenectomy in transthoracic oesophagectomy for oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma: short-term outcomes of a randomized clinical trial

Oesophagectomy with three-field lymphadenectomy increased the number of lymph nodes dissected and led to stage migration owing to a 21·5 per cent rate of cervical lymph node metastasis. Postoperative complications were largely comparable between two- and three-field lymphadenectomy. Registration number: NCT01807936 ( https://www.clinicaltrials.gov).