Preoperative lymph node status on computed tomography influences the survival of pT1b, T2 and T3 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Purpose The preoperative lymph node status is critical for tailoring optimal treatments for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic impact of a diagnostic criterion based solely on the short-axis diameters of lymph nodes depicted on computed tomography (CT) in ESCC patients undergoing upfront esophagectomy.