Table 2 Characteristics of studies included in our meta-analysis

Ma (2022) [18]

2013–2017

China

396

Oesophagectomy and lymphadenectomy (118 right incision, 278 left incision), no NAT, 210 N0, 186 N + , some patients received PAT

8^th TNM/I-IV/No

IHC

VI(102)/LI(94)

RFS

Mul

Fulfilled items

Toriumi (2022) [19]

2008–2017

Japan

154

Esophagectomy with lymphadenectomy, no NAT, 103 N0, 51 N + , no PAT information

8^th TNM/I-IV/Yes

H&E/IHC

VI(97)/LI(46)

OS/RFS

Mul and Uni

Checklist no.2 was not fulfilled

Kitamura (2021) [20]

2010–2015

Japan

327

McKeown oesophagectomy with lymph node dissection (189 2-field, 134 3-field), 212 patients received NAT, no PAT information, 159 N0, 168 N + 

8^th TNM/I-IV/Yes

NM

VI(129)/LI(135)

OS

Mul and Uni

Checklist no.3 was not fulfilled

Baba (2020) [21]

2001–2016

Japan

147

Radical esophageal resection, 70 patients received NAT, some patients received PAT

8^th TNM/I-III/No

IHC

VI(NM)/LI(NM)

RFS

Mul and Uni

Checklist no.2 was not fulfilled

Oguma (2019) [22]

1999–2016

Japan

195

Thoracic oesophagecttomy with 3-field lymphadenectomy, no NAT, some patients received PAT

JCEC, 11^th edition/T1N0M0/Yes

H&E

VI(57)/LI(110)

RFS

Mul and Uni

Fulfilled items

Arigami (2018) [23]

1998–2012

Japan

237

Oesophagectomy with Lymph node dissection, no NAT, 113 N0, 124 N + , no PAT information

JCEC, 11^th edition /I-III/Yes

NM

VI(138)/LI(143)

OS

Mul and Uni

Checklist no.2 and no.3 was not fulfilled

Nakamura (2017) [24]

2005–2016

Japan

245

Oesophagectomy, no NAT, 182 N0, 63 N + , 199 PAT

7^th TNM/T1N0-3/Yes

NM

VI(75)/LI(71)

RFS/OS

Mul and Uni

Checklist no.2 and no.3 was not fulfilled

Okada (2016) [25]

1997–2011

Japan

160

Transthoracic or transhiatal approach performed in 143 and 17 patients, minimally invasive thoracoscopic surgery performed in 10 cases, all patients received 3-field lymphadenectomy, 58 N0, 102 N + , 67 NAT, no PAT information

6^th TNM II-III/Yes

H&E

VI(138)/LI(86)

RFS/OS

Mul and Uni

Fulfilled items

Han (2016) [26]

2007–2008

China

218

Ivor-Lewis and the three-stage (right thoracotomy, midline laparotomy and left cervical incisions) esophagectomy, no NAT, 128 N0, 90 N + , 78 PAT

7^th TNM/I-III/Yes

IHC

VI(35)/LI(58)

RFS/OS

Mul and Uni

Fulfilled items

Takata (2014) [27]

1998–2007

Japan

191

Oesophagectomy via a right thoracotomy, with a two or three field lymphadenectomy, 86 NAT, 68 N0, 123 N + , no PAT information

7^th TNM/I-IV/No

NM

VI(79)/LI(148)

OS

Mul and Uni

Checklist no.3 was not fulfilled

Takeno (2013) [28]

1991–2010

Japan

228

Radical oesophagectomy with 3-field lymph nodes dissection, no NAT, 112 N0, 116 N + , no PAT information

7^th TNM/I-IV/Yes

NM

VI(68)/LI(130)

OS

Mul

Checklist no.3 was not fulfilled

Nakashima (2013) [15]

1994–2005

Japan

101

Oesophagectomy, no NAT, 50 N0, 51 N + , no PAT information

JCEC, 9^th edition/T1-4N0-3/Unclear

H&E

VI(37)/LI(47)

OS

Mul and Uni

Checklist no.2 was not fulfilled

Ichikawa (2013) [29]

1995–2010

Japan

315

Radical thoracoscopic-assisted oesophagectomy and lymphadenectomy, 74 NAT, 134 N0, 181 N + , 44 PAT

6^th TNM/IIa-IV/No

NM

VI(210)/LI(199)

OS

Uni

Fulfilled items

Kim (2012) [30]

NM

Korea

138

Oesophagectomy with lymph node dissection, no NAT, 47 N0, 91 N + , no PAT information

7^th TNM/I-IV/No

H&E

VI(21)/LI(80)

OS

Mul

Fulfilled items

Suzuki (2011) [31]

1990–2007

Japan

138

Curative surgery, no NAT, 55 N0, 83 N + , no PAT information

6^th TNM/I-IV/No

NM

VI(88)/LI(109)

OS

Mul and Uni

Checklist no.2 and no.3 was not fulfilled

Ren (2010) [16]

2003–2004

China

148

Radical oesophagectomy, no NAT, 74 N0, 74 N1, no PAT information

6^th TNM/T1-4N0-1M0-1/Unclear

NM

VI(69)/LI(80)

OS

Uni

Checklist no.2 and no.3 was not fulfilled

Tateno (2009) [32]

1987–1998

Japan

216

Oesophagectomy with lymph node dissection, no NAT, 77 N0, 139 N1, no PAT information

5th TNM/I-IV/No

IHC

VI(77)/LI(136)

OS

Mul

Fulfilled items

Sano (2009) [33]

1995–2005

Japan

151

Curative surgical resection, no NAT, 66 N0, 85 N1, no PAT information

6^th TNM/I-IV/No

H&E

VI(89)/LI(113)

RFS

Mul and Uni

Checklist no.2 was not fulfilled

Komatsu (2009) [34]

1981–1995

Japan

153

Surgery, no NAT, 34 N0, 119 N1, no PAT information

6^th TNM/I-IV/No

H&E

VI(113)/LI(135)

OS

Uni

Checklist no.2 was not fulfilled

Tsujitani (2007) [35]

1981–1995

Japan

107

Oesophagectomy with lymph node dissection, no NAT, 44 N0, 63 N + , some patients received PAT

5^th TNM/0-IV/Unclear

H&E

VI(23)/LI(64)

OS

Mul

Fulfilled items

Natsugoe (2007) [36]

1988–1998

Japan

194

Oesophagectomy with lymph node dissection, no NAT, 84 N0, 110 N1, no PAT information

5^th TNM/I-IV/No

NM

VI(63)/LI(114)

OS

Mul

Checklist no.3 was not fulfilled

Dhar (2007) [37]

1998–2003

Japan

863

Right thoracotomy with two-field or three-field LN dissection, no NAT, 572 N0, 291 N + , 81 PAT

6^th TNM/I-IV/No

H&E

VI(NM)/LI(NM)

OS

Mul

Fulfilled items

Takahashi (2006) [38]

1990–2000

Japan

180

Resection of the oesophagus with lymph node dissection, no NAT, 90 N0, 90 N + , no PAT information

6^th TNM/0-IV/Unclear

NM

VI(39)/LI(83)

OS

Mul

Checklist no.2 and no.3 was not fulfilled

Kato (2002) [39]

1989–1999

Japan

130

Radical total oesophagectomy and three- field lymph node dissection, 9 R1, no NAT, 64 N0, 66 N1, 52 PAT

5^th TNM/I-IV/Yes

H&E

VI(43)/LI(71)

OS

Uni

Fulfilled items

Osugi (2002) [17]

1986–1998

Japan

247

Standard three-stage oesophagectomy and three- field lymph node dissection, no NAT, 88 N0, 159 N + , no PAT information

JCEC, 9^th edition/Tis-4N0-3M0/Unclear

H&E

VI(76)/LI(161)

OS

Mul

Fulfilled items

Tachibana (1999) [40]

1979–1998

Japan

129

Right transthoracic subtotal oesophagectomy with three-field lymph node dissection, no NAT, 62 N0, 67 N + , some patients received PAT

5^th TNM/0-IV/No

NM

VI(19)/LI(43)

OS

Mul

Fulfilled items

Sarbia (1995) [8]

1978–1992

Germany

161

Subtotal oesophageal resection, no NAT, no PAT information

4^th TNM/NM/NM

H&E

VI(53)/LI(78)

OS

Mul

Fulfilled items