Title: Development and validation of a nomogram for prediction of cervical lymph node
metastasis in middle and lower thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Version: 1 Date: 01 Mar 2022
Reviewer's report:
In this paper, authors developed a nomogram that could be conveniently used to predict the
individualized risk of cervical LN metastasis in patients with middle and lower thoracic ESCC.
I think this nomogram is very concise, which seems to be useful for esophageal surgeons.
However, as described below, this manuscript needs some improvement to publish in BMC
Gastroenterology.
Major points
#The nomogram in this study includes RLN-LN status and PLN status, but it is considered
difficult to strictly distinguish PLN, RLN and MLN in actual surgery.
Authors should describe in detail how to distinguish and ensure the reproducibility of LN
classification in the mediastinum .
#Authors described that the CT-reported cervical LN status was confirmed by two professional
radiologists. However, in fact, the accuracy of cervical lymph node metastasis diagnosis in CT
is not high. The criteria for metastasis in this study should be specified.
Minor points
#I think, for small tumor such as T1 tumors, it is difficult to measure the tumor diameter by
CT scan?
Title: Development and validation of a nomogram for prediction of cervical lymph node
metastasis in middle and lower thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Version: 1 Date: 01 Mar 2022
Reviewer's report:
In this paper, authors developed a nomogram that could be conveniently used to predict the
individualized risk of cervical LN metastasis in patients with middle and lower thoracic ESCC.
I think this nomogram is very concise, which seems to be useful for esophageal surgeons.
However, as described below, this manuscript needs some improvement to publish in BMC
Gastroenterology.
Major points
#The nomogram in this study includes RLN-LN status and PLN status, but it is considered
difficult to strictly distinguish PLN, RLN and MLN in actual surgery.
Authors should describe in detail how to distinguish and ensure the reproducibility of LN
classification in the mediastinum .
#Authors described that the CT-reported cervical LN status was confirmed by two professional
radiologists. However, in fact, the accuracy of cervical lymph node metastasis diagnosis in CT
is not high. The criteria for metastasis in this study should be specified.
Minor points
#I think, for small tumor such as T1 tumors, it is difficult to measure the tumor diameter by
CT scan?
Please review this paper.
user
Title: Development and validation of a nomogram for prediction of cervical lymph node
metastasis in middle and lower thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Version: 1 Date: 01 Mar 2022
Reviewer's report:
In this paper, authors developed a nomogram that could be conveniently used to predict the
individualized risk of cervical LN metastasis in patients with middle and lower thoracic ESCC.
I think this nomogram is very concise, which seems to be useful for esophageal surgeons.
However, as described below, this manuscript needs some improvement to publish in BMC
Gastroenterology.
Major points
#The nomogram in this study includes RLN-LN status and PLN status, but it is considered
difficult to strictly distinguish PLN, RLN and MLN in actual surgery.
Authors should describe in detail how to distinguish and ensure the reproducibility of LN
classification in the mediastinum .
#Authors described that the CT-reported cervical LN status was confirmed by two professional
radiologists. However, in fact, the accuracy of cervical lymph node metastasis diagnosis in CT
is not high. The criteria for metastasis in this study should be specified.
Minor points
#I think, for small tumor such as T1 tumors, it is difficult to measure the tumor diameter by
CT scan?
assistant