Esophageal Cancer Staging

A 60-year-old male smoker with 3 months of progressive dysphagia and 8 kg weight loss undergoes upper GI endoscopy revealing a circumferential ulcerated mass at 28 cm from incisors. Contrast-enhanced CT chest shows asymmetric wall thickening (16 mm) of the mid-thoracic esophagus with **loss of fat plane around the periesophageal soft tissue but preserved fat planes around the aorta and tracheobronchial tree**. Multiple 12–15 mm subcarinal and right paratracheal nodes are noted. Biopsy confirms squamous cell carcinoma. The structure marked **B** in the diagram represents this locally advanced mid-esophageal tumor. According to AJCC 8th-edition T-staging, which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management for this T3 N1 M0 disease?