Interstitial irradiation for squamous carcinoma of the oral cavity

Interstitial radiation delivered by iridium 192 implants was used to treat 38 patients with squamous carcinoma of the oral cavity. Thirty-six patients had either T1 or T2 tumours and no patient had palpable nodes at the time of implantation. Control of the primary tumour was achieved in all but 2 patients; these 2 were successfully treated by surgery. Fifteen patients (39%) went on to develop metastatic neck nodes. Nine were cured by radical neck dissection but the remaining 6 died of their disease. This gives a 5-year actuarial survival of 81%. Since all deaths occurred after the development of metastatic disease in the neck with control of the primary lesion, the evidence for and against prophylactic treatment of the neck lymphatics in clinically negative necks was reviewed. Prophylactic irradiation of the neck is probably preferable to any form of neck dissection but clear evidence that this improves long-term survival compared with careful follow-up and radical neck dissection for palpable nodes is still lacking.     

Neck dissection for non-squamous malignancy

Of 1030 patients who underwent neck dissection (radical, modified or selective) in a 27-year period 103 had malignant neck nodes from a primary site in the head and neck with a histological diagnosis other than squamous carcinoma. There were 71 men and 32 women in this group with a mean age of 55 years. 28 patients had neck dissection as part of their initial treatment and 75 for later nodal recurrence. Five-year survival was 52% (40-63%). Survival was site dependent, best for thyroid tumours and worst for tumours of the major salivary glands (χ2/1 = 6.52, P < 0.05). Histology significantly affected survival, best for papillary tumours and worst for melanoma and undifferentiated tumours (χ2/1 = 3.85, P < 0.05). Survival was worse with advanced N stage but varied little with node level. The number of nodes invaded had a highly significant effect on survival (χ2/1= 23.94, P < 0.001), but extracapsular rupture had no effect. Advanced T stage at the time of surgery had a significant adverse effect on survival using univariate analysis, but this effect disappeared using multivariate analysis. In the 75 patients who had neck dissections for nodal recurrence the presence of a simultaneous recurrence at the primary site had no significant effect on survival. These patients had a better 5-year survival than patients having neck dissection for squamous disease, but the usual predictors of survival in squamous carcinoma do not always apply to non-squamous malignancy. Keywords head and neck cancer non-squamous neck dissection survival     

Neck dissection for non-squamous malignancy.

Of 1030 patients who underwent neck dissection (radical, modified or selective) in a 27-year period 103 had malignant neck nodes from a primary site in the head and neck with a histological diagnosis other than squamous carcinoma. There were 71 men and 32 women in this group with a mean age of 55 years. 28 patients had neck dissection as part of their initial treatment and 75 for later nodal recurrence. Five-year survival was 52% (40-63%). Survival was site dependent, best for thyroid tumours and worst for tumours of the major salivary glands (chi 1(2) = 6.52, P < 0.05). Histology significantly affected survival, best for papillary tumours and worst for melanoma and undifferentiated tumours (chi 1(2) = 3.85, P < 0.05). Survival was worse with advanced N stage but varied little with node level. The number of nodes invaded had a highly significant effect on survival (chi 4(2) = 23.94, P < 0.001), but extracapsular rupture had no effect. Advanced T stage at the time of surgery had a significant adverse effect on survival using univariate analysis, but this effect disappeared using multivariate analysis. In the 75 patients who had neck dissections for nodal recurrence the presence of a simultaneous recurrence at the primary site had no significant effect on survival. These patients had a better 5-year survival than patients having neck dissection for squamous disease, but the usual predictors of survival in squamous carcinoma do not always apply to non-squamous malignancy.     

Is laterality important in neck node metastases in head and neck cancer?

We present a series of 2219 previously untreated squamous carcinomas of the head and neck, 141 (6.5%) of whom had bilateral nodes at presentation. Bilateral nodes became progressively less common with increasing age but were not related to other host factors. They were also strongly related to the site of the primary tumour, its T-stage and its histological grade, being more common in tumours of the oro or naso-pharynx, in poorly or moderately differentiated tumours, and in tumour stages T3 or T4 at presentation. There were also interactions between these tumour factors, and patients with all three factors had a 25% incidence of bilateral nodes. 126 of these patients could be matched for the main prognostic factors with 126 patients with unilateral neck node disease. The survival rate of the latter group was 9% better than that of the unilateral group. Further breakdown showed that the survival of patients with nodes smaller than 6 cm is not affected by laterality, whereas it is for patients with massive nodes.     

Upper neck (level II) dissection for N0 neck supraglottic carcinoma

OBJECTIVES: Elective neck dissection for the N0 neck in head and neck surgery is still controversial. This prospective nonrandomized study of N0 supraglottic carcinoma was designed to find an appropriate method of neck management. STUDY DESIGN: Anatomical studies show that the first echelon of lymphatic drainage from the supraglottic larynx is toward the upper jugular nodes (level II). An upper neck dissection (UND) was applied and all the lymph nodes were sent for frozen section. If the subclinical metastasis was found, a modified neck dissection was performed. If the nodes harbored no foci of cancer, the patients were observed after surgery on the supraglottic lesions. METHODS: Patient records of 142 patients with supraglottic laryngeal cancer (T1-4N0M0) were reviewed, with special attention paid to neck recurrences and survival rates. The cases were treated between 1976 and 1990 and all were observed for at least 5 years after the operation or until the time of death. RESULTS: The UND specimens of 142 patients were negative for metastasis. The 5-year survival rate for this group after surgery was 80.8%, according to the life table analysis. Fifteen of the 142 patients (10.6%) had neck recurrences during the period of observation within 5 years. The recurrence rate of this series with limited dissection on the neck was comparable with those reported in the literature after neck dissection, either radical or modified. CONCLUSIONS: There is no need for a comprehensive neck dissection for N0 supraglottic laryngeal cancer. A selective neck dissection such as UND (level II) or a supraomohyoid neck dissection (sparing the submandibular region) of level II and III will serve the purpose of radical neck treatment for the supraglottic cancer.     

Soft tissue cervical metastases of squamous carcinoma of the head and neck

Some 497 of 3085 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck treated between 1963 and 1990 had a later radical neck dissection at some time after initial treatment. The histological slides were all reviewed, firstly to confirm the presence of squamous cell carcinoma within the neck, and secondly to ascertain whether the metastasis was to soft tissue, to a lymph node or to both. The presence of extracapsular rupture in lymph node deposits was also assessed. Of the 497 patients, 138 had soft tissue deposits only, and 359 had nodal deposits only. Of the patients with nodal deposits 165 had extracapsular rupture and 194 did not. The 5-year survival of the 138 patients with soft tissue metastases was 27% compared with 33% for patients with extracapsular rupture and 50% for patients with no extracapsular rupture. Weighted logistic regression showed that soft tissue deposits were significantly more common in patients in poor general condition, plus poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma plus T₄ tumours (P < 0.005), and in patients with poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma plus T₄ tumours (P < 0.025). Cox's multivariate analysis with backward elimination showed that gender, histological differentiation, site of primary tumour and age of patient had no statistically significant effect on survival. The number of nodes (P < 0.0001), the presence of extracapsular rupture (P < 0.0001) and the presence of soft tissue free metastases (P < 0.001) were all highly significant. The N-status at recurrence also reached statistical significance (P < 0.0001).     

Tumours of the minor salivary glands

One hundred and forty-five patients were identified with minor salivary gland tumours. General information and tumour-specific information on stage, grade of tumour, resection margins, recurrence and survival were collected. Data was analysed by both univariate and multivariate methods. Indices predicting tumour recurrence and survival were analysed. Forty-two benign lesions, mostly pleomorphic adenomas were identified, one recurred, all survived. One hundred and three malignant lesions were identified, mostly adenoid cystic carcinomas (70%) or mucoepidermoid carcinomas (19%). Late stage disease and the presence of neck node metastases predicted both early recurrence and high eventual mortality. Survival was favoured by the histological type (mucoepidermoid > adenoid cystic), site of primary (oral cavity and oropharynx > nose, sinuses and larynx) and good general condition. Many tumours recurred after 5 years of disease-free survival and late mortality was a feature (80% survival at 5 years, 20% at 20 years). Many patients survive some time with either local recurrence or distant metastases. Long-term follow-up is advocated as local or distant recurrence may be treatable. The value of super radical treatment of the primary is questionable given the likelihood of recurrence at distant sites.     

Treatment and treatment results of mouth floor cancers]

The records of 68 patients with cancer of the floor of the mouth were reviewed. 56 patients underwent surgical management, 51 of them got additionally postoperative radiation. The tumour-specific five years' survival for patients with operation was 46%, 57% of treatment failures developed from local recurrence of the tumour. In 52% of all cases there was a spread to the lymphatic system in the histological evaluation. There was high incidence of false negative clinical examinations of the neck. Conservative neck dissection was the procedure of choice for clinically positive lymph nodes and for the elective management of the neck. Only advanced tumours showed involvement of the mandibular bone. Therefore a conservative management of mandibular resection was preferred. Radical tumour extirpation and histological controlling with serial sectioned specimens are methods of avoiding local tumour recurrence.     

Improved survival in patients with head and neck cancer in the 1990s

It is generally felt amongst the medical profession and the lay public that cancer is being treated more successfully than in the past. This is certainly true for childhood malignancies and leukaemia but evidence that significantly improved survival is occurring in the common solid tumours is lacking. Since 1963 the University of Liverpool Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery has collected data on all patients with head and neck tumours presenting to the department. The present study investigates patients with histologically proven squamous cell carcinoma of the four main sites: larynx, hypopharynx, oral cavity and orophyarnx. From 1963 until the end of 1989, 2738 patients were seen by the department and from 1990 a further 717 patients have been seen. Since 1990 patients have tended to be in better general physical condition but, on the other hand, have tended to have more advanced disease at the primary site. The department has latterly tended to see fewer laryngeal cancers and more cancers of the oropharynx. Significantly fewer patients have presented with neck node metastases. Multiple logistic regression suggests that the most significant difference between the two groups is the great reduction in neck node recurrence rates in the group of patients seen since 1990 (P = 0.0001). The recurrence of tumours at the primary site since 1990 has been 35% compared with 41% before 1990, and recurrence in the neck nodes since 1990 has been 12%, compared with 15% before 1990. These differences are significant (P = 0.0141 and P = 0.0494, respectively). When studying survival in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, the 5-year cure rate was 50%, whereas since 1990 the figure has risen to 60% tumour-specific 5-year survival—a significant difference. A similar effect was noted in observed survival. This improvement in cure rate occurred for all four main sites. The results were confirmed by Cox’s proportional hazards model where year of treatment was highly significantly associated with improved survival (P = 0.0001). It has been demonstrated that locoregional recurrence has improved since 1990 and this is reflected in improved survival figures. Although there are differences in the parameters of tumours referred before 1990 and since 1990, multivariate analysis suggests that the improvement in neck node recurrence rates may be responsible for this improved survival rate. Multivariate analysis for survival also suggests that the improvement in cure rates is independent of compounding variables and dependent on the year of presentation of the tumour. This improved survival may be related to factors, such as the administration of radical postoperative radiotherapy.     

Treatment of oropharyngeal carcinoma by irradiation or by surgery

Of previously untreated patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx, 145 are reviewed in this study. All were treated in the Department of Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Liverpool from 1990 to 1997. Seventy-seven patients were treated with irradiation, 28 patients by surgery and 40 patients were deemed not suitable for any curative treatment. Univariate analysis showed no difference in the two groups treated by curative modalities but multivariate analysis did suggest that the surgical group tended to have larger neck node metastases. The 5-year tumour specific actuarial survival for all patients was 53%, 65% for the radiotherapy group and 51% for the surgery group. The difference was not statistically significant (χ²₁ = 1.5070). The modality of treatment had no affect on either the development of a primary or neck node recurrence or the survival after such a recurrence. Where neck node disease was present it was treated as appropriate. As is generally standard practice, lymph nodes over 2 cm were treated with radical neck dissection whether the patient was having irradiation therapy or surgery. If the patient was having irradiation therapy, the neck dissection was carried out before and irradiation after operation, both on the primary and on the neck, if appropriate. It is concluded that irradiation therapy in properly selected cases in combined head and neck clinics is a safe and effective treatment for squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx. Neck node disease should be treated appropriately, but there is no support for the old adage that whatever form of treatment is being used for the neck node should also be used for the primary site.     

T3 laryngeal cancer: a retrospective study of the Dutch Head and Neck Oncology Cooperative Group: study design and general results.

511 Patients with T3 N0-3 M0 squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx, treated in the Netherlands from 1975 until 1984, were retrospectively analysed. Four different treatment policies were followed: primary surgery, planned combination of radiotherapy and surgery, primary radical radiotherapy, and selective radiotherapy. General results are presented. Local control rate was 72%. Regional control rate was 90% for clinically N0 patients and 78% for clinically N+ patients. Salvage therapy was overall successful in 38%. Surgical salvage for local radiation failures (with regional relapse) was successful in 69%, and for regional failures (without local relapse) in 46%. Ultimate locoregional control was 78% and, due to 8% distant metastases, 5-year actuarial corrected survival was 70%. Prognosis did not improve over the years. Corrected survival was independently correlated with tumour extension, involvement of neck nodes and treatment strategy. Corrected survival was similar for primary radiotherapy and primary surgery, but significantly better for planned combined therapy. Multiple primary tumours occurred significantly more often in male (19.5%) than in female patients (7.3%) (P = 0.05), the bronchus being most commonly affected. Cumulative actuarial risk for metachronous tumour was 15% after 5 years and 30% after 10 years so prevention and early detection of these second tumours may play the most important role in improving overall survival rates in the future.     

Therapeutic selective neck dissection: a 25-year review

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The aim of the study was to show the efficacy of selective neck dissection in combination with postoperative radiation therapy in controlling squamous cell carcinoma metastatic to the cervical lymph nodes. The study compared the incidence of recurrences and overall disease-free survival between comparable cohorts undergoing a selective neck dissection and classic radical or modified neck dissection. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective, 25-year review was made of data from a tertiary care academic facility comprising both private patients and veterans. METHODS: Inclusion criteria studied patients with untreated head and neck cancer who had squamous carcinoma metastatic to cervical lymph nodes on histological examination and were treated with a selective (n = 61), modified (n = 54), or radical neck dissection (n = 61). The three groups were compared with respect to regional control and overall cancer-free survival. All patients remained cancer free at the primary site, received postoperative radiation therapy, and had a minimum follow-up of 2 years. The median follow-up was 4.3 years. RESULTS: Control of recurrent carcinoma in the neck, as well as the incidence of overall cancer-free survival, was comparable in the three cohorts with no significant statistical difference. Eight of 176 sides of the necks (4.5%) showed evidence of recurrence (2 of 61 [3.3%] in the selective neck dissection group and 6 of 115 [5.2%] in the radical and modified neck dissection group. Disease-free 2-year survival was 80% in the selective neck dissection group and 64% in the radical and modified neck dissection group. CONCLUSION: Selective neck dissection, when used in combination with postoperative radiation therapy, is an efficacious way to manage metastatic squamous cell carcinoma to the neck.     

喉癌和下咽癌颈淋巴结转移临床对比分析

目的：探讨喉癌、下咽癌患者颈淋巴结转移的特点和分布规律。方法：对全喉切除术同期及复发后第1次行颈淋巴结清扫的129例喉癌、下咽癌患者的临床资料进行回顾性对比分析，研究不同类型的喉癌、下咽癌患者颈淋巴结的转移情况。结果：声门上型喉癌、下咽癌患者易发生早期淋巴结转移；下咽癌患者的转移淋巴结融合率高，颈静脉下区出现阳性淋巴结的比率高；声门上型喉癌、下咽癌患者原发病灶分化差的比率相对偏高；同期与复发后行颈淋巴结清扫的患者原发病灶分期差异无显著性意义。结论：对T2期及以上的声门上型喉癌及下咽癌患者，尤其当细胞分化比较差时，即使颈淋巴结阳性体征不明显亦应积极考虑颈淋巴结清扫问题，对下咽癌患者行颈淋巴结清扫时应考虑彻底清扫颈静脉下区的淋巴结。     

Radical surgery for lingual cancer

The survival rates of 58 patients treated for squamous carcinoma of the tongue between 1972 and 1985 were evaluated. The overall 5-year survival rate was 41.6%; for stage I it was 61.8%; stage II 59.5%; and stage III, 27.7%. No patient survived for more than 2 years when their tumour was stage IV on presentation. A composite pull-through resection with radical neck dissection gave a 5-year survival rate of 50.7%, which was significantly (P less than 0.01) higher than the 13.8% achieved by other treatments, mainly local tumour excision combined with radiation therapy. The same trend in favour of radical surgery was also seen stage by stage. In 45% of the patients regional neck metastases (palpable in 35% and occult in 10%) were present and predicted a poor prognosis. Among T1-T2 cases the 5-year survival of 58.5% in the N0 group was significantly (P less than 0.01) higher than the 15.1% among those with nodal involvement. The location of the primary tumour did not affect the survival rates.     

Discontinuous vs in-continuity neck dissection in carcinoma of the oral cavity

We compared the results of transoral excision of the primary tumor with discontinuous neck dissection with the results of in-continuity dissection of primary tumor and neck nodes in anteriorly localized squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity. We analyzed 27 patients who underwent 28 discontinuous dissections and 34 patients who underwent 40 in-continuity dissections for T2 anterior tongue or floor-of-mouth carcinoma. The overall ipsilateral neck recurrence rate was 11%. The discontinuous dissection group did significantly worse than the in-continuity dissection group, with a neck recurrence rate of 19%. Consequently, the actuarial 5-year survival of patients who underwent a discontinuous dissection was substantially decreased (63%) compared with patients who were treated by an in-continuity dissection (80%). Discontinuous neck dissection, thus, is not to be recommended in oral cancer.     

Treatment of hypopharyngeal carcinomas--an institutional analysis of the results of FAR radiochemotherapy, radical resection, and free jejunum flap reconstruction and the indication of neck dissection

The treatment results of 65 patients with hypopharyngeal carcinomas treated at our institute between 1995 and 2000 were analyzed. In general, concurrent radiochemotherapy (RCT), consisting of intravenous 5-FU injection, intra-muscular vitamin A injection, and radiation (FAR therapy) was used as an initial treatment for advanced hypopharyngeal carcinomas and early hypopharyngeal carcinomas. Tumor responses were evaluated at the time of radiation doses of 30Gy. Patients who showed a complete response (CR) subsequently received curative radiation doses of 60 to 70Gy. Patients who did not show a CR underwent radical surgery consisting of pharyngo-laryngo-cervical esophagectomy, neck dissection for positive cervical nodes and/or the primary tumor sides, and reconstruction using a free jejunum flap. The disease-specific 5-year survival rates were 92%, 55%, 35% and 49% for stage I/II, III, IV and all cases, respectively. Eight out of 9 patients with stage I/II disease who showed a CR after receiving 30Gy of RCT survived with an intact larynx after definitive RCT. All the patients with stage II/III disease who underwent radical surgery after receiving 30Gy of RCT did not have a recurrence, whereas the 5-year survival rate of patients with stage IV disease who underwent RCT and radical surgery was 45%. Seventeen out of 19 patients with clinically negative cervical nodes on the opposite side of their primary tumors showed no nodal metastasis after RCT without neck dissection. This result suggests that elective neck dissection after RCT is not necessary. To improve the treatment results for hypopharyngeal carcinomas, early detection of this disease is prerequisite. In addition, the clinical diagnosis of highly malignant cases and new molecular-targeted therapies based on an analysis of distant metastasis mechanisms should be developed to overcome the poor prognosis of advanced hypopharyngeal carcinomas.     

甲状腺乳头状癌Ⅵ区淋巴结清扫非劣性研究

目的：了解未行含Ⅵ区的择区性淋巴结清扫术的分化良好的甲状腺乳头状癌患者的复发情况;探讨分化良好的甲状腺乳头状癌是否要常规行含Ⅵ区的择区性颈淋巴结清扫术。方法：不同时期处理的甲状腺乳头状癌患者267例,按时间分成2组：A组为近期行含Ⅵ区的择区性淋巴结清扫的甲状腺乳头状癌151例;B组为早期未行Ⅵ区择区性淋巴结清扫的甲状腺乳头状癌116例。原发灶处理2组均一致：肿瘤发生侧行甲状腺全切除,甲状腺峡部全切,健侧甲状腺次全切除;若肿瘤两侧同时发生,则行双侧甲状腺全切术。统计第1组中Ⅵ区淋巴结转移发生率;随访第2组患者,观察头颈部淋巴结复发情况以及生存情况。结果：A组151例患者中59例仅行Ⅵ区淋巴结清扫,其中发生转移者22例,其余92例同时行Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅵ区颈淋巴结清扫,其中各区都没有转移者31例,Ⅵ区和其他区均转移者33例（35．8％）,只有Ⅵ区颈淋巴结转移者17例（18．4％）,除Ⅵ区外其他区域淋巴结有转移者11例（11．9％）。即甲状腺乳头状癌病例中Ⅵ区淋巴结转移率为47．7％（72／151）。B组116例甲状腺乳头状癌伴有颈淋巴结转移者47例,占40．5％;5年生存率为99．3％;复发率为6．0％（7／116）。A组颈淋巴结转移率（54．9％）高于B组（40．5％）。结论：分化良好的甲状腺乳头状癌患者较多的转移到气管前和喉返神经周围淋巴结,Ⅵ区淋巴清扫可成为常规。     

T3 Laryngeal cancer: a retrospective study of the Dutch Head and Neck Oncology Cooperative Group: study design and general results

511 Patients with T₃ N_0-3M ₀ squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx, treated in the Netherlands from 1975 until 1984, were retrospectively analysed. Four different treatment policies were followed: primary surgery, planned combination of radiotherapy and surgery, primary radical radiotherapy, and selective radiotherapy. General results are presented. Local control rate was 72%. Regional control rate was 90% for clinically N₀ patients and 78% for clinically N₊ patients. Salvage therapy was overall successful in 38%. Surgical salvage for local radiation failures (with regional relapse) was successful in 69%, and for regional failures (without local relapse) in 46%. Ultimate locoregional control was 78% and, due to 8% distant metastases, 5-year actuarial corrected survival was 70%. Prognosis did not improve over the years. Corrected survival was independently correlated with tumour extension, involvement of neck nodes and treatment strategy. Corrected survival was similar for primary radiotherapy and primary surgery, but significantly better for planned combined therapy. Multiple primary tumours occurred significantly more often in male (19.5%) than in female patients (7.3%) (P = 0.05), the bronchus being most commonly affected. Cumulative actuarial risk for metachronous tumour was 15% after 5 years and 30% after 10 years so prevention and early detection of these second tumours may play the most important role in improving overall survival rates in the future.     

Prognostic factors in oral squamous carcinoma and their relation to clinical staging

One hundred and three patients with an oral squamous carcinoma were studied in an attempt to determine the clinical factors which affect survival. The 5 yr actuarial survival of the whole group of patients was 55%. Although survival depended on clinical staging, in those patients with no palpable nodes on presentation the tumour size did not affect survival. The most significant factor determining survival was the presence of palpable lymph nodes on presentation. Palpable nodes were more likely in patients with large tumours than those with small tumours. On the basis of these findings a modification of the TNM classification is suggested giving more weight to the presence of cervical nodes than in the present staging system.     

Effect of tumour thickness and other factors on the risk of regional disease and treatment of the N0 neck in early oral squamous carcinoma

A high occult metastatic rate and a high regional recurrence rate are reported among patients with early oral squamous carcinoma; however, considerable controversy exists regarding the merits of elective neck dissection in this group. The purpose of the present study was to examine the influence of various histological factors on the risk of occult neck disease, neck conversion and recurrence among 63 patients with stage I and II oral cancer. Tumour thickness (P = 0.0175) and size (P = 0.023) were both significantly predictive of outcome. Among tumours of a given thickness, those with infiltrative margins also showed a tendency towards a poorer outcome; however, this was not significant (P = 0.0768). Patients undergoing elective neck dissection with pathological evidence of cervical metastases or with subsequent neck recurrence had a better 3-year survival (55%) than those developing neck conversion after primary neck observation (20%). Our data would suggest considering tumours greater than 5 mm in thickness or with infiltrative margins as potential candidates for elective neck treatment.