333例声门型喉癌颈淋巴结转移与预后的关系

背景与目的:声门型喉癌颈淋巴结转移率不高,颈部处理尚无统一认识.本研究探讨声门型喉癌颈淋巴结转移的预后及其影响因素.方法:收集1992年1月1日至2000年12月31日中山大学肿瘤防治中心收治的333例声门型喉癌患者的临床资料,对颈淋巴结转移情况、预后及颈部处理进行回顾性分析.结果:全组患者总的颈淋巴结转移率9.61%(32/333),隐性淋巴结转移率6.23%(20/321).绝大多数转移淋巴结位于同侧Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ区(28/32).病理分化级别与总的淋巴结转移率(P=0.092)及隐性淋巴结转移率(P=0.067)无明显相关性.总的淋巴结转移率(P=0.002)及隐性淋巴结转移率(P=0.015)随T分期升高而增高.cN0患者颈选择性放疗对隐性淋巴结转移率的影响无显著性(P=0.363).初治cN 组(3、5年生存率分别为56.25%、46;67%)预后差于初治cN0组(3、5年生存率分别为88.70%、85.37%)(P＜0.001);初治cN0组中出现隐性淋巴结转移的预后(3、5年生存率分别为68.18%、63.31%)差于未出现隐性淋巴结转移(3、5年生存率分别为89.00%、85.55%):初治cN 组有淋巴结转移的预后(3、5年生存率分别为41.67%、16.67%)差于初治cNO组中出现隐性淋巴结转移组(3、5年生存率分别为68.18%、63.31%)(P=0.004).结论:声门型喉癌绝大多数转移淋巴结位于同侧Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ区,最多位于同侧Ⅱ区;声门型喉癌颈淋巴结转移影响预后.     

cNo甲状腺乳头状癌侧颈淋巴结转移特点及其相关因素

目的 探讨cN0甲状腺乳头状癌侧颈淋巴结转移特点及其相关危险因素.方法 回顾性分析73例接受同侧预防性颈清扫(Ⅱ～Ⅵ区或Ⅱ～Ⅳ区联合Ⅵ区)的cN0甲状腺乳头状癌患者临床资料,颈清扫淋巴结标本按颈部分区收集并送术后常规病理检查.结果 73例cN0甲状腺乳头状癌患者中,侧颈淋巴结转移率为16.4 ％(12/73),其中Ⅱa、Ⅱb、Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅴa、Ⅴb和Ⅵ区淋巴结转移率分别为9.6％、O、13.6％、9.6％、0、4.8％和42.4％,多因素分析显示Ⅵ区淋巴结转移是影响cN0甲状腺乳头状癌侧颈淋巴结转移的独立危险因素(OR=7.3,P=0.020).结论 cN0甲状腺乳头状癌侧颈转移以Ⅱa、Ⅲ、Ⅳ区为主,预防性清扫应重点清扫上述三个分区;术中冷冻Ⅵ区阴性时,cN0甲状腺乳头状癌患者无需常规行侧颈预防性清扫.     

初治颈淋巴结转移喉癌颈清除术后的预后相关因素

目的：探讨颈淋巴结转移（cN＋）喉癌颈清除术后颈部复发相关因素、治疗及预后情况。方法：回顾性研究1992～1999年我院收治的cN＋喉癌行颈清除术53例，对其颈部复发率、复发时间、淋巴结分布、局部治疗、复发影响因素及预后进行探讨。结果：cN＋喉癌颈清除术后颈部复发率为24．53％（13／53）；3和5年生存率为39．62％和35．52％，颈部复发组生存率与无复发组相比，差异无统计学意义，P=0．6717；复发主要位于清除侧颈部（9／13），复发淋巴结位于Ⅱ、Ⅲ和Ⅳ区84．62%（11/13）；颈部复发多在18个月内（12／13）；颈部复发行挽救手术者治疗效果好。病理分化程度（P=0．6717）、病变部位（P=0．966）、临床分期（P=0．244）、初治颈清除术式（P=0．579）、颈清除术后颈部是否放疗（P=0．457）不影响颈部复发率，N分期（P=0．042）影响颈部复发。结论：cN＋喉癌颈清除术后颈部有无复发与生存率无关；复发多位于行颈清除术侧颈部（Ⅱ、Ⅲ和Ⅳ区）；N分期影响颈部复发；出现颈部复发者行挽救手术治疗效果好。     

cN0甲状腺乳头状癌侧颈淋巴结转移特点及其相关因素

 目的　探讨cN0甲状腺乳头状癌侧颈淋巴结转移特点及其相关危险因素。方法　回顾性分析73例接受同侧预防性颈清扫（Ⅱ～Ⅵ区或Ⅱ～Ⅳ区联合Ⅵ区）的cN0甲状腺乳头状癌患者临床资料,颈清扫淋巴结标本按颈部分区收集并送术后常规病理检查。 结果　73例cN0甲状腺乳头状癌患者中,侧颈淋巴结转移率为16.4 ％（12／73）,其中Ⅱa、Ⅱb、Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Va、Vb和Ⅵ区淋巴结转移率分别为9.6 %、0、13.6 %、9.6 %、0、4.8 ％和42.4 %,多因素分析显示Ⅵ区淋巴结转移是影响cN0甲状腺乳头状癌侧颈淋巴结转移的独立危险因素（OR＝7.3,P＝0.020）。结论　cN0甲状腺乳头状癌侧颈转移以Ⅱa、Ⅲ、Ⅳ区为主,预防性清扫应重点清扫上述三个分区;术中冷冻Ⅵ区阴性时,cN0甲状腺乳头状癌患者无需常规行侧颈预防性清扫。     

择区性颈淋巴结清扫术在临床颈淋巴结阴性甲状腺癌患者中的应用

目的 探讨择区性颈淋巴结清扫术在颈部高危临床颈淋巴结阴性(cN0)甲状腺癌患者中的应用价值.方法 前瞻性分析2006年8月至2011年6月,中国医学科学院肿瘤医院头颈外科收治的63例颈部高危cN0甲状腺癌患者的临床资料.结果 63例患者均经病理证实为甲状腺乳头状癌,侧颈淋巴结隐性转移率为39.7％.单因素分析结果显示,63例患者术后病理检查甲状腺被膜侵犯患者的侧颈淋巴结隐性转移率为46.9％,而甲状腺被膜未侵犯患者的侧颈淋巴结隐性转移率为14.3％,差异有统计学意义(P=0.028).Ⅵ区淋巴结转移患者的侧颈淋巴结隐性转移率为54.3％,而Ⅵ区淋巴结阴性患者的侧颈淋巴结隐性转移率为21.4％,差异有统计学意义(P=0.008).原发灶肿瘤≥2 cm患者的侧颈淋巴结隐性转移率为41.4％,而原发灶肿瘤＜2 cm患者的侧颈淋巴结隐性转移率为38.2％ (P =0.803).术前超声检查发现侧颈淋巴结肿大,但不考虑转移的34例患者中,17例出现隐性淋巴结转移,转移率为50.0％,而侧颈淋巴结术前超声检查阴性患者的隐性淋巴结转移率为27.6％ (P =0.072).多因素Logistic回归分析结果显示,仅Ⅵ区淋巴结转移与侧颈淋巴结隐性转移有关(P=0.017).而原发灶肿瘤被膜侵犯、原发肿瘤大小和术前超声检查侧颈淋巴结状态与侧颈淋巴结隐性转移无关(均P ＞0.05).结论 择区性颈淋巴结清扫术对颈部高危的cN0甲状腺癌患者是可行的,能及时发现和清除侧颈隐性淋巴结的转移.建议对甲状腺被膜侵犯和Ⅵ区淋巴结转移的cN0甲状腺癌患者,常规行颈部Ⅲ、Ⅳ区淋巴结清扫.     

喉癌中央区淋巴结转移：11年喉癌手术病例回顾性分析

背景与目的：对于喉癌患者是否常规行颈部中央区淋巴结清扫,目前尚存在争议。本研究探讨喉癌患者中央区和侧颈区淋巴结转移、颈部复发以及疾病预后生存情况。方法：回顾性分析1999—2009年复旦大学附属肿瘤医院收治的118例确诊为喉癌患者的临床病理资料。其中34例患者行颈部中央区淋巴结清扫。回顾分析肿瘤原发灶分级,中央区和侧颈区淋巴结转移临床资料,以及患者总生存率(overall survival, OS),无病生存率(diseas-free survival, DFS)和局控率(local control rate, LCR)。结果：在118例喉癌患者中,颈部中央区淋巴结转移率为11.9%(14/118),包括在34例中央区淋巴结清扫患者中证实10例,未作淋巴结清扫,在随访中发现中央区淋巴结转移4例。肿瘤声门下或者梨状窝侵犯是中央区转移以及中央区复发的危险因素(P=0.002)。中央区淋巴结转移与颈部IV区转移相关(P<0.001),侧颈区淋巴结包膜外侵犯(P=0.001)和血管侵犯(P=0.015)是中央区淋巴结转移、中央区复发和颈侧区复发的危险因素。中央区淋巴结转移阳性喉癌患者较阴性患者局控率低(P=0.035)。侧颈区淋巴结转移阳性患者较阴性患者无病生存率(P=0.014)和局控率(P=0.025)低。声门上喉癌更容易发生颈部Ⅱ区淋巴结转移(P=0.044)。结论：喉癌患者应注意中央区淋巴结清扫。声门上喉癌患者应注意颈部Ⅱ区淋巴结清扫。中央区淋巴结转移阳性患者应注意颈部Ⅳ区淋巴结清扫。     

T3-T4期声门型喉癌颈淋巴结转移情况及其与预后的关系

背景与目的:声门型喉癌颈淋巴结转移率低,有关报道不多,本研究旨在探讨T3-T4期声门型喉癌颈淋巴结转移的相关因素及其对预后的影响。方法:回顾性分析我院1992～2000年收治T3-T4期声门型喉癌83例的临床资料,对颈淋巴结转移率、转移淋巴结的分布、影响cN0颈部复发的因素(颈部预防性放疗、病理分级及T分期)、淋巴结转移与预后的关系。结果:T3-T4期声门型喉癌,总的颈淋巴结转移率为20.5%,cN0颈部复发率为14.3%。绝大多数转移淋巴结位于同侧Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ区,仅1例位于对侧Ⅱ区。cN0者中,颈部预防性放疗与颈部观察在颈部复发率上无差异(P=0.772);病理分级影响cN0颈部复发率(P=0.028);不同T分期颈部复发率无差异(P=0.217)。cN 患者预后明显差于cN0患者(P<0.001);cN0颈部复发不影响预后(P=0.460)。对T3-T4期声门型喉癌cN 患者采用治疗性颈清扫;对cN0患者颈部可密切观察,待出现淋巴结复发再积极治疗。结论:T3-T4期声门型喉癌主要转移至同侧Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ区;病理组织分化级别越差,cN0颈部复发的风险越大;cN0颈部复发与预后无关;对cN0患者颈部可进行密切观察;对出现淋巴结复发者应积极治疗。     

甲状腺微小乳头状癌颈淋巴结转移的危险因素分析

目的:探讨甲状腺微小乳头状癌颈淋巴结转移的危险因素,分析高分辨率B 超对侧颈淋巴结转移的诊断意义。方法:回顾性分析2013年1 月至2013年11月天津医科大学肿瘤医院共1 037 例甲状腺微小乳头状癌患者的临床病理资料。结果:1 037 例患者中央区淋巴结转移率为32.02%（332 例）,侧颈淋巴结转移率为6.85%（71例）。男性、年龄≤ 45岁、肿瘤直径> 5 mm、多灶性、双发性、侵犯包膜和甲状腺外局部侵犯者中央区淋巴结转移率较高（P < 0.05）。 男性、中央区淋巴结转移、B 超诊断阳性者侧颈淋巴结转移率较高,并且随着中央区淋巴结转移数目的增多,侧颈转移率也随之增高（P < 0.05）。 高分辨率B 超对侧颈淋巴结转移的灵敏度、特异度分别为92.96% 、81.48% 。结论:对中央区淋巴结转移高危因素的人群应行预防性中央区淋巴结清扫术,高分辨率B 超对预测甲状腺微小乳头状癌患者颈淋巴结转移具有重要的诊断意义,对侧颈淋巴结转移高危因素的人群应行患侧侧颈淋巴结清扫术。      

甲状腺乳头状癌病理组织学亚型与颈淋巴结转移相关性探讨

目的：分析探讨甲状腺乳头状癌的组织学亚型与颈淋巴结转移的相关因素。方法：对602例甲状腺乳头状癌患者各种病理组织学亚型发生颈淋巴结转移多种因素的相关性进行回顾性分析总结。结果：602例甲状腺乳头状癌共分成8个组织学亚型，颈淋巴结总转移率为65．0％（391／602），一般乳头（普通乳头）型、弥漫硬化型、包膜外型（包裹型侵出包膜）及滤泡亚型颈淋巴结转移率分别为72．4％（131／181）、75．2％（79／105）、80.3％（57／71）、73．0％（46／63），明显高于水肿乳头型（40．6％）（26／46）、高细胞型（46.2％）、微小型（47．8％）及包膜内型（30．0％）（P〈0．01）；颈部各区淋巴结转移率依次为Ⅲ区（49．5％）、Ⅳ区（42.3％）、Ⅱ区（38．5％）、Ⅵ区（30．2％）、Ⅴ区（8．9％）及Ⅰ区（1．6％）。结论：甲状腺乳头状癌颈淋巴结转移率与不同亚型密切相关。     

甲状腺乳头状癌颈淋巴结转移途径

[目的]探讨甲状腺乳头状癌颈淋巴结可能的转移途径，及气管旁淋巴结与颈外侧淋巴结转移的相关性。[方法]回顾分析54例资料完整的甲状腺乳头状癌的临床及病理资料，分析颈部各区淋巴结转移率，比较气管旁淋巴结转移与颈外侧区淋巴结转移的关系。[结果]颈深上(Ⅱ区)、颈深中(Ⅲ区)、颈深下(Ⅳ区）、副神经区(V区）、气管旁(Ⅵ区)淋巴结转移率分别为25．9％、50．O％、59．3％、14．8％、70.4％，气管旁淋巴结转移者84．2％有颈外侧区淋巴结转移。气管旁淋巴结无转移者仅18．8％有颈外侧区淋巴结转移。[结论]气管旁是甲状腺乳头状癌颈淋巴结最常见转移部位，气管旁淋巴结转移与颈外侧区淋巴结转移有相关性。     

口腔癌患者对侧颈部淋巴结转移危险因素的多因素分析

目的:探讨口腔癌患者对侧颈淋巴结转移特点及其危险因素。方法:收集同期行双侧颈淋巴结清扫术患者82例,分析对侧颈部淋巴结转移风险因素。结果:对侧转移29例,伴有同侧转移27例（93.10%）。分析结果表明同侧转移与对侧转移关联性有统计学意义。结论:口腔癌同侧颈部转移将增加对侧转移的风险。     

Level IIb lymph node metastasis in elective neck dissection of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

This study investigated the oncologic safety of preserving level IIb lymph nodes in ipsilateral and/or contralateral elective neck dissection (END) in patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Fifty-one oropharyngeal SCC patients who underwent surgery as an initial treatment were reviewed. Twenty-one patients had clinically node negative necks (cN0) while 30 patients had ipsilateral clinically node positive necks (cN+). Of the cN0 patients, bilateral or ipsilateral END was performed in 15 and six patients, respectively. For the cN+ cases, ipsilateral therapeutic neck dissection with contralateral END was performed in 24 of 30 patients. In the cN0 patients, nodal metastasis to level IIb lymph nodes was not observed in any ipsilateral (21) or contralateral necks (15). Of the 24 cN+ patients who underwent contralateral END, two cases (8.3%) showed contralateral occult level IIb lymph node metastasis. Our data suggest that in cN0 oropharyngeal cancer patients, level IIb lymph nodes may be preserved in ipsilateral and contralateral neck dissection. However, caution is advised when preserving contralateral level IIb nodes in ipsilateral cN+ cases.     

Is dissection of level IV absolutely necessary in elective lateral neck dissection for clinically N0 laryngeal carcinoma?

A prospective study of 73 previous untreated consecutive patients with clinically N0 laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) from January 1997 to October 2002 was undertaken to determine whether level IV lymph nodes can be saved in elective lateral neck dissection (LND) performed as a treatment for the N0 neck. The incidence of pathological metastases to level IV lymph nodes was evaluated, as were the incidence of regional recurrence after elective LND, and postoperative complications such as chylous leakage and phrenic nerve paralysis. A total of 142 LNDs were enrolled in this prospective study. The mean number of harvested lymph nodes by level was as follows; 13.1 in level II, 7.1 in level III, and 9.2 in level IV. Pathologic examination revealed nodal involvement in 25 neck specimens (17.6%, 25 of 142). Five necks had lymph nodes which were positive for microscopic metastasis in level IV (3.5%, 5 of 142). These necks were all ipsilateral (6.8%, 5 of 73) and none of the 69 contralateral neck specimens had level IV lymph node metastasis (0%, 0 of 69). With regard to T stage, 3.3% (1 of 30) of ipsilateral necks of T2 tumors exhibited occult metastasis in level IV lymph nodes, 5.9% (2 of 34) for T3 tumors, and 33.3% (2 of 6) for T4 tumors. There were no cases of T1 (n = 3). Separate skip metastasis in level IV lymph nodes was observed in two necks (1.4%, 2 of 142). Four cases of regional recurrence (5.5%, 4 of 73) were observed. Postoperative chylous leakage and phrenic nerve paralysis occurred in four cases (5.5%, 4 of 73) and two cases (2.7%, 2 of 73), respectively. The results of the present study demonstrate the rare incidence of level IV occult lymph node metastasis, as well as infrequent nodal recurrence after elective LND in the treatment of clinically N0 laryngeal SCC. Therefore, dissection of level IV lymph node pads, especially in the ipsilateral neck of early T staged tumors or the contralateral neck, may be unnecessary for the treatment of laryngeal SCC patients with a clinically N0 neck.     

Predictive factors of skip metastases to lateral neck compartment leaping central neck compartment in papillary thyroid carcinoma

Skip metastasis, referred to as leaping metastasis to the lateral neck without associated lymphadenopathy in the central compartment (level VI), can occur in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). However, there have been few studies on its predictive value in PTC patients. We reviewed the medical records of 90 patients who underwent simultaneous central and lateral neck lymph node dissection for the primary treatment of lymph node metastasis in the lateral neck of PTC patients. No patient was suspected of having metastasis in the central compartment by preoperative imaging study. The frequency of skip metastasis to the lateral neck compartment without central neck metastasis was 19% (17/90). The number of metastatic lymph nodes dissected in the lateral neck of patients with and without skip metastasis was 5.1±2.7 and 9.5±2.6, respectively (P<0.001). Skip metastasis was closely associated with significantly fewer lymphovascular invasion (P=0.009) and extracapsular spread (P=0.035). Skip metastasis can occur significantly frequently in PTC patients. The presence of lymphovascular invasion, extracapsular spread, and number of positive lymph nodes dissected were inversely correlated with skip metastasis.     

Bilateral radical neck dissection: results in 193 cases

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Indications of simultaneous bilateral radical neck dissection remains controversial. The main objectives of this analysis were to study: a) the frequency of postoperative complications, b) the patterns of metastatic lymph nodes in the surgical specimen, c) the predictive factors of neck recurrences, d) the prognostic factors related to overall survival. METHODS: A retrospective review of results in 193 consecutive patients submitted to a simultaneous bilateral radical neck dissection from 1960-1990. RESULTS: Postoperative complications occurred in 60.8% of the cases. The most frequent ones were: fistula, wound infection, flap dehiscence and necrosis. There were four postoperative deaths (2.7%). The lymph nodes most frequently involved were of the upper jugular and upper accessory groups. Only patients with lip and paranasal sinus tumors never presented metastatic nodes at Levels IV and V. Tumor recurrences were more common at the ipsilateral neck (13.5%) or at distant sites (12.4%). The predictive factors of neck recurrences were: age, N stage, ipsilateral metastasis at Level II, and contralateral metastasis at Levels II and IV. The overall 5-year survival rates for the two age groups, that is, younger than 40 and older than 40 years of age, were respectively, of 8.5% and 35.6% (P = 0.0296). There were no survivals among the group of patients with neck lymph nodes staged as N3 or Nx. The overall 5-year survival rates were significantly influenced by contralateral metastatic lymph nodes at any level. The results of multivariate analysis using the Cox regression technique, showed that Level II ipsilateral metastatic lymph nodes, Levels II and IV contralateral metastatic lymph nodes, and age were the independent predictors of the risk of death. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that simultaneous bilateral neck dissection has a high morbidity and should be contraindicated as an elective procedure. Further studies with selective neck dissections are warranted.     

局部晚期喉鳞癌cN0临床观察

目的：探讨喉癌cN0患者颈部处理的方法，降低颈淋巴结转移癌的复发率。方法：回顾分析87例T3、T4期cNo喉癌患者的临床资料，颈部处理方式为颈改良性清扫术或颈分区清扫术，分析手术组阳性淋巴结的分布情况及病理特点，观察颈清扫术对预后的影响，采用Kaplan—Meier方法计算肿瘤复发及生存趋势。结果：87例颈部淋巴结隐性转移率为36．8％，声门上型喉癌40．4％，声门型喉癌32．5％；淋巴结转移分布为：声门上型喉癌89．5％（17／19）位于Ⅱ和Ⅲ区，声门型喉癌92．3％（12／13）位于Ⅱ和Ⅲ区；5年颈部复发率：隐性淋巴结转移复发率为13．5％，无隐性淋巴结转移复发率6．7％；5年生存率：有淋巴结隐性转移生存率为53．8％，无隐性转移为71．1％。结论：晚期喉癌隐性转移率较高，分区清扫术后，隐性转移复发率与无隐性转移复发率无差别，分区清扫术十分必要，注意双侧Ⅱ、Ⅲ区的淋巴结清扫。     

甲状腺乳头状癌颈部淋巴结转移特点及清扫策略

背景与目的：目前,在甲状腺癌颈淋巴结清扫方面存有较大分歧。该研究总结甲状腺乳头状癌淋巴结转移的特点,为择区淋巴结清扫提供理论依据。方法：回顾性分析2006年7月—2014年8月收治的462例甲状腺乳头状癌患者病历资料,分析其淋巴结转移规律及其影响因素,评判cN0标准的准确性。结果：全组患者均行患侧中央区(Ⅵ区)淋巴结清扫,320例行侧颈区淋巴结清扫术(Ⅱ～Ⅴ区)或择区淋巴结清扫(Ⅱ～Ⅳ区中的部分或全部),90例行对侧中央区淋巴结活检。73.2%(338/462)符合cN0标准,病理证实其中有184例淋巴结转移,cN0标准误诊率达60.9%。颈部淋巴结总转移率为65.4%(302/462),侧颈区淋巴结转移率为42.6%(197/462),“跳跃转移”率为13.1%(42/320),对侧中央区淋巴结转移率为50%(45/90)。男性、肿瘤累及腺叶上1/3、肿瘤T3或T4、多中心病灶是淋巴结转移的危险因素。肿瘤累及腺叶上1/3是喉前淋巴结转移及“跳跃转移”的危险因素。喉前淋巴结转移及中央区淋巴结2个以上转移者侧颈区淋巴结转移率显著增加(分别为85.7%和83.3%, P＜0.05)。结论：现行cN0标准不能作为确定淋巴结清扫范围的依据;甲状腺乳头状癌易发生淋巴结转移,其中Ⅵ区淋巴结转移率最高,依次为Ⅲ区、Ⅱ区、Ⅳ区、Ⅴ区;初次手术应常规清扫患侧中央区淋巴结,建议将Ⅵ区淋巴结送冰冻病理;当喉前淋巴结有转移或Ⅵ区2个以上淋巴结转移时,或肿瘤累及腺叶上1/3者,有必要行侧颈区(或择区)淋巴结清扫;对侧中央区淋巴结转移率较高,需予以重视;中央区淋巴结再分亚区具有重要意义,应深入研究。     

Pattern of cervical lymph node metastasis in tonsil cancer: predictive factor analysis of contralateral and retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis

The purpose of this study was to determine the pattern of cervical lymph node metastasis in tonsil cancer including the retropharyngeal (RPLN) nodal metastasis. Seventy-six tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma patients who underwent surgery-based treatment were retrospectively analyzed. Most patients had advanced stage (stages III and IV: 81.6%) tonsil cancer. Sixteen patients were treated with surgery only. Postoperative radiotherapy was performed to 38 patients, and chemoradiation to 22 patients. Seventy-one therapeutic neck dissections and 27 elective neck dissections were performed. Thirty-four patients underwent RPLN dissection based on the preoperative inclusion criteria. There was a statistically significant metastasis in level I or V nodes, when the ipsilateral multilevel, or contralateral nodes were positive. The rate of contralateral occult cases was 28.6%. T3-4 stages, primary lesions close to the midline, or ipsilateral multilevel involvement were significantly associated with contralateral metastasis. Ipsilateral multilevel involvement was the independent factor with multivariate analysis. RPLN metastasis was confirmed in 9 of the 34 (26.5%) subjects. Disease-specific survival rate was significantly different according to RPLN status (82.1% vs. 55.6%; p=0.021). Positive pre-operative image, posterior pharyngeal wall invasion, more than N2 stage, contralateral node metastasis, or ipsilateral multilevel involvement were correlated with RPLN metastasis. Bilateral neck dissection is mandatory for primary lesions close to the midline and advanced ipsilateral nodal disease. Elective RPLN dissection should be considered for patients with advanced neck and primary tumor, particularly for tumors with posterior pharyngeal wall invasion.     

Value of neck dissection in patients with cancer of the parotid gland and a clinical NO neck

Cervical lymph node metastases in patients with parotid gland carcinoma are not rare. Regional metastases have a significant influence on the prognosis of these patients. In spite of the clinical relevance of lymphogenous metastases, the indications for elective treatment of the neck are not well defined. In the present review the controversies and therapeutical strategies of ipsilateral neck lymph nodes and their extension in patients with potential occult lymph node metastases are discussed. On the basis of the published data, in consideration of the direction of lymphogenous metastatic spread of parotid gland carcinomas, an elective neck dissection is recommended in carcinomas with high percentage of lymphatic spread also in the N0 neck. Consideration of additional parameters (> T2, lymphangiosis carcinomatosa) is appropriate to perform also a neck dissection in carcinomas with low risk for lymphogenous metastases. An elective neck dissection should include levels I, II, III and upper V.     

Elective lateral neck dissection for laryngeal cancer in the clinically negative neck

BACKGROUND: Despite the introduction of modern imaging techniques, it is still difficult to detect microscopic disease in neck nodes. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of the lateral neck dissection (LND) for elective treatment of the clinically node negative neck (cN0) in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). METHODS: The clinical records of 110 cN0 patients with laryngeal SCC treated in this hospital from January 1997 to December 2002 were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: One hundred ten patients received 145 elective LND. Occult metastasis was detected in 22 (20.0%) of this group of patients. The distribution of the 37 positive nodes was as follows: Level II 56.8%; Level III 37.8%; Level IV 5.4%. The 3-year neck recurrence rate estimated by the Kaplan-Meier approach for all cN0 patients (n = 110) was 5.4% [95% CI: 0.0%; 12.5%]. No significant difference in 3-year lymph node recurrence was found between node negative and node positive groups, between supraglottis and glottis groups, or between surgery alone and combined therapy groups. CONCLUSION: The lateral neck dissection is effective in elective treatment of the neck in patients with laryngeal carcinoma.