FDG-PET in the clinically negative neck in oral squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: With improved diagnostic imaging techniques, it remains difficult to reduce occult metastatic disease in oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) to less than 20%. Therefore, supraomohyoid neck dissection (SOHND) still is a valuable staging procedure in these patients. METHODS: Patients with clinically and ultrasonographically staged cN0 SCC of the oral cavity underwent FDG-PET before SOHND. Histologic examination of neck dissection specimens was used as a "gold standard." RESULTS: Twenty-eight consecutive patients were included, representing 30 necks. Occult metastatic disease was found in 30% of SOHND specimens. Average diameter of metastatic deposits was 4.3 mm. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of FDG-PET was 33%, 76%, and 63%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with cN0 SCC of the oral cavity, FDG-PET does not contribute to the preoperative workup. FDG-PET does not replace SOHND as a staging procedure.     

Immunohistochemical expression patterns of the HER4 receptors in normal mucosa and in laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas: antioncogenic significance of the HER4 protein in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The prognosis for laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) has not shown any improvement in the last 30 years because of inadequate prognostic stratification. Therefore, the detection of reliable molecular markers may have a significant impact on clinical practice. As promising data regarding HER1/EGFR have been published, the purpose of the present study was to elucidate the role of the other receptors of the HER family. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective. METHODS.: We used quantitative immunohistochemistry to evaluate the expression pattern of the HER4 receptors cytokeratin (CK)-14, CK-17, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen in 67 LSCCs and assessed correlations with various prognostic parameters. RESULTS.: HER1 levels inversely correlated with those of HER2-4. The negative prognostic value of HER1 was confirmed, and a protective role for HER2-4 was found. Specifically, the overexpression of HER4 and its nuclear localization are protective and are associated with a better prognosis. CONCLUSIONS.: Semiquantitative evaluation of HER2-4 provides predictive information that can be combined with HER1 expression data for molecular characterization of LSCC. The pattern of localization of HER4 is an easily evaluable qualitative parameter with a clear correlation with prognosis. The immunohistochemical methods described in this article are reliable, reproducible, and potentially translatable to clinical practice.     

Sentinel lymph node biopsy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Sentinel lymph node biopsy is a minimally invasive method to stage the regional lymphatics that has revolutionized the management of patients with intermediate-thickness cutaneous melanoma. Head and neck surgeons have been encouraged by the accuracy of sentinel lymph node biopsy in cutaneous melanoma and have applied the technique to patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The objectives of the study were 1) to study the feasibility and accuracy of sentinel lymph node biopsy as a method to stage the regional lymphatics in HNSCC and 2) to determine whether there are qualitative differences between the cutaneous and mucosal lymphatics that would affect the technique used in HNSCC. STUDY DESIGN: Two methods of investigation were employed: a prospective laboratory study using a feline model for sentinel lymph node biopsy and a retrospective review of patients who received lymphoscintigraphy before neck dissection and intraoperative identification of the sentinel lymph node. METHODS: Lymphoscintigraphy and a gamma probe were used in four felines to study the kinetics of technetium-labeled sulfa colloid (Tc-SC) in the mucosal lymphatics. In the second part of the feline study, eight subjects were studied intraoperatively. Tc-SC and isosulfan blue dye were used to study the injection technique for the mucosal lymphatics and to determine the time course of the dye and Tc-SC to the sentinel lymph node. In Part II of the present study, a retrospective review of 33 patients with HNSCC was conducted. Twenty patients (stage N0) whose treatment included elective neck dissection were studied with preoperative lymphoscintigraphy and underwent intraoperative identification of the sentinel lymph node to determine the accuracy and feasibility of sentinel lymph node biopsy. Eight patients with palpable neck disease and five patients with recurrent or second primary disease whose previous treatment included neck dissection were also studied with lymphoscintigraphy before neck dissection. RESULTS: In the feline study, both Tc-SC and isosulfan blue dye traversed the lymphatics rapidly, appearing in the sentinel lymph node in less than 5 minutes. Modification of the injection technique used for cutaneous melanoma was required to depict the sentinel lymph node of the base of tongue. In the human study, the sentinel lymph node was accurately identified in 19 of 20 (95%) N0 patients. On average, 2.9 sentinel lymph nodes (range, 1-5) were identified in 2.2 (range, 1-4) levels of the neck. Sentinel lymph nodes were bilateral in 4 of 19 patients. When the sentinel lymph node was identified, it accurately predicted the pathological nodal status of the regional lymphatics. Three of 20 patients had cervical metastases, and the sentinel lymph node was identified in 2 of 3 patients with pathologic nodes (pN+). Focal areas of radiotracer uptake were identified in seven of eight patients with palpable disease. These areas corresponded to the level with palpable disease in four patients. The lymphatics delineated by lymphoscintigraphy in the five patients with previous neck dissection were outside the levels that had been dissected. Lymphoscintigraphy depicted collateral patterns of lymphatic drainage. CONCLUSIONS: Sentinel lymph node biopsy is technically feasible and is a promising, minimally invasive method for staging the regional lymphatics in patients with stage N0 HNSCC. Lymphoscintigraphy alone may determine the levels that require treatment in patients with disrupted or previously operated cervical lymphatics.     

Level IIb lymph node metastasis in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVES: Selective neck dissection, despite preservation of the spinal accessory nerve, can lead to some degree of postoperative shoulder dysfunction as a result of removal of level IIb lymph nodes. The aim of this study was to determine whether level IIb lymph nodes can be preserved in elective or therapeutic neck dissection as a treatment for patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). STUDY DESIGN: This was a prospective analysis of a case series. METHODS: A prospective analysis of 65 patients with laryngeal SCC who underwent surgical treatment of the primary lesion with simultaneous neck dissection from January 1999 to December 2002 was performed. During the neck dissection, the contents of the level IIb lymph nodes were dissected, labeled, and processed separately from the remainder of level II nodes and the main neck dissection specimen. The incidence of pathologic metastasis to level IIb lymph nodes and the regional recurrence within this area were evaluated. In addition, several potential risk factors for metastatic disease in the level IIb lymph nodes such as sex, age, cT stage, cN stage, and the presence of other positive lymph nodes were also evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 125 neck dissections were performed in this series. Of these dissections, 102 (82%) were elective and 23 (18%) were therapeutic. The prevalence of metastases in the level IIb lymph nodes was 1% (one of 46) and 0% (zero of 56) in clinically node-negative (N0) ipsilateral and contralateral necks, respectively, and 37% (seven of 19) and 0% (zero of four) in clinically node-positive ipsilateral and contralateral necks, respectively. There was a statistically significant association between level IIb metastases and clinically positive N stage (P<.001). The presence of other positive lymph nodes was also shown to have a statistically significant association with metastasis in the level IIb lymph nodes (P=.001). Only two of 46 patients (4%) with clinically N0 necks developed a regional recurrence. However, three of eight cases (38%) with positive pathologic level IIb lymph nodes developed regional recurrence. CONCLUSION: Level IIb lymph node pads may be preserved in elective neck dissection in patients with laryngeal SCC. However, this area should be removed thoroughly during therapeutic neck dissection in the treatment of clinically node-positive necks.     

A study of a new tumour marker,CYFRA 21-1, in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck,and comparison with squamous cell carcinoma antigen

CYFRA 21-1 (CYFRA) is a newly developed tumour marker which is useful in evaluating large cell lung carcinoma, especially the squamous cell type. The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical value of CYFRA for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck and compare the results with squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA). Serum levels of CYFRA were measured in 168 patients with a newly diagnosed head and neck squamous carcinoma. In addition, 77 patients without evidence of neoplasm were included as controls. At the same time, SCCA was also determined. The cut-off values of CYFRA and SCCA, determined at the 95th percentile of the standard Gaussian variate of controls, were 2.48 ng/ml and 1.49 ng/ml respectively. The diagnostic sensitivity of CYFRA was superior to that of SCCA, especially for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The sensitivity of CYFRA for nasopharyngeal carcinoma was much higher (58.3%) than that of SCCA (15.5%). However, the sensitivity of CYFRA is not satisfactory in all types of squamous carcinoma. For oral cancer, the sensitivity is only 25.6%. CYFRA is a useful serum marker for patients with certain types of head and neck squamous carcinoma, such as nasopharyngeal carcinoma and hypopharyngeal carcinoma. In addition, CYFRA may be also useful in monitoring recurrence of certain types of SCCHN, which are sometimes difficult to detect.     

Upper aerodigestive tract squamous cell carcinoma: Distribution of extracapsular spread and soft tissue deposits in the neck

Objective Extracapsular spread (ECS) and soft tissue deposits (STD) of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in the neck of patients with metastatic SCC of the upper aerodigestive tract have been shown to adversely affect actuarial and disease-free survival. No studies to date have detailed the distribution of ECS and STD within the neck.

Material and Methods A total of 215 neck dissections from 155 patients were prospectively collected and analysed for the presence of both STD and ECS. As no classification for STD exists, their distribution was classified according to the nodal levels used for classification of cervical lymph nodes as described by the Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center.

Results A total of 81 neck dissections from 59 patients were found to have either metastatic lymph nodes with ECS, STD or both. The distribution of lymph node metastasis, ECS and STD was very similar. Level II was most frequently affected, with Levels III and IV being affected less frequently. There were very few lymph node metastases to Level V, and this level contained no evidence of either ECS or STD.

Conclusion The method of pathological assessment of neck dissection specimens and reporting on the presence of ECS and STD has not been formalized. By analysing neck dissection specimens in the manner described we can report on the presence or absence of ECS and STD with increased accuracy. This has considerable implications for patient management.     

Vimentin in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Summary The relationship between the histological grading of malignancy and the expression of vimentin and cytokeratin was studied in 43 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Immunohistochemical analysis was carried out with the avidin-biotin method using monoclonal antibody anti-vimentin, and the peroxidase anti-peroxidase method using the polyclonal antibody anti-cytokeratin. All cases were classified according to the histological malignancy grading system proposed by Anneroth. All of the carcinomas were found to express cytokeratin, while 60.4% expressed vimentin. Vimentin was particularly noted in all tumors scored to have highly malignant cells.     

A review of clinical and histological parameters associated with contralateral neck metastases in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC)bas a high incidence of cervical micrometastases and sometimes metastasizes contralaterally because of the rich lymphatic intercommunications relative to submucosal plexus of oral cavity that freely communicate across the midline,and it can facilitate the spread of neoplastic cells to any area of the neck consequently.Clinical and histopathologic factors continue to provide predictive information to contralateral neck metastases(CLNM)in OSCC,which determine prophylactic and adjuvant treatments for an individual patient.This review describes the predictive value of clinical-histopathologic factors,which relate to primary tumor and cervical lymph nodes,and surgical dissection and adjuvant treatments.In addition,the indications for elective contralateral neck dissection and adjuvant radiotherapy(aRT)and strategies for follow-up are offered,which is strongly focused by clinicians to prevent later CLNM and poor prognosis subsequently.