Prognostic indicators of occult metastases in oral cancer

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the importance of several tumor factors related to predicting the presence of occult metastases in the oral cavity. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case study. METHODS: The study comprises 29 patients treated at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology (University of Trieste, Cattinara Hospital, Trieste, Italy) between January 1990 and December 2000, who had T1-T2 carcinoma of the oral cavity that had or had not extended to the oropharynx and were clinically evaluated as N0 neck. The patients all underwent surgery with removal of tumor and neck dissection. Four tumor-related parameters were examined with the aim of evaluating their predictivity of metastasis tumor class, degree of keratinization, degree of differentiation according to Brooler's histopathological grading, and invasive cell grading (ICG). With the exception of tumor class, these parameters were evaluated both in the biopsy and in the surgical specimen and the findings were then compared. We evaluated existing correlations between each individual parameter and the histopathological presence of micrometastases (pN+) and extracapsular spread revealed when specimens from the neck were examined. RESULTS: There was a highly significant correlation between ICG equal to or greater than 13 (range, 5-20) and the presence of occult metastases (P = .0017). On the basis of our findings, the ICG parameter correctly identified 9 of 10 (pN+) patients and could have reduced overtreatment from 65.5% to 17.2% in histopathological necks (pN0). CONCLUSION: It would appear that with a delay in programming a neck dissection so as to consider ICG in combination with thickness, as in seven recent patients, identification of locoregional occult metastases (pN+) might be more precise.     

Predictive factors of nodal metastases in oral cavity and oropharynx carcinomas.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the value of tumor (T)-related parameters (singly or in association) in predicting the presence of occult metastases in oral cavity and oropharynx carcinomas. STUDY DESIGN: We considered tumor size (T size), Broders' grading of histologic differentiation (G), invasive cell grading (ICG), and thickness. For every single factor, we evaluated the correlation between the parameter and occult metastases in N0 neck disease, the correlation between the parameter and metastases independently from node (N) class, and the relation between the parameter and extracapsular spread. On the basis of previous results, we gave a score to each parameter that showed higher significativity the sum of which we called global score (GS). We compared the predictivity of metastasis of the GS to that of the single parameters to obtain a more efficacious index. METHODS: Sixty-one patients with carcinomas of the oral cavity and oropharynx who underwent surgery on T and N were examined. RESULTS: Our preliminary results have highlighted a significant correlation between G, ICG, and the presence of occult metastases. No correlation between T size and metastases was highlighted. The GS obtained from G and ICG turned out to be highly significant. A strong correlation was found between the ICG score and extracapsular spread: a high risk of extracapsular spread was found in patients with an ICG score > or =13. CONCLUSION: We perform elective neck dissection in T1-T2 N0 neck disease with ICG > or =13 and GS1 > or =9.     

Occurrence of lymph node metastasis in early-stage parotid gland cancer

Lymph node metastasis is one of the most important factors in therapy and prognosis for patients with parotid gland cancer. Nevertheless, the extent of the primary tumor resection and the necessity of a neck dissection still is a common issue. Since little is known about lymph node metastasis in early-stage parotid gland cancer, the purpose of the present study was to evaluate the occurrence of lymph node metastases in T1 and T2 carcinomas and its impact on local control and survival. We retrospectively analyzed 70 patients with early-stage (T1 and T2) primary parotid gland cancer. All patients were treated with parotidectomy and an ipsilateral neck dissection from 1987 to 2009. Clinicopathological and survival parameters were calculated. The median follow-up time was 51.7 months. A positive pathological lymph node stage (pN+) was found in 21.4% of patients with a significant correlation to the clinical lymph node stage (cN) (p = 0.061). There were no differences in the clinical and histopathological data between pN− and pN+ patients. In 73.3% of pN+ patients, the metastases were located intraparotideal. The incidence of occult metastases (pN+/cN−) was 17.2%. Of all patients with occult metastases, 30.0% had extraparotideal lymphatic spread. A positive lymph node stage significantly indicated a poorer 5-year overall as well as 5-year disease-free survival rate compared to pN− patients (p = 0.048; p = 0.011). We propose total parotidectomy in combination with at least a level II–III selective neck dissection in any case of early-stage parotid gland cancer.     

Discrepancy between clinical and pathological neck staging in oral cavity carcinomas

Introduction

The presence of cervical lymph node metastases in patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma reduces survival by up to 50%.

Occult contralateral nodal metastases in supraglottic laryngeal cancer crossing the midline

We evaluated the risk of occult contralateral neck involvement according to T stage and ipsilateral neck stage in centrally located supraglottic laryngeal cancer. The side largely involved by the tumor was defined as ipsilateral and the other side was defined as contralateral in terms of the neck dissection side. We retrospectively analyzed clinical and pathologic data from a group of 189 centrally located supraglottic cancer patients in which bilateral neck dissection was part of the primary treatment. Among 378 neck dissection specimens, the rate of bilateral metastasis was 33/189 (17.5%). The rate of occult metastases in the contralateral side were 33/75 (44%) and 6/114 (5.3%), when ipsilateral neck was pN+ and pN−, respectively. Clinically or pathologically positive ipsilateral nodes and the extracapsular spread in the ipsilateral positive nodes displayed significantly higher risk of contralateral metastases. The incidence of occult contralateral metastases did not seem to be affected significantly by T stage of the tumor. Our retrospective study confirmed that the probabilistic criteria of the incidence of contralateral occult metastases in supraglottic laryngeal cancer with tumor largely involving one side and crossing the midline. On the basis of our data, there is a high prevalence of contralateral metastases in tumors with clinically or pathologically positive ipsilateral lymph nodes. The extracapsular spread of the nodes is also an important determinant of the contralateral involvement. The work related to this article was done in Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, İzmir Atatürk Research and Training Hospital, Ministry of Health, Izmir, Turkey.     

Prognostic impact of the level of neck metastasis in oral cancer patients

Neck staging in oral cancer depends on the number of compromised nodes, their size and side of occurrence.ObjectiveThis paper aims to evaluate risk factors for metastatic nodes in levels IV/V and their prognostic impact on patients with oral carcinoma.MethodRetrospective study. Inclusion criteria: pathologist's diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma, primary tumor in the lower oral cavity, no extension into extraoral sites, no previous treatment, synchronous neck dissection and presence of metastatic nodes. Risk factors for metastasis were evaluated through logistic regression and disease-specific survival and recurrence by survival analysis. Classificatory analysis was performed through recursive partitioning.Results307 patients met the inclusion criteria. Univariate logistic regression identified pN stage, vascular invasion, and multiple metastatic nodes as risk factors for metastases in levels IV/V. Multivariate analysis found vascular invasion and multiple metastatic nodes were significant. Survival analysis revealed pT, pN, neural infiltration, vascular invasion, number of metastatic nodes, metastases in levels IV/V, and node ratio were significant factors. In multivariate survival analysis, pT, pN, vascular invasion and metastases in levels IV/V were significant. Classificatory analysis showed that pN is non-significant in patients with level IV/V metastases.ConclusionThe occurrence of metastases in levels IV/V was significant for disease-specific survival.     

Histopathological features of occult metastasis detected by sentinel lymph node biopsy in oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: Sentinel lymph node biopsy has been introduced for head and neck cancer with promising results. Research in breast cancer has revealed different histopathological features of occult lymph node metastasis with possibly different clinical and prognostic implications. The aim of the study was to evaluate the histopathological features of occult metastasis detected by sentinel lymph node in oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective. METHODS: According to Hermanek (5), occult metastasis was differentiated into isolated tumor cells and infiltration of lymph node parenchyma smaller than 2 mm in diameter (micrometastasis) and larger than 2 mm in diameter (metastasis). RESULTS: Occult metastases were found in 6 of 19 (32%) sentinel lymph nodes. Three patients showed micrometastasis with a mean size of 1.4 mm (range, 1.2-1.5 mm), the first with three separate micrometastases within the same sentinel lymph node, the second with an additional cluster of isolated tumor cells within the same sentinel lymph node, and the third with an additional micrometastasis in one lymph node of the elective neck dissection. Two patients had macrometastasis (3.4 and 8 mm), both with multiple metastases in the elective neck dissection. One patient had two clusters of isolated tumor cells in the sentinel lymph node and an additional cluster of isolated tumor cells in one lymph node of the elective neck dissection. CONCLUSIONS: Occult metastasis can be subdivided histopathologically in isolated tumor cells, micrometastasis, and macrometastasis. We present the first study describing a great variety of these subtypes in sentinel lymph nodes from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Because the independent prognostic factor and clinical relevance of these subtypes is still unclear, we emphasize the importance of reporting these findings uniformly and according to well-established criteria.     

Küttner's tumor: Unusual presentation with bilateral involvement of the lacrimal and submandibular glands

Oral cavity tumors may develop occult metastases to the cervical lymph nodes. Current imaging techniques and routine histopathologic methods may fail to detect lymph node micrometastases, but the surgeon has to electively dissect a neck at risk of developing clinical disease. Supraomohyoid neck dissection has been the elective surgery for treating a clinically negative neck in patients with oral cavity primaries. A literature review revealed that level IV nodes can be significantly affected by occult disease with and without metastases in level I-III lymph nodes. This means that level IV nodes have to be included in the supraomohyoid neck dissection, resulting in a more extensive surgical procedure to ensure a margin of oncological safety.     

Is extended selective supraomohyoid neck dissection indicated for treatment of oral cancer with clinically negative neck?

Oral cavity tumors may develop occult metastases to the cervical lymph nodes. Current imaging techniques and routine histopathologic methods may fail to detect lymph node micrometastases, but the surgeon has to electively dissect a neck at risk of developing clinical disease. Supraomohyoid neck dissection has been the elective surgery for treating a clinically negative neck in patients with oral cavity primaries. A literature review revealed that level IV nodes can be significantly affected by occult disease with and without metastases in level I-III lymph nodes. This means that level IV nodes have to be included in the supraomohyoid neck dissection, resulting in a more extensive surgical procedure to ensure a margin of oncological safety.     

颈分区性清扫术治疗头颈部鳞状细胞癌的远期疗效

目的 研究颈分区性清扫术在头颈部鳞状细胞癌(简称鳞癌)治疗中的效果。方法 回顾性分析1997年1月～2001年12月在中国医学科学院肿瘤医院接受分区性清扫术的头颈部鳞癌患者123例，其中喉癌77例、口腔癌29例、口咽癌2例、下咽癌15例。分区性清扫术后发现淋巴结病理阴性(pNO)99例，淋巴结病理阳性(pN )24例。随访时间中位数为25个月。结果 101例cNO患者行分区性清扫术后发现pN 14例(13．9％)；22例cN 患者行分区性清扫术后发现pN 10例(45．5％)。157侧分区性清扫标本中共发现52枚阳性淋巴结，其在颈部的分布如下：I区25％，Ⅱ区48％，Ⅲ区25％，Ⅳ区2％。根据Kaplan—Meier方法计算5年颈部复发率，pNO患者为5．87％(95％可信区间0．8％，10．9％)，pN 患者为9．2％(95％可信区间0．0％，21．5％)。结论 颈分区性清扫术从微创观念出发，只要选择恰当，对于头颈部鳞癌患者可以取得与传统颈清扫术相当的效果。更重要的是保留了患者的功能和外观，提高了生活质量。     

Regional tumor recurrence after supraomohyoid neck dissection

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the recurrence of lymphatic metastases in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity treated with supraomohyoid neck dissection with and without postoperative radiotherapy. DESIGN: A nonrandomized retrospective study. SETTING: Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck, State University of Campinas, S?o Paulo, Brazil, a tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Thirty-two patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity without previous treatment and a minimum follow-up period of 2 years were studied. There were 36 supraomohyoid neck dissections, of which 31 were elective (clinically negative nodes) and 5 therapeutic (clinically positive nodes). INTERVENTION: Resection of the primary tumor and supraomohyoid neck dissection, with or without postoperative radiotherapy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Evaluation of neck tumor recurrence according to clinical and histopathological findings in the neck and use of postoperative radiotherapy. RESULTS: The overall recurrence rate was 6% (2 patients). Recurrences were seen in 1 clinically negative neck (3%) and 1 clinically positive neck (20%). The presence of clinically or histopathologically positive nodes, number of positive nodes, and use of adjuvant radiotherapy did not influence the rate of neck tumor recurrence with a statistically significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: Neck tumor recurrence in procedures with clinically positive nodes was 6.3 times greater than in those with clinically negative nodes. There was no difference in regional recurrence of histopathologically positive node necks with or without the addition of postoperative radiotherapy. Neck tumor recurrence was not statistically influenced by clinically and histopathologically positive nodes, multiple positive nodes, and use of postoperative radiotherapy.     

Survivin expression is significantly higher in pN+ oral and oropharyngeal primary squamous cell carcinomas than in pN0 carcinomas

CONCLUSIONS: The preliminary results reported here suggest that survivin expression in primary oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) may identify patients at risk of disease disseminating to neck lymph nodes. If these results are confirmed in larger series of patients it may imply that elective neck dissection should be considered in clinically N0 patients with oral and oropharyngeal SCCs who show high expression of survivin. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of survivin, a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis proteins family, in patients with primary oral and oropharyngeal SCCs with and without neck lymph node metastases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We considered 13 consecutive cases of oral and oropharyngeal SCCs with lymph node metastases (pN + ) and 13 cases of pN0 oral and oropharyngeal SCCs. The survivin reactivity of primary SCCs and lymph node metastases was evaluated immunohistochemically. A lesion was considered positive if >9.5% of the tumour cells showed diffuse strong staining. RESULTS: Sporadic groups of normal basal and parabasal epithelial cells showed weak survivin staining. In SCCs, a nuclear reaction predominated. Eight primary pN+ SCCs were survivin-positive (mean expression 34.7%), compared to 5 primary pN0 SCCs (mean expression 12.3%; p=0.017). Statistical analysis disclosed significantly higher survivin expression in primary oral and oropharyngeal SCCs that developed distant non-lymphatic metastases (p=0.012).     

Value of the supraomohyoid neck dissection with frozen section analysis as a staging procedure in the clinically negative neck in squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity

Summary A retrospective analysis was performed to evaluate with the efficacy of elective supraomohyoid neck dissection (SOND) with frozen section (FS) analysis in 57 newly diagnosed patients (62 SONDs) with squamous cell carinoma of the oral cavity. The protocol included sampling of both the most suspect and largest node in the jugulodigastric region (if present) and the most distal jugulo-omohyoid lymph node (if present). These nodes were then studied with FS histological examination. In the absence of evident nodes for FS analysis during surgery, histological examination uncovered occult metastatic disease in 3 of 11 SOND specimens. Among the remaining patients FS analysis revealed occult metastatic disease in 10 of the 51 samples (19.6%). In these latter cases surgery was continued using standard or modified radical neck dissection en bloc with the primary tumor. In 1 specimen only a single metastasis was found outside the original extent of the SOND. Among 41 FS analysis reports stating the absence of metastatic disease, histological examination of the SOND specimens demonstrated occult nodal disease in 7 (17%). All of the cervical metastases appeared in the ipsilateral side of the neck. False FS reports did not occur. In the histologically proven absence of metastatic disease in the SOND specimens, disease recurrence in the neck occurred only in 3 cases (7%), all in the presence of local failure: once in the previous SOND area, once in the ipsilateral supraclavicular region and once on the contralateral side. The results of our analyses support the conclusion that elective SOND with FS can be a valid staging procedure and a valuable approach to the management of the clinically negative neck in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity. Offprint requests to: J. J. Manni     

Positron emission tomography using [<Superscript>18</Superscript>F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG-PET) in the clinically negative neck: is it likely to be superior?

The capability of modern imaging techniques such as CT, MRI, US and US-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology (USgFNAC) to detect small tumour deposits is limited. Therefore, the detection of occult metastases in the clinically negative neck remains a diagnostic problem. One of the novel options to refine staging of head and neck cancer is [¹⁸F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET). To evaluate the diagnostic value of FDG-PET in the detection of occult malignant lymph nodes, we compared the results of FDG-PET with other diagnostic techniques and the histopathological outcome of 15 neck dissection specimens from 15 head and neck cancer patients with a clinically negative neck. Three sides contained metastases of squamous cell carcinoma. FDG-PET enabled detection of metastases in two sides, which were also detected by MRI or USgFNAC. FDG-PET and CT missed metastases in one patient, which were detected by both MRI and USgFNAC. In studies with a detailed examination of lymph nodes of a neck dissection, a low sensitivity of FDG-PET for the detection of occult lymph node metastases is found. It is unlikely that FDG-PET is superior in the detection of occult lymph node metastases in head and neck cancer patients with a palpably negative neck. The histopathological method used seems to be the most important factor for the differences in sensitivity in reported FDG-PET studies. New approaches such as the use of monoclonal antibodies labelled with a positron emitter may improve the results of PET in these patients.     

Is routine bilateral neck dissection absolutely necessary in the management of N0 neck in patients with supraglottic carcinoma?

The supraglottic larynx has a rich lymphatic network that places patients with supraglottic laryngeal carcinomas at high risk for early dissemination of the disease into the cervical lymphatics. Therefore, elective neck treatment of clinically N0 neck in patients with supraglottic carcinomas is widely accepted as a standard approach. However, the issue whether elective neck treatment should routinely be directed on both sides of the neck is still controversial. The present study is aimed at determining whether T2–T4 stage supraglottic carcinomas require bilateral neck dissection in the management of N0 necks. We designed a prospective study on 72 patients with N0 supraglottic laryngeal carcinoma. Patients were divided into three groups according to the site and extension of the primary tumors. Group I consisted of 21 patients with lateralized (clear lateral) lesion reaching but not crossing the midline. Group II comprised 25 patients with cancer largely involving one side and crossing to the midline. Group III included 26 patients with carcinoma equally involving both sides of the larynx or growth into the midline larynx. All patients underwent bilateral lateral neck dissection in conjunction with various types of laryngectomies selected to the status of the primary. Of the 72 patients, 16 were found to have occult regional metastases in pathologic examination (9 pN1, 4 pN2b, 3 pN2c). The prevalence of occult metastases proportionally increased with T stage from 8.3 to 22.7 and 31.2%, respectively, for T2, T3 and T4. Bilateral neck metastases were found in 2 of 26 patients (7.7%) with central lesions. There was only one patient (4%) with both ipsilateral and contralateral lymph node metastasis in group II. None of the 21 patients with lateral lesion (group I) had contralateral neck metastasis. Routine bilateral elective neck dissection may not be a part of the surgical procedure in all supraglottic laryngeal carcinoma patients. Bilateral neck dissection should be preferred for cases with central tumors and lateral tumors with positive nodes in the ipsilateral side of the neck.     

Selective neck dissection in the management of squamous cell carcinoma of the upper digestive tract

Selective neck dissection has been used clinically in elective treatment of carcinoma, although many surgeons continue to advocate modified radical or radical neck dissection for therapeutic management of the neck. In a retrospective study 167 previously untreated patients were reviewed following curative laser microsurgical resections of oral or pharyngeal primary tumors and a unior bilateral selective neck dissection. In all, 221 (54 bilateral) neck dissections were performed. In patients with oral primary disease lymph nodes of levels I–III were removed, while nodes in levels II and III were removed in patients with pharyngeal tumors. Level IV was dissected when several metastases were suspected during operation. The posterior triangle was not dissected. Lymph nodes were histopathologically negative in 73 patients and positive in 94 patients. Twenty-five of these latter cases had pN1 disease, 55 had pN2b disease and 10 had bilateral lymph node metastases. Twenty patients in the pN0 group and 63 patients in the pN⁺ group received postoperative radiotherapy (to 56.7 Gy to the primary site and 52.5 Gy to the neck). With a median follow-up interval of 34 months, recurrence in the dissected neck occurred in 3 of 73 patients (4.1%) with pN0 disease and 6 of 90 patients (6.6%) with pN⁺ necks. Four patients with pN⁺ necks had simultaneous recurrences at the primary site. The addition of adjuvant radiotherapy seemed to improve disease control in the neck and improve overall survival in patients with an unfavorable prognosis due to multiple metastases or metastases with extracapsular spread.Presented at the 66th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Karlsruhe, 27–31 May 1995     

Multicentric prospective study on the prevalence of sublevel IIb metastases in head and neck cancer

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of sublevel IIB lymph node (LN) metastases for head and neck primary tumors in a large cohort of patients. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: One referral university hospital and 2 national institutes of oncology. PATIENTS: Between 2003 and 2005, 297 patients (male to female ratio, 3.5:1; mean age, 58.8 years [range, 18-89 years]) affected by head and neck cancer were treated by surgery on the primary tumor and/or the neck. Primary site distribution included the following: oral cavity in 111 patients, larynx in 92, oropharynx in 32, thyroid gland in 22, skin of the lateral face or scalp in 16, hypopharynx in 11, unknown primary in 7, and parotid gland in 6. Sublevel IIB was evaluated for the number of LNs and pathologic N (pN) status. INTERVENTIONS: All patients underwent unilateral or bilateral neck dissection (ND) with therapeutic or elective intent according to the primary site and clinical T (cT) and clinical N (cN) status. Sublevel IIB was selectively dissected at the beginning of ND, labeled, and processed independently. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The distribution of metastases among the different levels was analyzed. The influence of several factors (institution in which the surgical procedure was performed, sex of the patient, site of primary, histotype, pathologic T [pT] status, cN status, lower level involved in the neck together with sublevel IIB, association with sublevel IIA metastasis, ipsilateral number of involved levels, and previous surgical treatment limited on the primary site) on the prevalence of sublevel IIB metastasis was statistically evaluated by the Pearson chi(2) test or Fisher exact test. RESULTS: A total of 443 NDs were performed (unilateral in 151 patients and bilateral in 146). Among the patients, the tumors were staged cN0/pN0 in 27%, cN+/pN+ in 50%, cN+/pN0 in 7%, and cN0/pN+ in 16%. The mean number of LNs collected at sublevel IIB was 5.4 (range, 0-24). The overall prevalence of sublevel IIB metastases was 5.6% (26 neck sides). Tumor histologic type in the sublevel IIB+ population was squamous cell carcinoma in 80%, papillary carcinoma in 8%, melanoma in 8%, and adenocarcinoma in 4%. The chi(2) test showed a significantly higher risk for LN metastases at sublevel IIB in patients affected by parotid gland primary tumors (33%), tumors of the skin or scalp (25%), unknown primary tumors (14%), and cancers of the oral cavity (10%) (P = .02) and in those clinically staged as cN+ (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Sublevel IIB dissection is strongly recommended for all patients with cN+ tumors and in those affected by tumor of the parotid gland, skin, and scalp scheduled for elective ND. Patients affected by laryngeal cancer scheduled for elective ND can be considered the ideal candidates for preservation of sublevel IIB. However, whether this policy could be associated with a better functional outcome remains to be demonstrated by prospective studies on a large series of patients.     

Elective neck dissection during salvage laryngectomy

PURPOSE: To evaluate the rate of occult metastases detected with elective neck dissection during salvage laryngectomy for radiation failures. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Retrospective review of 63 patients failing radiation therapy treated with salvage surgery between 1970 and 1999. Charts were reviewed for tumor stage, neck treatment, complications, surgical time, and survival. Median follow-up for patients with glottic and supraglottic cancers was 7.8 and 4.5 years, respectively. RESULTS: Thirty-one of 41 glottic cancer patients received elective neck dissections. Three (10%) of 31 had occult metastases. Recurrent staged rT3 and greater tumors showed a 20% rate of occult metastases. No survival advantage was noted between patients treated with elective neck dissection and those followed expectantly (P = .87). Cartilage invasion and perineural invasion in the larynx were associated with a higher risk of occult metastases (P < .05). Ten of 22 supraglottic cancer patients received elective neck dissections. Two (20%) of 10 had occult metastases, and a statistically significant survival advantage was not noted (P = .49). CONCLUSIONS: We recommend bilateral neck dissection at the time of laryngectomy for recurrent staged rT3/4 tumors and all patients with recurrent supraglottic cancers because of the higher rate of occult metastases.     

Lymph node metastasis of glottic laryngeal carcinoma

The incidence of lymph node metastases in glottic cancer is assumed to be lower than in other head and neck cancers. In a retrospective study this statement was investigated. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This analysis was based on 910 consecutive patients with glottic carcinoma treated between 1970 and 1990 by means of surgery with special interest on regional lymph node metastases. RESULTS: 8.6 % patients had clinically positive necks (N+) and 5.9 % pathohistologically positive necks (pN+). The incidence of lymph node metastases showed correlation with pT category and vocal cord mobility. Lymph node metastases were found in 5 % of pT2, in 18 % of pT3 and in 32 % of pT4 tumors. Only one patient with pT1 cancer had metastatic lymph node involvement. The incidence of occult lymph node metastases was 18 %. Lymph node involvement, extracapsular spread and lymphangiosis carcinomatosa proved to be relevant prognostic factors. The 5 year recurrent free survival rate was 86.7 % for the whole group, 81.6 % for patients with negative nodes (pN0), and 61.8 % for patients with pN+ nodes (p < 0.001 according to logrank test). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical lymph node staging plays an important prognostic role in the staging procedure also in glottic carcinoma. At least in T3 carcinomas, elective treatment of the cervical lymph nodes seems to be necessary. T2 carcinomas with impaired cord mobility have a significant higher risk for metastatic spread; therefore neck dissection should be discussed also in these cases.     

Survivin expression is significantly higher in pN+ oral and oropharyngeal primary squamous cell carcinomas than in pN0 carcinomas

Conclusions. The preliminary results reported here suggest that survivin expression in primary oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) may identify patients at risk of disease disseminating to neck lymph nodes. If these results are confirmed in larger series of patients it may imply that elective neck dissection should be considered in clinically N0 patients with oral and oropharyngeal SCCs who show high expression of survivin. Objective. To investigate the expression of survivin, a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis proteins family, in patients with primary oral and oropharyngeal SCCs with and without neck lymph node metastases. Material and methods. We considered 13 consecutive cases of oral and oropharyngeal SCCs with lymph node metastases (pN?+?) and 13 cases of pN0 oral and oropharyngeal SCCs. The survivin reactivity of primary SCCs and lymph node metastases was evaluated immunohistochemically. A lesion was considered positive if >9.5% of the tumour cells showed diffuse strong staining. Results. Sporadic groups of normal basal and parabasal epithelial cells showed weak survivin staining. In SCCs, a nuclear reaction predominated. Eight primary pN+ SCCs were survivin-positive (mean expression 34.7%), compared to 5 primary pN0 SCCs (mean expression 12.3%; p=0.017). Statistical analysis disclosed significantly higher survivin expression in primary oral and oropharyngeal SCCs that developed distant non-lymphatic metastases (p=0.012).