Korean J Otolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2001 May;44(5):512-516.

Cervical lymph node metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. eunchangmd@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx is a well known tumor with frequent nodal metastases, but reports on detailed prevalence of nodal metastasis by primary subunits and neck level are lacking.
Patients and Methods
To ascertain the prevalence of neck node metastasis by neck level, a retrospective review was undertaken of 63 previously untreated patients from 1992 to 2000, with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx. All but one patients had undergone neck dissection; elective dissection in cN0 neck (n=19), and therapeutic dissection in cN+ neck (n=44).
RESULTS
Overall incidence of neck metastases was 76.2%. False negative and false positive rate were 31.6% and 4.5% respectively. More than 80% of patients with base of tongue and tonsillar carcinoma already had neck metastases at the time of treatment. Neck metastases was predominantly revealed in levels II, III, and IV. Metastases at level I and V was exclusively accompanied with metastases to other levels.
CONCLUSIONS
This study found that oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma frequently metastasized to the neck. Elective treatments are needed at the ipsilateral neck levels II, III, and IV, but comprehensive neck dissection for cases of the cN+ neck.

Keyword

Squamous cell carcinoma; Oropharynx; Lymph node metastasis

MeSH Terms

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell*
Humans
Incidence
Lymph Nodes*
Neck
Neck Dissection
Neoplasm Metastasis*
Oropharynx*
Prevalence
Retrospective Studies
Tongue
Full Text Links
  • KJORL-HN
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr