Patterns of cervical node metastases from squamous carcinoma of the oropharynx and hypopharynx

TLDR

The study retrospectively examined 333 untreated oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients to determine neck node metastasis prevalence by level and to inform future trials on neck dissection extent. All patients underwent 344 radical neck dissections, with cases divided into elective N0 (71) and therapeutic N+ (259) groups, and analyses were performed by primary site. Metastases were most common in levels II–IV, skip metastases were rare (0.3 %), and involvement of level I or V always coincided with other nodal disease, supporting selective limited neck dissection for N0 patients.

Abstract

A retrospective review of 333 previously untreated patients from 1965 to 1986, with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx or hypopharynx, was undertaken to ascertain the prevalence of neck node metastases by neck level. The 333 patients underwent 344 classical radical neck dissections. Patients were grouped by clinical neck status at the time of neck dissection: elective dissection in the N0 neck (N = 71), and immediate therapeutic dissection in the N+ neck (N = 259). Detailed analysis was performed for each group based on the specific primary site. This revealed a predominance of neck node metastases in levels II, III, and IV for both oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal primaries. Isolated "skip" metastases outside of levels II, III, or IV occurred in only 1 patient (0.3%). Otherwise, level I or V involvement was always associated with nodal metastases at other levels (ie, N2 disease). These data support the trend toward selective limited neck dissection (anterior modified) in N0 patients. Furthermore, they provide the foundation for planning of future prospective trials to assess the efficacy of modifications in the extent of neck dissection for carcinomas of the oropharynx or hypopharynx.