[A clinical and pathological study on cervical lymph node metastasis in the clinical N0 patient with laryngeal carcinoma]

Abstract

Objective: To study the characteristics of the cervical lymph node metastasis in negative nodes (N0) with clinically with laryngeal carcinoma patients and its implication in clinical treatment.

Methods: Forty patients with laryngeal carcinomas of No category were divided randomly into two groups: 13 radical neck dissections (RND) and 27 functional neck dissections (FND) were performed. Lymph nodes were studied histologically.

Results: On an average, 34.2 lymph nodes were obtained in one side of neck in RND group, and 27.4 in FND group (t = 0.86, P > 0.05). The metastases rates were 30.8% (4/13) in RND group and 33.3% (9/27) in FND group, and the total metastasis rate was 32.5% (13/40). Twelve of 13 patients (92.3%) who had positive nodes involved only the levels II and III, and 32 of 33 positive nodes (96.9%) were located in the levels II and III. The 3-year survival rates of the two groups were 69.2% (9/13) and 77.8% (21/17), respectively with no statistical difference (chi 2 = 0.3418, P > 0.5). Total 3-year survival rate was 75% (30/40).

Conclusion: The supraomohyoid (level Io II and III) or lateral neck (level II, III and IV) dissections seem suitable for the treatment laryngeal carcinoma patients with clinically negative neck nodes.