METASTATIC FEATURES of LARYNGEAL CANCERS TO LEVELS I, V, and VI of NECK NODES

Ankara Numune Araştırma Eğitim Hastanesi, 2 KBB Kliniği, Ankara, Türkiye Jugular lymph node metastases is one of most important determinants of survival in laryngeal cancer. Nowadays, selective neck dissections are widely accepted as the elective neck treatment in N0 patients. We present the results of metastatic features of levels I, V, and VI where the lymph nodes are spared during lateral neck dissection. We evaluated 214 patients with laryngeal carcinoma retrospectively. We noted primary tumor localization, “T” stage, invasion of cartilage, perineural and perivascular invasion in patients whom lymph node metastases were confirmed histopathologically. The metastatic rate for levels I, V, and VI were 1.3%, 3.2%, and 2.3% respectively. The metastatic rate for levels I, V, and VI 0%, 1.2%, and 3.7% in clinically No patients; 2.2%, 4.5%, and 1.5% in clinically N+ patients respectively. There were no statistically differences between clinically No and N+ patients (p>0.05). Basis on metastatic rates, lateral neck dissection is an effective method in the elective treatment of patients with laryngeal carcinoma. Keywords : Laryngeal cancer, neck metastasis, neck dissection, selective neck dissection