title: Prognostic significance of Langerhans cell infiltration in cancer of the larynx.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Determine the effect on prognosis of Langerhans cell infiltration in cancer of the larynx.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of 72 surgically treated patients with T1-3 lesions. The streptavidin-biotin method to determine Langerhans cell infiltration, which was graded as 1+, 2+, and 3+.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A higher degree of Langerhans cell infiltration was significantly associated with less cervical lymph node metastasis, longer disease-free survival, less locoregional recurrence, and less clinical N-positivity ( P < 0.05). According to multivariant analysis, Langerhans cell infiltration was independently related to disease-free survival and recurrence ( P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Langerhans cell infiltration is prognostically important in cancer of the larynx. More intense infiltration is significantly related to prolonged disease-free survival, less locoregional recurrence, less cervical lymph node metastasis, and less clinical N-positivity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Langerhans cell infiltration may be determined on a biopsy specimen and this information may be useful in deciding about elective neck dissection. Patients with mild infiltration may have a higher risk of locoregional recurrence, shorter disease-free survival, and therefore they suggest a poor prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. taneryilmaz@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Taner
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Gökhan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gedikoglu
authors.forename: Arzu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Celik
authors.forename: Metin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Onerci
authors.forename: Ergin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Turan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002452:Cell Count; D006801:Humans; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate