title: Tumor markers and lymphatic metastasis in head and neck cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between the lymph node status and tumor marker status in patients with histologically confirmed head and neck cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  134 patients were included in this retrospective analysis. 33/134 were classified as NO and 101/134 as N+. The wall of the lymph node was ruptured by the metastasis in 70/134 patients (poor prognosis). We analyzed the sensitivity of squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC), carcinoembryotic antigen (CEA) and CYFRA 21-1 in the total population and in the subgroups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed elevated SCC levels in 21.6%, CEA levels in 23.9% and CYFRA 21-1 levels in 50.0% of all patients. If there was no lymphatic metastasis, the SCC sensitivity was 15.1%, the CEA sensitivity was 21.2% and the CYFRA 21-1 sensitivity was 36.4%. Lymph node-positive disease had increased SCC levels in 23.8% of the patients, increased CEA levels in 24.8% and increased CYFRA 21-1 levels in 54.5%. The subgroup of patients with ruptured lymph nodes had the following sensitivities: SCC 18.6% CEA 8.6%, and CYFRA 21-1 50.0%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No significant relationship between the lymph node metastasis and the elevation of tumor markers in patients with advanced head and neck cancer was found.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology, Head Neck Surgery, Sudharzkrankenhaus Nordhausen, 99734 Nordhausen, Germany. jens.buentzel@shk-ndh.de
authors: Jens
authors: J
authors: Büntzel
authors: Axel
authors: A
authors: Hornig
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Glatzel
authors: Oliver
authors: O
authors: Micke
authors: Frank
authors: F
authors: Bruns
authors: Ulrich
authors: U
authors: Schäfer
authors: Dietmar
authors: D
authors: Fröhlich
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor