Contralateral cervical lymph node metastases in pyriform sinus carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
We designed a retrospective study to evaluate the incidence of contralateral neck metastases in squamous cell carcinoma of the pyriform sinus.


METHODS
Sixty-three patients with strictly unilateral squamous cell carcinoma of the pyriform sinus who underwent bilateral neck dissection at the time of primary surgery were included in this study. The medical records of all patients were reviewed. A multivariate statistical analysis was performed, considering some clinical and histologic parameters of T stage and N stage in relation to contralateral neck metastases.


RESULTS
Contralateral neck metastases were histopathologically confirmed in more than 20% of the cases examined (13 out of 63 patients), of whom 3 were clinically staged as N2c, 2 N2b, 5 N2a, 2 N1 and 1 N0. The percentage of occult contralateral neck metastases was 77% (10/13 cases). Poorly differentiated tumors (P= .02) and the involvement of the lateral wall (P= .036) showed a statistically significant correlation with stage pN2c. Also T size and ipsilateral N stage were associated with the presence of contralateral neck metastases.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that elective bilateral neck dissection is recommended in patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the pyriform sinus.


METHODS
C-4.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy. orl@maggioreosp.novara.it
Paolo
P
Aluffi
Paolo
P
Pisani
Mario
M
Policarpo
Francesco
F
Pia
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies