Reappraisal of metastatic lymph node topography in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the lymphatic distribution of metastatic carcinomatous cells in cervical lymph nodes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed 119 patients treated in our hospital for HNSCC (1999-2004). Topography of the neck dissection specimens was prospectively classified according to the classification of Robbins. The 4000 lymph nodes were analyzed by optical microscopy using hematoxylin-eosin-safran (HES) staining. In cases of negative results in level II, cytokeratin (AE1/AE3) immunodetection was performed.


RESULTS
Metastases were visualized using HES in 6.4% of lymph nodes for oral cavity, and 4.7% of oropharyngeal, 4.4% of hypopharyngeal, and 1.3% of endolaryngeal cancers. The highest incidence of nodal metastasis was observed in level IIa (P < 0.01). In eight patients (6.7%) with lymph node metastases, level II was spared. In these patients, all 134 nodes histologically negative on HES were confirmed to be negative by IHC.


CONCLUSIONS
Level IIa is the main level involved in regional metastases of HNSCC, regardless of the primary site of cancer. However, in eight (6.7%) patients, level II was spared, as confirmed by IHC. In these cases, level II did not represent the first step of drainage from the tumor. The sentinel lymph node technique in HNSCC is discussed in light of these results.
Tao
Lei
L
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai.
Lefèvre
Marine
M
Callard
Patrice
P
Périé
Sophie
S
Bernaudin
Jean-François
JF
St Guily
Jean Lacau
JL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D004396:Coloring Agents; D005260:Female; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007633:Keratins / Q000032:analysis; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D009333:Neck; D037981:Neck Dissection; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
D004396:Coloring Agents; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007633:Keratins