Analysis of risk factors for retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis in carcinoma of the hypopharynx.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of retropharyngeal lymph node (RPLN) metastasis and to explore the associated risk factors using CT and MRI, to direct clinical radiotherapy in hypopharyngeal carcinoma (HPC).


METHODS
The CT and MRI images of 218 patients with pathologically confirmed HPC were analyzed retrospectively. The chi-square test and logistic regression were used for statistical analysis.


RESULTS
The incidence of RPLN metastasis in HPC was 17.0%, and the highest rate of 36.4% was found in pharyngeal wall carcinoma. None of the patients with N0 classification exhibited RPLN metastasis. Univariate and multivariate analyses demonstrated that primary tumor subsites, bilateral cervical lymph node metastasis, the number and size of cervical lymph nodes, and level V metastasis were significantly associated with RPLN metastasis.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings demonstrated that primary carcinoma subsites and multiple metastatic cervical lymph nodes are the principal risk factors for RPLN metastasis.
Department of Radiation Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
Zheng
Z
Wu
Xue-Ying
XY
Deng
Rui-Fang
RF
Zeng
Yong
Y
Su
Mo-Fa
MF
Gu
Yun
Y
Zhang
Chuan-Miao
CM
Xie
Lie
L
Zheng
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000473:pathology*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000556:secondary*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007012:Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064847:Multimodal Imaging; D009333:Neck; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed