title: Effect of number and ratio of positive lymph nodes in hypopharyngeal cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The number and ratio of positive lymph nodes are important prognostic factors in gastric cancer, but there is little data reported in hypopharyngeal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical data from 81 patients with hypopharyngeal cancer undergoing radical hypopharyngectomy and cervical lymph node dissection were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median survival time was 84, 54, 30, and 13 months in patients with N0, N1, N2, and N3, respectively, and 84, 51, and 17 months with positive lymph node ratios (N ratio) 0, <10%, and >10%, respectively. Of the 24 N1 patients, the 20 patients that had an N ratio <10% had a better prognosis than the 4 patients with an N ratio >10%. Similar data was seen for the N2 patients. Tumor (T) classification, adjuvant therapy, and N ratio were independent prognostic factors in multivariate analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The positive lymph node ratio is complementary to the current N classification system.
authors.affiliation: Head and Neck Cancer Center, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yong-hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Hua
authors.forename: Qiao-ying
authors.initials: QY
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Yong-feng
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Piao
authors.forename: Qiu
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Zhen-fu
authors.initials: ZF
authors.lastname: Fu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007012:Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck; D010611:Pharyngectomy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate
keywords: hypopharyngeal neoplasm; lymph nodes; metastatic lymph node ratio; postoperative stage; prognosis