title: Prediction of outcome by lymph node ratio in patients with parotid gland cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lymph node ratio (LNR) has been shown to be an independent predictor of recurrence risk and survival in different entities of carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective chart review, 128 patients with parotid gland cancer (PGC) subsequently treated by primary surgery were included. About 64% (n = 82) of these patients were additionally treated with adjuvant radiotherapy. Five-year overall survival rates were determined by subgroups based on LNR value.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lymph node ratio was found to be significantly associated with overall survival rate (P < 0.001). Using univariate analyses, pathological tumour-node-metastasis (TNM)-stage, UICC-stage grouping and extracapsular spread were found to be significant predictors of overall survival (P < 0.001). However, with a multivariate analyses, LNR remained the only independent predictor of overall survival (P = 0.043).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After surgery for PGC, evaluation of the neck using LNR was found to reliably stratify the overall survival rate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.affiliation: Department for Oral and Maxillofacial Plastic Surgery, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kreppel
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meinrath
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Grünewald
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stenner
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Drebber
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Quaas
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Odenthal
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Semrau
authors.affiliation: Jean-Uhrmacher Institute, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: C U
authors.initials: CU
authors.lastname: Huebbers
authors.affiliation: Department for Oral and Maxillofacial Plastic Surgery, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zöller
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: K-B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Huettenbrink
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Buettner
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Beutner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D055815:Young Adult