Relevance of Oropharyngeal Cancer Lymph Node Metastases in the Submandibular Triangle and the Posterior Triangle Apex

• Published in: Anticancer research 2009-11, Vol.29 (11), p.4785-4790
• Main Authors: Wiegand, Susanne, Esters, Judith, Müller, Hans-Helge, Jäcker, Timm, Papaspyrou, Giorgos, Roessler, Marion, Werner, Jochen A, Sesterhenn, Andreas M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - pathology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - surgery; Humans; Lymph Nodes - anatomy & histology; Lymph Nodes - pathology; Lymphatic Metastasis; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Staging; Oropharyngeal Neoplasms - pathology; Oropharyngeal Neoplasms - surgery; Retrospective Studies
• ISSN: 0250-7005; 1791-7530

Background: Neck dissection of levels I and IIB is time consuming and can cause several comorbidities. The aim was to analyze whether levels I and IIB need to be dissected in patients with oropharyngeal cancer and clinical N0 or N+ neck. Patients and Methods: A retrospective analysis of 77 patients with oropharyngeal cancer was carried out with evaluation of the incidence of neck node metastasis in levels I and IIB. Results: None of the patients with cN0 neck had metastases in level I or IIB; 12.8% of the patients with cN+ neck had metastases in level I, 35.1% in level IIA and 25.6% had metastases in level IIB. Conclusion: Levels I and IIB should be dissected in cN+ neck in order to achieve maximal oncological safety. The preservation of levels I and IIB in cN0 neck seems to be justified in terms of improving functional results and concomitant reduction of operation time.