[Correlation of cervical lymphatic metastasis to prognosis of glottic carcinoma: a report of 333 cases].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Cervical lymph node metastasis rate of glottic carcinoma is low. How to deal with cervical adenopathy remains controversial. This study was to explore the factors relate to cervical lymphatic metastasis of glottic carcinoma.

METHODS

Clinical data of 333 patients with glottic carcinoma, treated at Cancer Center of Sun Yat-sen University from Jan. 1, 1992 to Dec. 31, 2000, were reviewed. Distribution of cervical adenopathy, prognosis, and neck management were analyzed.

RESULTS

The overall lymphatic metastasis rate was 9.61% (32/333); the occult lymphatic metastasis rate was 6.24% (20/321). Most metastatic lymph nodes located at ipsilateral levels II, III and IV (28/32). The pathologic grade had no correlation to the overall lymphatic metastasis rate (P=0.092), and occult lymphatic metastasis rate (P=0.067). The overall lymphatic metastasis rate (P=0.002) and occult lymphatic metastasis rate (P=0.015) rose up following with increased T stage. Neck selective radiotherapy for the patients at stage cN0 had no significant impact on occult lymph node metastasis rate (P=0.363). The 3-and 5-year survival rates were significantly lower in cN+ patients than in cN0 patients (56.25% vs. 88.70%, 46.67% vs. 85.37%, P<0.001), significantly lower in the cN+ patients with occult lymph node metastasis than in the cN+ patients without lymph node metastasis (68.18% vs. 89.00%, 63.31% vs. 85.55%, P=0.005), and significantly lower in naive cN+ patients than in the naive cN0 patients with occult lymph node metastasis (41.67% vs. 68.18%, 16.67% vs. 63.31%, P=0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

Most metastatic lymph nodes of glottic carcinoma locate at ipsilateral levels II, III and IV, especially at level II. Cervical lymphatic metastasis affects the prognosis of glottic carcinoma.