[X-ray computed tomography in latero-cervical lymph nodes, clinically undetectable, in preoperative staging of malignant neoplasms of the larynx].

Postoperative CT of the latero-cervical lymph nodes was carried out in 25 patients suffering from laryngeal cancer. The surgically removed lymph nodes themselves were measured and examined histologically. 529/621 removed lymph nodes (about 85%) were recognisable with CT. The metastasized lymph nodes were clearly identified because of the presence of hypodense, poorly vascularised central foci. Some lymph nodes with a diameter of more than 15 mm on CT investigation proved free from metastatic lesions. This criterion should therefore be considered inadequate for diagnostic purposes. The CT cannot be held to be sufficiently precise to avoid conservative functional latero-cervical emptying as it is probably not able to recognise metastases without capsular rupture, not present in this series.