[Oxygenation status of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: comparison of primary tumors, their neck node metastases and normal tissue].

AIM

Investigation of the relationship between the pO2-status of primary tumors, their cervical neck node metastases and normal tissues in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Pretreatment oxygenation of primary tumors, their neck node metastases and of the contralateral sternocleidomastoid muscle was assessed in 16 patients with histologically proven advanced squamous cell carcinomas of head and neck. Oxygenation was measured with a polarographic microelectrode system (Eppendorf-pO-Histograph). Using CT/MRT additionally the volume of the tumors was estimated.

RESULTS

A highly significant correlation existed between the median pO2 of primary tumors and their neck node metastases and between the relative proportion of hypoxic values (< 5 mm Hg) of both anatomic sites (both p = 0.0001) (Figure 1). Primary tumors were not different from their neck node metastases, neither regarding the pO2 median values nor in view of the relative frequency of hypoxic values (Table 1). No correlation was found between the volume of primary tumors and the one of their neck node metastases. For volume of tumors and the oxygenation status no relationship was found as well. Significantly different was the median pO2 in the muscles from the one of the malignant tissues (p = 0.0004).

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that for to estimate the oxygenation status of squanious cell carcinomas of the head and neck pO2 measurements of primary tumors and neck node metastases are equally sufficient.