Cervical Lymph Node Metastases from Occult Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Analysis of 82 Cases

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze the prognostic value of some clinical factors and to compare the survival of different treatment plans in patients with cervical lymph node metastases from occult squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of patients who were diagnosed as having cervical lymph node metastases from occult SCC. Overall cumulative survival was analyzed using the standard Kaplan-Meier method. Tests of significance were based on log-rank statistics. Results: The 82 patients in the study consisted of 69 males (84.2%) and 13 females (15.8%). The average age at diagnosis was 64.7 years. Fifty patients (60.9%) underwent surgical treatment of cervical metastasis. Radiotherapy was performed in 79 patients. Thirty-two patients (40.5%) received primary fractioned external beam radiotherapy; 47 patients (59.5%) received postoperative fractioned external beam radiotherapy. Ipsilateral radiotherapy was performed on 37 patients (46.8%), bilateral neck plus mucosal irradiation was performed in 42 patients (53.2%). Ten patients (12.2%) developed a primary tumor during the follow-up. The actuarial survival rates of all patients 2, 5 and 10 years after diagnosis were 50.9, 25.3 and 18.5%, respectively. Patients with nodal stage N2b, N2c and N3 had a significantly poorer prognosis than those with nodal stage N1 and N2a (p = 0.0239). The survival in patients with metastatic nodes in the supraclavicular region (level IV) was significantly poorer than that of patients with involvement of the upper-middle jugular lymph nodes (p = 0.0003). We observed a statistically significant better survival in patients receiving bilateral neck plus mucosal irradiation (p = 0.0003). Conclusions: Initial N-category and metastasis localization were the most important prognostic factors and nodal relapse the major cause of treatment failure, thus optimal management of cervical nodes appears crucial for the success of treatment. Patients receiving bilateral neck plus mucosal irradiation had a higher survival rate than those who received ipsilateral irradiation.

Accuracy of Diagnostic Methods for Detection of Head and Neck Primary Origin in Metastatic Neck Mass

“…In early-stage neck disease, monomodal therapy is possible, whereas an advanced-stage neck disease usually requires an aggressive multimodal approach, comparable to locally advanced head and neck cancer [83]. Table 2 summarizes larger studies on HNCUP-therapy, including nodal stages of the patients treated, treatment modalities, radiotherapy and surgery specifications and finally control rates and survival data [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28].…”

“…However, when RT was postponed and used for salvage treatment only, ultimate control above the clavicles still reached more than 90% in pN1 situations without ECE [84]. Surgery should also be followed by adjuvant RT in cases of connective tissue invasion (ECE), more than one involved node and a likelihood of residual Abbrevations: UC undifferentiated carcinoma, AC adenocarcinoma, EC epidermoid carcinoma, GCSO glandular carcinoma of salavary origin, IB incision biopsy, CB core biopsy, EB exicision biospy, ND neck dissection, MND modified neck dissection, RND radical neck dissection, pts patients, dRT definitive radiotherapy, pRT postoperative radiotherapy, LRFS locoregional relapse-free survival, NS not specified; *median dose in the 1980s, **median dose in the 1990s; TNM staging referring to UICC/AJCC classification actual when published; Tumor entity SCC if not described otherwise; adapted from references [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28] microscopic disease in the neck (R1) [87,88]. In cases without these risk factors postoperative RT could be considered.…”

“…The estimated occurrence of CUP in the head and neck (HNCUP) region varies between 3 and 9%, with histological findings of a squamous cell malignancy in 53-77% of the cases [6][7][8]. The frequency of a subsequent mucosal emergence of the primary site in the head and neck region varies between 4 and 21% percent in the studies reviewed [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28]. The most frequently encountered primary symptom is a cervical mass due to enlarged lymph nodes (94%) [15], mostly located in level 2 (30-50%), followed by level 1 and 3 (10-20%) and 4 and 5 (5-10%) [2,15].…”

“…The most frequently encountered primary symptom is a cervical mass due to enlarged lymph nodes (94%) [15], mostly located in level 2 (30-50%), followed by level 1 and 3 (10-20%) and 4 and 5 (5-10%) [2,15]. Bilateral involvement of the neck is reported in less than 10% of the cases [6,8,15,18,19,29,30]. When node metastases are found in levels 1-3, the primary site is suspected to be in the head and neck region.…”

The use of an immunohistochemical diagnostic panel to determine the primary site of cervical lymph node metastases of occult squamous cell carcinoma

“…In many cases, the primary site is identified by a subsequent extensive diagnostic workup that includes clinical, radiological, and endoscopic investigations; however, some primary lesions cannot be identified, even after a thorough clinical evaluation. Cervical lymph node metastases from unknown primary sites account for approximately 3% to 9% of all head and neck malignant lesions [1,2]. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) accounts for 70% to 90% of these lesions and most commonly arises from the upper aerodigestive tract [3].…”