Prediction of outcome by lymph node ratio in patients with parotid gland cancer

Abstract

After surgery for PGC, evaluation of the neck using LNR was found to reliably stratify the overall survival rate.

Examined and positive lymph nodes counts and lymph nodes ratio are associated with survival in major salivary gland cancer

“…The role of LNR as an independent prognostic factor for OS has also been reported in other studies . The cutoff values for LNR that were used to stratify the risk of major SGC patients have varied from a range of 11% to 38% in different studies . Considering that LNR is a ratio of PLNs/ELNs, PLNs count has also demonstrated a significant role as prognostic indicator as expected.…”

“…Moreover, it showed that the <5 NLNs count was significant as compared to >12 NLNs count only. The role of LNR as an independent prognostic factor for OS has also been reported in other studies . The cutoff values for LNR that were used to stratify the risk of major SGC patients have varied from a range of 11% to 38% in different studies .…”

The relevance of the lymph node ratio as predictor of prognosis is higher in HPV‐negative than in HPV‐positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

“…7 LNR emerged as an important additional predictor in multiple entities and locations of carcinomas. 6,12,13 In comparison with the UICC/AJCC and were shown to have a worse prognosis in comparison with HPVpositive OPSCC. 3,[19][20][21] The worse response of HPV-negative OPSCC to radiotherapy and chemotherapy was assumed to be the reason.…”

“…Cervical lymph node status is one of the most important, well‐known predictors of prognosis in head and neck cancer in general . LNR emerged as an important additional predictor in multiple entities and locations of carcinomas . In comparison with the UICC/AJCC TNM classification, represented by seven categories with regard to the pN categories (pN0, pN1, pN2a, pN2b, pN2c, pN3a and pN3b), the LNR provides a metric scale.…”

“…8,11 Lymph node ratio (LNR), representing the number of positive lymph nodes to the total number of all resected lymph nodes, is an established predictor in cancers of other locations and entities including head and neck malignancies. 6,12,13 The concept of LNR seems to reflect the degree of lymph node metastasis more precise in regard to prediction of prognosis and therefore might be superior to classify metastatic spread by pN. In addition, LNR was shown to be a strong predictor of OS in OPSCC.…”