Prognostic significance of lymph node density in squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue

Abstract

Our data suggest that lymph node density is a reliable and applicable predictor of prognosis in patients with tongue SCC. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E859-E866, 2016.

Prognostic Significance of Lymph Node Density in Patients with Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

“…Our results agree with those showing that LND and nodal extracapsular spread were clinically significant in patients with head and neck cancer. [10][11][12]16,17 To our knowledge, most published studies have been in oral cavity cancers. LND may have greater prognostic value than the absolute number of positive lymph nodes, as the former involves two factors, the number of positive lymph nodes and the extent of surgical treatment (number of lymph nodes removed).…”

“…[7][8][9] In head and neck cancer, retrospective studies have suggested that the LND may be prognostic in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma. [10][11][12] This parameter incorporates not only the burden of nodal disease and cancer spread but also the extent of nodal dissection and surgical staging. To our knowledge, no study to date has assessed the prognostic significance of LND in stratifying the risks of cancer-specific survival in patients with HPSCC after surgery in a single institution.…”

Importance of lymph node ratio for locoregional recurrence of squamous cell carcinoma of the buccal mucosa

“…To optimize treatment and management of these patients, markers are needed that predict the risk of locoregional recurrence. Currently, TNM‐based staging, perineural invasion, lymphovascular invasion, extracapsular spread, and resection margin status are routinely used in risk stratification of locoregional recurrence . In recent years, multiple studies focused on the influence of lymph node ratio on the prognosis of patients with oral SCC and suggested the lymph node ratio as a very promising marker for locoregional recurrence .…”

“…Currently, TNM‐based staging, perineural invasion, lymphovascular invasion, extracapsular spread, and resection margin status are routinely used in risk stratification of locoregional recurrence . In recent years, multiple studies focused on the influence of lymph node ratio on the prognosis of patients with oral SCC and suggested the lymph node ratio as a very promising marker for locoregional recurrence . In 2013, Patel et al concluded from their multi‐institutional study, conducted on 4254 patients, that the lymph node ratio is a strong independent prognostic marker for patients with oral SCC .…”

“…Therefore, identification of risk factors for locoregional recurrence is of utmost importance to optimize the diagnosis and therapy of affected patients. In clinical routine, the anatomic tumor extension (T), regional lymph node metastasis (N), perineural invasion, lymphovascular invasion, extracapsular spread, and resection margin status are commonly used to evaluate the risk of locoregional recurrence of buccal SCC . Multiple studies demonstrated lymph node ratio, defined as the ratio between pathological cervical lymph nodes and the total amount of resected cervical lymph nodes, as a strong independent prognostic marker for SCC of the oral cavity .…”