Premium
Feasibility and relevance of level I substation node counts in oropharyngeal carcinoma
Author(s) -
Rassekh Christopher H.,
O'Malley Bert W.,
Bewley Arnaud F.,
Montone Kathleen T.,
Livolsi Virginia A.,
Weinstein Gregory S.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.24356
Subject(s) - occult , medicine , neck dissection , carcinoma , distant metastasis , head and neck squamous cell carcinoma , clinical significance , oncology , radiology , head and neck cancer , metastasis , cancer , pathology , alternative medicine
Background The inclusion of level I in neck dissections for oropharyngeal carcinoma remains controversial. Our objectives were to evaluate the feasibility and relevance of substation node counts in level I of the neck dissection and to determine the specific substation location of metastases in level I in oropharyngeal carcinoma. Methods Sixty specimens were retrospectively analyzed after an orientation using a new paradigm of demarcating level I specimens into 8 substations. Results Three of the specimens (5%) in this study showed nodal metastasis in level I, one each in 3 different substations. All positive nodes in level I were associated with N+ disease in level II with 2 being radiographically occult (3.3%). Average total node count for level I was 8.1 (range, 2–19). Conclusion In oropharyngeal carcinoma, substation level I node quantification is feasible and relevant. This study shows a 5% risk to level I with metastasis in 3 different substations. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38:1194–1200, 2016