[ prevalence of occult neck metastasis in patients with N0 neck disease in squamous cell carcinoma of upper aerodigestive tract]

ABSTRACT

Cancers of head and neck can cause functional, cosmetic, social and economic problems. Neck metastasis from upper aerodigestive tract cancers is a concern in management. The aim of this study is to determine the occult neck metastasis from squamouse cell carcinoma [SCC] of upper aerodigestive tract and its proper management. This is a cross ' sectional study on patients with squamouse cell carcinoma of upper aerodigestive tract that hospitalized in departments of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery and general surgery in Amir-alam referral hospital of Tehran University of Medical Scienses. 33% of patients were involved in occult metastasis in cervical lymph nodes. In 60% of patients more than one lymph node were involved. In the majority of patients tumor was in T2 stage. The occult neck metastasis was 24.6% in SCC of oral cavity, 44.7% in SCC of larynx and 42% in SCC of hypopharynx. There was significant relation between occult neck metastasis and T stage of tumor. When the risk of occult neck metastasis is higher than 20% and the primary site treatment modality is surgery elective neck dissection is indicated. In extracapsular spread or involvment of multiple lymph nodes with microscopic metastsis the postoperative radiation to neck is necessary