[Occult metastases in patients with supraglottic larynx cancer]

The treatment of patients with supraglottic laryngeal cancer still remains a controversal issue. The study comprised 193 patients with a supraglottic laryngeal carcinoma treated in the period 1986-2003. All patients had primary surgery. They all had clinically and ultrasonografically negative findings in the neck (N0). Bilateral selective neck dissection at the level II-III was performed in all patients at the time of primar surgery. Postoperative radiotherapy was given to all patients with verified occult metastases (60 Gy). The occult cervical node metastases were found in 18% (35/193). Ipsilateral occult metastases were more common (77%, 27/35), but both bilateral and contralateral spread was also seen (14%, 5/35 and 9%, 3/35, respectively). Only in two (1%) did metastases develop subsequently. The 5-years survival rate was 86%.