[Prognosis relevant pathohistologic classification of cervical lymph node metastases (pN) of laryngeal cancer]

A total of 4665 neck lymph nodes from 151 patients with laryngeal cancer treated with primary surgery (laryngectomy plus conservative or radical neck dissection) were examined histologically. In all, 330 lymph node metastases were found and they were classified by size, number, site in the neck, and extranodal disease. These parameters were correlated with survival rates. The present UICC classification system for N/pN is discussed critically, and a pN classification is proposed that is relevant to both histopathology and prognosis.