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Updated: Mar 26, 2026
Quantification of Tumor Cell Adhesion in Lymph Node Cryosections
Published on: February 9, 2020
Pattern of lymph node metastasis in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and indications for level VI lymph node
Eun-Jae Chung1, Go-Woon Kim2, Bum-Ki Cho2
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Background:
The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence, risk factors, and prognostic significance of level VI lymph node metastases from hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).
Methods:
A retrospective review of 68 previously untreated patients with hypopharyngeal SCC who underwent level VI node dissection was performed.
Results:
Level VI lymph node metastases occurred in 27.9% of patients. The occult metastasis rate of level VI node was 14.3%. Patients with level VI metastasis had significantly lower disease-specific (55.1% vs 26.3%) and overall survival rates (73.5% vs 31.6%). Level VI lymph node metastasis was significantly correlated with regional recurrence (83.7% vs 63.2%) and distant metastasis (67.3% vs 47.4%). Multivariate analysis revealed that pyriform sinus apex invasion (odds ratio [OR] = 5.106) was an independent factor for level VI nodal metastasis.
Conclusion:
Level VI lymph nodes should be removed in patients with pyriform sinus apex invasion, especially in those with advanced nodal disease. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E1969-E1973, 2016.
