Positive Delphian lymph node: clinical significance in laryngeal cancer

The significance of metastatic cancer in the Delphian lymph node in patients with laryngeal carcinoma has not been thoroughly discussed. Between 1960 and 1985, we identified 20 cases of histologically proven metastasis to the Delphian node. In 12 of these patients with glottic cancer (T1-T3), the neck was clinically negative but a positive Delphian node was discovered at partial or total laryngectomy; in 6 patients, ipsilateral neck metastasis developed. Eleven of the 20 patients have died from their laryngeal cancer. The frequency of neck metastasis or death, or both, from cancer is unusually high in patients with a positive Delphian node.