The Prognostic Importance of Radiologic Extranodal Extension in Hypopharyngeal Carcinoma

Extranodal extension (ENE) had been included in the latest cancer staging system in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HypoSCC). However, the impact of ENE on HypoSCC survival and treatment outcomes are still unclear.

Records from all HypoSCC patients diagnosed at the National Taiwan University Hospital from January 2007 to December 2018 were reviewed. All patients were divided into two groups, with or without ENE. Clinical features, pathological factors, and survival rates between the two groups were reviewed.

We analyzed data from 388 HypoSCC patients, 125 (32.22%) with and 263 (67.78%) without ENE. The 5-year overall survival of the HypoSCC patients with radiological ENE, pathological ENE, and without ENE were 22.9%, 40.3%, and 55.5%. From the multivariate analysis, primary T3/T4 classification (p = 0.001) and radiological ENE (p < 0.001) were independent risk factors for disease-free and overall survival (OS). Finally, upfront neck dissection may significantly benefit disease-free survival (DFS) and neck nodal control in ENE+ (p = 0.002 and p = 0.007, respectively) or ENE- patients (p = 0.003 and p = 0.02, respectively).

More than one-third of HypoSCC patients have ENE, with significantly lower OS and DFS. The upfront neck dissection could provide better DFS and neck nodal control.