Lymph Node Metastases in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: The Association with Tumor Stage and Primary Tumor...

Background: Understanding lymph node involvement in head and neck cancers is crucial for developing effective treatment strategies and improving patient outcomes. Accurate identification of nodal metastases can enhance prognostic assessment, improve survival rates, and reduce the risk of recurrence. This study aimed to evaluate the association of lymph node metastases with primary tumor characteristics, with a particular focus on tumor stage and primary tumor location in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Methods: The study included 170 patients diagnosed with HNSCC at a single medical center between 2022 and 2025. Clinical and pathological assessments of the size and extent of primary tumors were performed according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer TNM classification, version 8. Results: The study cohort consisted of adult patients with a mean age of 61.9 years, of whom 40.6% were female. The tongue was the most common primary tumor site (54.7%), followed by the floor of the mouth (22.4%) and the jaw (8.8%). Clinical staging identified lymph node metastases (cN1 or higher) in 32.4% of patients, whereas pathological evaluation revealed nodal involvement in 38.9%. A statistically significant association was observed between tumor stage and the presence of lymph node metastases (p < 0.001). Additionally, the frequency of nodal metastases varied by anatomical site, with the highest rates observed in tumors of the floor of the mouth and the tongue. Conclusions: These findings suggest that both tumor stage and primary tumor location are associated with an increased risk of lymph node metastases. The results underscore the limitations of clinical staging in detecting nodal disease and highlight the prognostic significance of tumor stage and anatomical site in assessing metastatic risk.