Factors influencing regional lymph node metastasis from laryngeal carcinoma

A series of 103 cases of laryngeal carcinoma subjected either to a unilateral or to a bilateral comprehensive neck dissection was reviewed with reference to risk factors influencing regional lymph node metastasis. The sensitivity of clinical examination was only 67.4%, while the specificity was 88.3%. Most metastases were in the upper and middle jugular chain of nodes (levels 2 and 3). Only patients with positive nodes at levels 2, 3, and/or 4 had histologically positive nodes at levels 1 or 5. Selected demographic, clinical, and pathologic variables were analyzed with respect to their potential predictive value regarding the risk of histologically proven neck node metastasis. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that tumor site and histologic grade were the most important predictors of lymph node metastasis. Considering only NO cases, the likelihood of occult metastasis was significantly affected exclusively by tumor site (higher risk for supraglottic lesions).