[The histological study of adenopathies in laryngeal cancer with supraglottic localization]

A histopathologic study was made to establish the prognostic importance of lymph node involvement in operable supraglottic laryngeal carcinoma. A total of 51 cancer patients underwent supraglottic horizontal laryngectomy with bilateral cervical dissection. The number of adenopathies the presence of capsule rupture and type of corresponding infiltration were significantly related to survival (p < 0.01). Prognosis was poorer in patients with more than three metastatic adenopathies and/or capsule rupture of one or more of them. Patient survival in cases with capsule rupture affecting one or more nodes was 36%, versus 33% among patients with three or more metastatic nodes. It is concluded that (a) the poor survival rate observed among these patients points to the need for more aggressive treatment protocols; and (b) cervical dissection should be performed systematically not only for therapeutic purposes but also to improve patient prognosis.