Abstract
This study was conducted to elucidate a proper treatment regimen for patients with laryngeal cancer involving cervical lymph nodes. The clinicopathological data of 53 patients who underwent therapeutic surgery for laryngeal cancer for the first time (2005-2011) were retrospectively reviewed. Latent metastases occurred in 30% of patients with N0 supraglottic carcinoma, 6.7% of patients with N0 glottic carcinoma, and 20% of patients with contralateral N1, N2b supraglottic carcinoma. Histopathological examination of the surgical sites in all cases revealed that latent metastases mostly occurred in Level II and Level III. We conclude that elective neck dissection is indicated in cases of supraglottic cancer; moreover, the most appropriate areas for elective neck dissection are Level II and Level III on the affected side because these seem to be the most common sites of latent metastases.
