Risk factors for cervical lymph node recurrence in oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinoma treated with transoral surgery

Abstract

Transoral resection for pharyngeal carcinoma is less invasive than external incision and superior in terms of function preservation, complications and duration of treatment. However, from the point of view of tumor control, it is important to control not only the primary tumor but also recurrence in cervical lymph nodes. Cases were selected in consideration of the effects of double cancer, and pathological factors associated with cervical lymph node recurrence were examined. No pathological factors were found to be significantly associated with postoperative cervical lymph node recurrence in patients with oropharyngeal carcinoma. However, in patients with hypopharyngeal carcinoma, tumor thickness of 1.8mm or more was significantly associated with cervical lymph node recurrence. Lymph node recurrence is controlled by additional treatment in all cases, suggesting that prophylactic neck dissection could be avoidable.