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The significance of nodal disease in head and neck mucosal squamous cell carcinoma

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 March 2025

Robert Smee ,
Janet Williams Open the ORCID record for Janet Williams [Opens in a new window]  and
Belinda Vangelov
Robert Smee
Affiliation:
Department of Radiation Oncology, The Nelune Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, NSW, Australia Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, NSW, Australia School of Clinical Medicine (Randwick Campus), Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Randwick, NSW, Australia Department of Radiation Oncology, Tamworth Base Hospital, Tamworth, NSW, Australia
Janet Williams*
Affiliation:
Department of Radiation Oncology, The Nelune Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, NSW, Australia School of Clinical Medicine (Randwick Campus), Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Randwick, NSW, Australia
Belinda Vangelov
Affiliation:
Department of Radiation Oncology, The Nelune Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, NSW, Australia
*
Corresponding author: Janet Williams; Email: Janet.Williams@health.nsw.gov.au
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Abstract

Objectives

The presence of nodal disease at presentation of a head and neck mucosal-based squamous cell carcinoma has a significant impact upon outcomes.

Methods

This is a retrospective, ethics-approved study in which patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx, oropharynx, hypopharynx and oral cavity were reviewed and compared with respect to nodal disease (N0 vs N1–N2 vs N3). Patient, disease and treatment parameters were evaluated with ultimate local control, regional control, cancer-specific survival and overall survival investigated.

Results

In the cohort of 1265 patients, 764 presented with nodal disease (N3 = 60). The majority of the N3 group had oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma (52%) and experienced worse ultimate local control (63%; p < 0.001), regional control (67%; p < 0.001) and both squamous cell carcinoma and overall survival (log rank p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Patients presenting with N3 nodal disease had poor regional control, a lower cancer-specific survival and a worse overall survival compared to patients with lesser to no nodal disease.

Keywords

head and neck neoplasmslymph nodesradiotherapysquamous cell carcinomassurvival

Information

Type
Main Article
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , First View , pp. 1 - 6
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of J.L.O. (1984) LIMITED.

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Footnotes

Robert I Smee takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

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