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Prognostic significance of nodal ratio in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

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Abstract

The TNM classification is not specific for head and neck skin cancer and makes no allowance for disease extent. Studies have shown that the relative number of metastatic-to-examined lymph nodes, termed the Nodal ratio, is a reliable independent prognosticator in several types of cancer. The study was designed as a retrospective analysis in a university affiliated tertiary care center setting. The files of all patients (n = 71) with cutaneous head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and regional lymph node metastasis who attended a tertiary medical center between 1990 and 2008 were reviewed for clinical variables and outcome, and Nodal ratio was calculated. Data were analyzed for impact on survival. On multivariate analysis Nodal ratio and age were found to be significant predictors of overall survival. The N-ratio was the only significant predictor of disease-specific survival. Age, type of treatment (selective/modified neck dissection), pathologic N stage, and radiotherapy had no effect. The Nodal ratio is a potentially valuable prognostic index in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. The minimal number of nodes that need to be excised has to be determined.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, 49100, Petach Tikva, Israel

    Aviram Mizrachi, Tuvia Hadar, Naomi Rabinovics, Thomas Shpitzer, Dan Guttman, Raphael Feinmesser & Gideon Bachar

  2. Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Aviram Mizrachi, Tuvia Hadar, Naomi Rabinovics, Thomas Shpitzer, Dan Guttman, Raphael Feinmesser & Gideon Bachar

Authors
  1. Aviram Mizrachi
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  2. Tuvia Hadar
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  3. Naomi Rabinovics
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  4. Thomas Shpitzer
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  5. Dan Guttman
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  6. Raphael Feinmesser
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  7. Gideon Bachar
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Correspondence to Aviram Mizrachi.

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Mizrachi, A., Hadar, T., Rabinovics, N. et al. Prognostic significance of nodal ratio in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 270, 647–653 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-012-2050-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-012-2050-3

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