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The prognostic value of lymphatic metastatic size in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

  • Head and Neck
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European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Lymphatic metastatic size was proved to predict prognosis in different types of carcinomas, except in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) located in hypopharynx, oropharynx and supraglottic region et al. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prognostic value of lymphatic metastatic size in HNSCC, which may guide clinical decision-making in practice.

Methods

From 2008 to 2022, 171 patients, who were diagnosed as HNSCC in our center, were included. The demographic data, clinicopathological characteristics and lymphatic metastatic size were recorded and analyzed using the Kaplan–Meier method and Cox regression analysis.

Results

Among 171 patients, 107 cases were hypopharyngeal cancer, 38 cases supraglottic cancer and 26 cases oropharyngeal cancer. The median of lymphatic metastatic size was 8 mm (range 0–46). According to lymphatic metastatic size, the patients were assigned to three subgroups: Group I (0 mm), Group II ( ≤ 10 mm) and Group III (> 10 mm). Kaplan–Meier analysis with log rank test revealed that Group I and Group II had similar locoregional control rate, distant metastasis free probability, disease-free survival and overall survival (all p > 0.05), whereas Group III had significant worse prognosis. Adjusted for demographic and other clinicopathological characteristics, lymphatic metastatic size was an independent predictor of disease-free survival and overall survival in HNSCC.

Conclusions

Lymphatic metastatic size was an independently prognostic factor in HNSCC, which may assist in postoperative adjuvant treatment decisions.

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Data availability

The datasets used during the current study are available in Mendeley Data, V2, https://doi.org/10.17632/7pxm963y3t.2

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 82101238) and Guangzhou science and technology project (No. 202201011316).

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Author notes

  1. Wenqian Xie, Peiliang Lin, and Zhijuan Li have contributed equally to this work and are considered to be co-first authors.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, 33, Yingfeng Road, Guangzhou, 510289, Guangdong, China

    Wenqian Xie, Peiliang Lin, Zhijuan Li, Huan Wan, Faya Liang, Jianming Fan, Lanlan Deng & Xiaoming Huang

  2. Department of Otolaryngology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, 33, Yingfeng Road, Guangzhou, 510289, Guangdong, China

    Wenqian Xie, Peiliang Lin, Faya Liang, Jianming Fan, Lanlan Deng & Xiaoming Huang

  3. Pathology Department, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, 33, Yingfeng Road, Guangzhou, 510289, Guangdong, China

    Zhijuan Li

  4. Cellular and Molecular Diagnostics Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, 33, Yingfeng Road, Guangzhou, 510289, Guangdong, China

    Huan Wan

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  1. Wenqian Xie
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Correspondence to Xiaoming Huang.

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The study was carried out with approval of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Sun Yat-sen Memorial hospital (approval No. SYSKY-2022-449-01).

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Xie, W., Lin, P., Li, Z. et al. The prognostic value of lymphatic metastatic size in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 281, 387–395 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-023-08199-z

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