Analysis of recurrences in the primary tumor site in relation to the histologic involvement of the regional lymph nodes in patients with carcinoma of the head and neck
Basso Ricci, S.
Rays 10(1): 113-116
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0390-7740 PMID: 3843627 Document Number: 246308
From a case series of 937 patients with T1 and T2 carcinomas of the head and neck, with and without lymph node metastases, 87 (9.2%) cases of recurrences in the site of the primary tumor were collected. The primary tumor had been treated by surgery, by radiotherapy, or by combined radiosurgery. All the patients had undergone lymph node dissection to ascertain the histologic status of N. In the cases that presented with perilymph node metastases at the time of the dissection, recurrences were found at the site of the primary tumor in 34.7% (32 of 92), compared to 9.1% (30 of 327) of N+ cases without perilymph node metastases and 4.8% (25 of 518) of N- cases. The marked prevalence of recurrences at the primary tumor site in patients with perilymph node metastases had a good statistical significance (p < 0.04). Complementary radiation therapy should follow, after the presence of perilymph node metastases has been ascertained, any surgical treatment of the primary tumor. Instead, when the primary tumor has been subjected to radiotherapy with administration of radical doses, surgery should be performed as soon as possible at the least suspicion of a local relapse.