[Clinical analysis of cervical lymph node metastasis of hypopharyngeal carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the pattern of cervical lymph node metastasis in hypopharyngeal carcinoma.

METHOD: Forty-five cases of hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULT: (1) The total rate of lymph node metastasis was 75.56%. 11.11% metastases for bilateral neck and 4.44% did unilateral neck in 10 bilateral neck dissection. The total distance metastasis rate out of lymph node were 79.41%. The rate of bilateral distance metastasis and unilateral distance metastasis were both 5.88% in 10 bilateral neck dissection. (2) 163 of 411 lymph nodes (39.66%) were positive. The percentage of positive lymph node were 0.61%, 49.08%, 25.77%, 21.47% and 3.07% in region I, II, III, IV and V respectively. The rates of lymph node metastasis were 3.57%, 62.02%, 37.17%, 42.17% and 8.62% in region I, II, III, NV and V respectively. (3) The statistical significant differences were found between region I + V and II + III and IV (P < 0.05), among II, III and IV (P < 0.05), between II and III + IV (P < 0.05), between II and III (P < 0.05), between II and IV (P < 0.05), among I, II, III, IV and II + III + IV (P < 0.05), among V, II, III, IV and II + III + IV (P < 0.05). There were not statistical significant differences in region between III and IV (P > 0.05), between I and V (P > 0.05). (4) There were not statistical significant differences in the rates of lymph node metastasis and capsule invasion between T1 + T2 and T3 + T4 (P > 0.05), among T1, T2, T3 and T4 (P > 0.05). (5) There were not statistical significant differences in the rates of lymph node metastasis and distance metastasis between pyriform sinus and out of it (P > 0.05). (6) There were not statistical significant differences in the rates of lymph node metastasis and distance metastasis between cervical esophagus invasion and not (P > 0.05). (7) There were not statistical significant differences in the rates of lymph node metastasis and distance metastasis among N1, N2, N3 (P > 0.05). (8) There were statistical significant differences in the rates of lymph node metastasis between clinical stage I + II + III and IV, between II and IV (P < 0.05). While there were not statistical significant differences in the rates of distance metastasis between III and IV (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The lymph node metastasis was mainly in the region II, III and IV, especially in the region II. T stage, primary site and cervical esophagus invasion were not related to neck lymph node metastasis and distance metastasis. N stage was not related to distance metastasis. Clinical stage IV had a higher lymph node metastasis rate.