Defining the Risk of Involvement for Each Neck Nodal Level in Patients With Early T-Stage Node-Positive Oropharyngeal Carcinoma

Giuseppe Sanguineti, Joseph Califano, Edward Stafford, Jana Fox, Wayne Koch, Ralph Tufano, Maria Pia Sormani, Arlene Forastiere

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

43 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the risk of ipsilateral subclinical neck nodal involvement for early T-stage/node-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Methods and Materials: Patients undergoing multilevel upfront neck dissection (ND) at Johns Hopkins Hospital within the last 10 years for early clinical T-stage (cT1-2) node-positive (cN+) oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma were identified. Pathologic involvement of Levels IB-V was determined. For each nodal level, the negative predictive value of imaging results was computed by using sensitivity/specificity data for computed tomography (CT). This was used to calculate 1 - negative predictive value, or the risk that a negative level on CT harbors subclinical disease. Results: One hundred three patients met the criteria. Radical ND was performed in 14.6%; modified radical ND, in 70.9%; and selective ND, in 14.6%. Pathologic positivity rates were 9.5%, 91.3%, 40.8%, 18.0%, and 3.3% for Levels IB-V, respectively. Risks of subclinical disease despite negative CT imaging results were calculated as 3.1%, 76.3%, 17.5%, 6.3%, and 1.0% for Levels IB-V, respectively. Conclusions: Levels IB and V are at very low (<5%) risk of involvement, even with ipsilateral to pathologically proven neck disease; this can guide radiation planning. Levels II and III should be included in high-risk volumes regardless of imaging results, and Level IV should be included within the lowest risk volume.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1356-1364
Number of pages9
JournalInternational Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics
Volume74
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1 2009

Keywords

  • Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT)
  • Oropharyngeal cancer
  • Subclinical risk

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiation
  • Oncology
  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
  • Cancer Research

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