CERVICAL LYMPH-NODE METASTATIC PATTERNS OF SQUAMOUS CARCINOMAS IN THEUPPER AERODIGESTIVE TRACT

The radical neck dissection specimens of 384 ethnically Chinese patien ts with different primary squamous carcinomas in the head and neck reg ion were studied. Over 50 per cent of the specimens showed metastatic disease at one level in the neck. For oral cavity carcinoma, the level s of metastasis frequently involved were I, II and III while for carci noma of the oropharynx, hypopharynx and larynx, the levels were II, II I and IV. Extracapsular spread was present in 112/384 of patients (29 per cent) and this increased with advancing N-stages. Based on these f indings, different selective neck dissections could be used for patien ts harbouring different primary head and neck carcinomas with limited neck disease.