CYSTIC CHANGE IN LYMPH-NODES WITH METASTATIC SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA

A retrospective analysis was performed of the gross characteristics of aspirated material in 335 consecutive cases of metastatic squamous ce ll carcinoma in cervical/supraclavicular lymph nodes seen during a thr ee-year period. In 57 cases (17.01%), 1-2 mL of fluid was obtained. Mi croscopic examination of cytocentrifuge smears in all cases showed mal ignant squamous cells. Cystic change in lymph nodes harboring metastat ic squamous cell carcinoma was frequently associated with a tongue pri mary (21/58 cases, 36.2%) followed by an esophageal primary (4/16 case s, 25%). The frequency of cystic change varied from 9.1% to 21.5% with primaries in the oral cavity, nasopharynx, lung, uterine cervix and u nknown sites.