Extracapsular spread and desmoplastic pattern in neck lymph nodes: Two prognostic factors of laryngeal cancer

The influence of extracapsular spread (ECS) and a desmoplastic pattern (DP) of metastatic cervical lymph nodes in patients with laryngeal cancer is pr esented. The study includes 128 patients surgically treated between 1984 an d 1992 for squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx with pathologically proven lymph node metastasis. The results were studied from 2 major standpoints: survival and recurrence. The 3-year survival rates were as follows: patient s without ECS 73.4%, and with ECS 28.9% (p <.001); patients without a DP 76 .9%,and with a DP 43.3% (p <.03). Also, the 3-year recurrence rates in the neck showed significant differences: patients without ECS 10.7%, and with E CS 49.6% (p <.001); patients without a DP 10%, and with a DP 31.6% (p =.114 2). Postoperative radiotherapy did not appear to improve the outcome.