The importance of the B-mode ultrasound studies in patients with cancer ofthe upper aerodigestive tract and an NO lymph node stage

Background: The wait-and-see policy in patients with a NO neck stage is not common. Patients and Method: One hundred twenty-one patients with a pT1 or pT2 carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract and a NO neck stage in ultr asound studies underwent transoral laser microsurgery without neck dissecti on or radiation therapy. In these patients the probability of survival and local or regionals recurrence were analyzed in a flollow-up period of 18 to 36 months. Results: Thirty patients in whom cervical lymph nodes were dete cted in ultrasound studies, underwent a curative neck dissection procedure. In 8 of these 30 patients, lymph node metastases were histologically demon strated, and 6 patients showed a local recurrence. The probability of survi val was 1.0 and the probability of being free of local or regional recurren ce was between 0.95 and 0.6 depending on the tumor location. Conclusions: A wait-and-see policy will not necessarily alter the prognosis, which depend s on the location of the tumor. Ultrasound follow-up studies should be perf ormed at regular intervals.