Faculty Collaboration Database

Lymph node yield from neck dissection in HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer. Laryngoscope 2020 Mar;130(3):666-671

Date

06/18/2019

Pubmed ID

31206708

DOI

10.1002/lary.28102

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85067854046 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   11 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To determine the influence of nodal yield during neck dissection on survival in surgically managed human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal cancer.

METHODS: The National Cancer Database was used to identify patients with HPV-associated tumor T1 to T2 oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent upfront surgery with or without adjuvant therapy. Patients were stratified by lymph node yield (<26 vs. ≥26 nodes). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with overall survival. Models were stratified by pathologically positive node number.

RESULTS: There were 2,554 patients identified with previously untreated T1 to T2 oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent resection of the primary tumor and neck dissection between 2010 and 2015. Fifty-two percent had zero to one pathologically involved lymph node. Among all study patients, lymph node harvest of ≥26 was not associated with survival when adjusted for relevant covariates (hazard ratio [HR] 0.70, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.49-1.00). However, in patients with zero to one pathologically involved node, lymph node harvest of ≥26 was significantly associated with improved overall survival (HR 0.29, 95% CI 0.20-0.78). This survival benefit was lost in patients with two or more positive nodes (2-4 positive nodes: HR 0.89, 95% CI 0.52-1.51; 5 or more positive nodes: HR 1.01, 95% CI 0.47-2.20).

CONCLUSION: For patients with surgically managed early T-stage HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, lymph node yield was not associated with survival outcomes for patients with multiple positive lymph nodes. Those with a more limited burden of regional metastatic disease, however, may benefit harvest of at least 26 nodes during neck dissection.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 130:666-671, 2020.

Author List

Zenga J, Stadler M, Massey B, Campbell B, Shukla M, Awan M, Schultz CJ, Wong S, Jackson RS, Pipkorn P

Authors

Musaddiq J. Awan MD Assistant Professor in the Radiation Oncology department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Bruce H. Campbell MD Emeritus Professor in the Otolaryngology department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Becky Massey MD Associate Professor in the Otolaryngology department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Christopher J. Schultz MD Chair, Professor in the Radiation Oncology department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Monica E. Shukla MD Associate Professor in the Radiation Oncology department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Michael Stadler MD Associate Dean, Chief Medical Officer, Associate P in the Medical College Physicians Administration department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Stuart J. Wong MD Center Director, Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Joseph Zenga MD Assistant Professor in the Otolaryngology department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell
Databases, Factual
Female
Humans
Lymph Nodes
Lymphatic Metastasis
Male
Middle Aged
Neck Dissection
Neoplasm Staging
Oropharyngeal Neoplasms
Papillomaviridae
Papillomavirus Infections
Proportional Hazards Models
Survival Analysis
Young Adult