Prevalence and distribution of cervical lymph node metastases in HPV-positive and HPV-negative oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Objective In oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OP-SCC), the prevalence and distribution of clinical pathological lymph node metastasis in neck have been extensively reported. It served as basis for consensus recommendations on selection levels requiring a treatment. The objective study is to compare metastases HPV+ HPV− OP-SCC from large series patients with who underwent cervical lymph-node dissection (LND) part their Methods concentrated treated by various procedures January 2014 December 2018 3 French institutions. Patients prior head cancer, surgery, use induction chemotherapy, or unknown primary were excluded. HPV-status was assessed p16 immunohistochemistry. For each patient, nodal status, well positive nodes level (from Ia V) Results Two-hundred sixty-three included (126 p16-negative (p16−), 137 p16-positive (p16+). rate (cN+) reached 54% 88.3% p16− p16+ groups, respectively (p < 0.001); corresponding (pN+) 61.9% 91.2%, 0.001). Regarding distribution, patients, more observed ipsilateral IV = 0.003), less contralateral III 0.003 p 0.045, respectively). pathologic neck, cN0 no significant difference between 0.33 1); cN+ distributed Ib, II, III, V without differences patients. mainly IV, whereas only II 0.03). Conclusion This demonstrated higher pN+ but meaningful drainage OP-SCC. indicates that should be made regarding extend