Tumor markers and lymphatic metastasis in head and neck cancer patients.

OBJECTIVE This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between the lymph node status and tumor marker status in patients with histologically confirmed head and neck cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS 134 patients were included in this retrospective analysis. 33/134 were classified as NO and 101/134 as N+. The wall of the lymph node was ruptured by the metastasis in 70/134 patients (poor prognosis). We analyzed the sensitivity of squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC), carcinoembryotic antigen (CEA) and CYFRA 21-1 in the total population and in the subgroups. RESULTS We observed elevated SCC levels in 21.6%, CEA levels in 23.9% and CYFRA 21-1 levels in 50.0% of all patients. If there was no lymphatic metastasis, the SCC sensitivity was 15.1%, the CEA sensitivity was 21.2% and the CYFRA 21-1 sensitivity was 36.4%. Lymph node-positive disease had increased SCC levels in 23.8% of the patients, increased CEA levels in 24.8% and increased CYFRA 21-1 levels in 54.5%. The subgroup of patients with ruptured lymph nodes had the following sensitivities: SCC 18.6% CEA 8.6%, and CYFRA 21-1 50.0%. CONCLUSION No significant relationship between the lymph node metastasis and the elevation of tumor markers in patients with advanced head and neck cancer was found.