Background and Objectives: Squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx is a well known tumor with frequent nodal metastases, but reports on detailed prevalence of nodal metastasis by primary subunits and neck level are lacking. Patients and
Methods:
To
ascertain the prevalence of neck node metastasis by neck level, a retrospective review was undertaken of 63 previously untreated patients from 1992 to 2000, with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx. All but one patients had
undergone
neck
dissection; elective dissection in cN0 neck(n=19), and therapeutic dissection in cN+ neck(n=44). Results: Overall incidence of neck metastases was 76.2%. False negative and false positive rate were 31.6% and 4.5% respectively. More than 80% of
patients
with base of tongue and tonsillar carcinoma already had neck metastases at the time of treatment. Neck metastases was predominantly revealed in levels II, III, and IV. Metastases at level I and V was exclusively accompanied with metastases to
other
levels. Conclusions: This study found that oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma frequently metastasized to the neck. Elective treatments are needed at the ipsilateral neck levels II, III, and IV, but comprehensive neck dissection for cases of
the
cN+
neck.
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