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Multicentric Prospective Study on the Prevalence of Sublevel IIB Metastases in Head and Neck Cancer

Multicentric Prospective Study on the Prevalence of Sublevel IIB Metastases in Head and Neck Cancer Abstract Objective To evaluate the prevalence of sublevel IIB lymph node (LN) metastases for head and neck primary tumors in a large cohort of patients. Design Prospective study. Setting One referral university hospital and 2 national institutes of oncology. Patients Between 2003 and 2005, 297 patients (male to female ratio, 3.5:1; mean age, 58.8 years [range, 18-89 years]) affected by head and neck cancer were treated by surgery on the primary tumor and/or the neck. Primary site distribution included the following: oral cavity in 111 patients, larynx in 92, oropharynx in 32, thyroid gland in 22, skin of the lateral face or scalp in 16, hypopharynx in 11, unknown primary in 7, and parotid gland in 6. Sublevel IIB was evaluated for the number of LNs and pathologic N (pN) status. Interventions All patients underwent unilateral or bilateral neck dissection (ND) with therapeutic or elective intent according to the primary site and clinical T (cT) and clinical N (cN) status. Sublevel IIB was selectively dissected at the beginning of ND, labeled, and processed independently. Main Outcome Measures The distribution of metastases among the different levels was analyzed. The influence of several factors (institution in which the surgical procedure was performed, sex of the patient, site of primary, histotype, pathologic T [pT] status, cN status, lower level involved in the neck together with sublevel IIB, association with sublevel IIA metastasis, ipsilateral number of involved levels, and previous surgical treatment limited on the primary site) on the prevalence of sublevel IIB metastasis was statistically evaluated by the Pearson χ² test or Fisher exact test. Results A total of 443 NDs were performed (unilateral in 151 patients and bilateral in 146). Among the patients, the tumors were staged cN0/pN0 in 27%, cN+/pN+ in 50%, cN+/pN0 in 7%, and cN0/pN+ in 16%. The mean number of LNs collected at sublevel IIB was 5.4 (range, 0-24). The overall prevalence of sublevel IIB metastases was 5.6% (26 neck sides). Tumor histologic type in the sublevel IIB+ population was squamous cell carcinoma in 80%, papillary carcinoma in 8%, melanoma in 8%, and adenocarcinoma in 4%. The χ² test showed a significantly higher risk for LN metastases at sublevel IIB in patients affected by parotid gland primary tumors (33%), tumors of the skin or scalp (25%), unknown primary tumors (14%), and cancers of the oral cavity (10%) (P = .02) and in those clinically staged as cN+ (P < .001). Conclusions Sublevel IIB dissection is strongly recommended for all patients with cN+ tumors and in those affected by tumor of the parotid gland, skin, and scalp scheduled for elective ND. Patients affected by laryngeal cancer scheduled for elective ND can be considered the ideal candidates for preservation of sublevel IIB. However, whether this policy could be associated with a better functional outcome remains to be demonstrated by prospective studies on a large series of patients. In 1905 and 1906, George Crile1,2 published 2 milestone articles emphasizing the crucial role of cervical lymph node (LN) metastasis in the natural history and prognosis of head and neck tumors. He asserted that a “block dissection” of all lymphatic structures from level I to V encompassing the sternocleidomastoid muscle, the internal jugular vein, and the spinal accessory nerve had to be systematically performed to improve the survival rate for patients with clinical N (cN)+ tumors and those with cN0 tumors.1,2 The idea that neck dissection (ND) may be modulated in relation to specific clinical settings was subsequently developed by Hayes Martin, who introduced the concept of partial ND.3 Over the next decades, functional (or modified radical)4,5 and selective NDs6 were introduced with the intent to combine the oncologic control of disease with improved functional results. Recently, technical advances in preoperative neck evaluation by ultrasound sonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging, a better understanding of metastatic spread along the different levels and sublevels, and the observation of persistent shoulder functional impairment even after spinal accessory nerve–sparing procedures, led to the suggestion of performing a highly selective ND in specific clinical settings, with preservation of submuscular recess fat pad referred to as sublevel IIB.7-18 We report herein the results of the largest prospective study, to our knowledge, on patients with head and neck cancer scheduled for sublevel IIB fat pad dissection prior to completion of the surgical procedure on the neck, with the purpose of evaluating the prevalence of metastasis at this site in elective as well as in therapeutic NDs. Methods Between January 2003 and December 2005, 297 consecutive patients (male to female ratio, 3.5:1; mean age, 59 years [range, 18-89 years]) affected by head and neck cancer were treated by surgery on the primary site and/or the neck in 3 different Italian centers: the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at the University of Brescia in Brescia, the Head and Neck Department at the European Institute of Oncology in Milan, and the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at the Regina Elena Institute of Oncology in Rome. The inclusion criteria for the study were no previous surgery on the lateral compartment of the neck for either benign or malignant lesions, no previous radiation therapy or induction chemotherapy for the malignant neoplasm considered, no previous surgical and/or radiation treatment for other head and neck primary tumors, and the technical feasibility of isolation and dissection of sublevel IIB fat pat from the remainder of the ND (ie, patients with massive metastatic localization involving level II were excluded). All primary tumors and neck metastases were staged according to the sixth edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer TNM staging system.19 In general, bilateral ND was performed in all cases of medullary carcinoma, in papillary carcinomas with evidence of bilateral nodal disease, and in those squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) of the upper aerodigestive tract crossing the midline or with preoperative detection of contralateral suspicious LNs. The extent of ND was modulated according to the site of the primary and clinical neck status. Clinical staging of the neck was accomplished by physical examination, combined with ultrasound sonography, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance imaging. Neck dissections were classified according to the latest ND classification update.20 The sublevel IIB fat pad was isolated and dissected at the beginning of the surgical procedure, according to the anatomic landmarks provided in the latest ND classification update20: starting from the level of the skull base and dissecting posterior and lateral to the vertical plane defined by the spinal accessory nerve back to the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. The muscular fascia of the levator scapulae and splenius defined the deep plane of dissection. The LNs isolated over and behind the spinal accessory nerve were always included in sublevel IIB. Once dissected, the fat pad was removed before completing the remainder of the ND, labeled, and processed separately for histopathologic permanent section analysis. This procedure was applied with the specific intent to minimize the bias deriving from separating sublevel IIB from the entire ND specimen without precise anatomic markers. The ND was subsequently completed and the specimen divided in the different levels by the surgeon to improve the accuracy in localization of metastatic disease. All levels were histopathologically evaluated in standard fashion by assessing the overall number of LNs, the number of metastatic LNs, and the presence of extracapsular spread. As agreed by the different pathologists involved in the study, serial sections of the specimen were obtained to identify the lymphatic tissue. The LNs were harvested, and 1 or 2 slices (in relation to LN size) were obtained at the level of the longest axis of each isolated node and stained with hematoxylin-eosin. Statistical analysis was performed using a commercially available computer software package (SPSS for Windows version 10.0.1; SPSS Inc, Chicago, Illinois). The influence of different factors (institution in which the surgical procedure was performed, sex of the patient, site of primary, histotype, pathologic T [pT] status, cN status, lower level involved in the neck together with sublevel IIB, association with sublevel IIA metastasis, ipsilateral number of involved levels, and previous treatment) on the prevalence of sublevel IIB metastasis was statistically evaluated by cross-tabulation using the Pearson χ² test or Fisher exact test when at least 1 cell was expected to count less than 5. P<.05 was considered significant. Results A wide spectrum of primary sites and histologic types with different propensity to lymphatic spread were included. The primary site distribution included the following: oral cavity in 111 patients (38%), larynx in 92 (31%), oropharynx in 32 (11%), thyroid gland in 22 (8%), skin of the lateral face or scalp in 16 (5%), hypopharynx in 11 (4%), unknown primary in 7 (2%), and parotid gland in 6 (2%). The histologic type of the lesions was SCC in 90% (n = 267), papillary carcinoma in 5% (n = 15), medullary carcinoma in 2% (n = 7), and adenocarcinoma of the parotid gland and melanoma of the skin of the lateral face and scalp in 1.5% (n = 4) each. A total of 443 NDs (unilateral in 151 patients and bilateral in 146) were performed in 166 patients with a clinically positive neck and in 131 for an elective purpose. Surgery on the neck included 11 radical NDs from level I to V including the internal jugular vein, sternocleidomastoid muscle, and spinal accessory nerve; 127 modified radical NDs from level I to V preserving 1, 2, or 3 of the aforementioned nonlymphatic structures; and 305 different selective NDs. Taking into account the entire population, the tumors were staged cN0/pathologic N (pN)0 in 27% (true negatives), cN+/pN+ in 50% (true positive), cN+/pN0 in 7% (false positive), and cN0/pN+ in 16% (occult metastasis). These data are summarized in relation to the site of the primary tumor in Table 1. The mean number of LNs isolated at sublevel IIB was 5.4 (range, 0-24). The overall prevalence of sublevel IIB metastases was 8.4% and 5.8% when patients (25 of 297) or neck sides (26 of 443) were considered, respectively (Table 2). The oral cavity was the site of primary tumor in 11 cases (10 cN+ and 1 cN0), skin of the lateral face and scalp in 4 (4 cN+), oropharynx in 2 (1 cN+ and 1 cN0), larynx in 2 (1 cN+ and 1 cN0), parotid gland in 2 (2 cN+), thyroid gland in 2 (2 cN+), hypopharynx in 1 (1 cN+), and unknown primary in 1 (1 cN+). Only 1 case of bilateral involvement of sublevel IIB was observed (see patient 22 in Table 2). Adjunctive details concerning the different levels involved in association with sublevel IIB are listed in Table 2. The histologic type in the sublevel IIB+ population was SCC in 80% of patients, papillary carcinoma in 8%, melanoma in 8%, and adenocarcinoma in 4%. All 3 cases (1% of the patient population and 0.7% of the dissected neck sides) that were cN0/pN+ at sublevel IIB (2 pN1 and 1 pN2b) had a locally advanced SCC of the upper aerodigestive tract (see patients 6, 17, and 19 in Table 2). In 2 cases, metastasis exclusively involved 1 LN at sublevel IIB. The results of the statistical analysis evaluating the impact of several clinical factors on sublevel IIB LN involvement are reported in Table 3. A higher risk for metastasis at sublevel IIB was detected in the parotid gland, skin of the lateral face and scalp, and unknown primary tumors (P = .02). The oral cavity was the primary site among those of the upper aerodigestive tract, with the highest prevalence of metastasis at this sublevel (10%); by contrast, the lowest prevalence (2%) was observed in laryngeal cancers. A comparison between SCC and non-SCC histologic type did not reach statistical significance (P = .11). Conversely, when all different histotypes (SCC, adenocarcinoma, melanoma, medullary, and papillary carcinoma) were considered, the results paralleled those obtained by analysis of primary sites (P = .02). This probably reflects the preference of the different histologic types for specific sites. Moreover, the possibility to find a metastatic localization at sublevel IIB in a patient without clinical evidence of LN metastasis (cN0) was significantly lower than the probability of the same finding in patients staged as cN+ (P < .001). When considering synchronous metastatic involvement of sublevel IIA and IIB, in our series, this finding was observed in 65% (17 of 26) NDs and 63% (10 of 16) NDs of all head and neck primary tumors and SCCs of the upper aerodigestive tract, respectively, although the finding was nonsignificant (P = .08). Comment The pN status is generally considered the most important prognostic factor in patients with head and neck cancer and, in fact, the presence of nodal metastasis is estimated to decrease determinate survival by about 50%.21,22 Nevertheless, ND is a surgical procedure with remarkable sequelae that can influence the residual quality of life. Shoulder disability is one of the most important morbidities traditionally associated with radical ND characterized by shoulder drop, scapular flaring, pain, and weakness. A large spectrum of different procedures is presently available for treatment of LN metastasis, but the anatomic preservation of the spinal accessory nerve is not always associated with normal shoulder function. In fact, only 70% to 75% of patients who underwent to nerve-sparing dissections did not report any shoulder disability.23,24 The clearance of the submuscular recess inevitably causes mechanical traction and ischemic trauma on the cranial portion of the spinal accessory nerve running from the skull base to its entrance into the sternocleidomastoid muscle. In fact, the vascular supply to the nerve originates from the surrounding fat tissue with a segmental pathway, with unavoidable ischemic insult when dissection of both sublevels IIA and IIB is performed. The analysis of our data and review of the literature on the prevalence of sublevel IIB metastasis for head and neck SCC and non-SCCs (Table 4) suggests that for a specific subset of patients dissection of sublevel IIB could be reasonably avoided with the intent of minimizing functional impairment of the shoulder. Kraus et al7 prospectively evaluated the prevalence of occult nodal metastasis in selective ND specimens (levels I-III) for oral and oropharyngeal primary tumors, with only 1 case (2.1%) observed in a patient affected by a cT3N0 tonsil cancer who had concomitant occult disease at both sublevels IIA and IIB. Two years later, Talmi et al8 studied a series of patients with different head and neck primary tumors and attempted to define risk factors for metastasis involving LNs of the submuscular recess. Based on the observation of metastasis at this level in only 4 patients with cN2-cN3 tumors (3.9%), they concluded that dissection of this lymphatic station could be avoided in elective NDs. In 2 of the 4 cases, the oral cavity was the site of the primary tumor. Chone et al9 reported SCC metastatic spread to sublevel IIB in 6.5% of NDs, which was always in conjunction with other lymphatic localizations, with 1 case only of occult disease. They concluded that dissection of the “apex” is especially warranted in patients with cN+ tumors and pharyngeal lesions. The limitations of that study were its retrospective nature and the tagging of the sublevel IIB made on the ND specimen. Silverman et al,12 considering SCC of all head and neck sites, found metastatic localization at sublevel IIB in 4 NDs (4.4%), but only 1 of these cases (1.6%) was clinically staged as N0 and therefore affected by occult metastasis. They reported a higher prevalence of sublevel IIB metastasis in patients with advanced pN status (P = .003) and in those with metastatic disease involving sublevel IIA (P = .001). They concluded that sublevel IIB fat pad dissection could be avoided during elective NDs or for limited nodal disease not involving sublevel IIA. In one of the most extensive series reported in the literature, Corlette et al15 demonstrated that the prevalence of sublevel IIB metastasis may increase as high as 18.7% because of the inclusion of the parotid gland and skin of the lateral face and the scalp among the primary sites considered, with overall values of 50% for both sites. In contrast, no cases of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal primary tumors with sublevel IIB metastatic spread were reported. In 2001, Talmi and coworkers10 expanded their experience on the issue, focusing on non-SCC of the head and neck region. The sites analyzed are listed in Table 4, and the prevalence of sublevel IIB metastasis was 16%. Most of the cases were cN+ (78%), and at least 1 other level was always involved in tumor spread. In the absence of statistical analysis, it was concluded that in the case of cN+ primary tumors of the parotid and thyroid glands, with a prevalence of submuscular recess metastatic spread of 43% and 11%, respectively, sublevel IIB dissection should be strongly advocated. This concept was also confirmed by our data: in fact, 91% of thyroid gland and 50% of parotid gland primary tumors were cN+, with a prevalence of sublevel IIB metastasis of 33.3% and 8.7%, respectively. Whenever primary tumors arising from the parotid gland, the skin of the lateral face, and the scalp were included in the analysis, the prevalence of submuscular recess metastatic spread increased, not only because of the high percentage of cN+ cases10,15 but also because, independently of histologic type, this LN echelon is one of the first involved by tumor spread from these specific sites.20 Several reports have specifically focused on laryngeal primary tumors, considering both elective and therapeutic settings.11,13,17,18 Exclusive sublevel IIB metastatic localization was detected in 1 specimen (2%) from 51 elective NDs after molecular analysis by nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction for cytokeratin 19 and cytokeratin 20.17 In contrast, in a larger series of laryngeal primary tumors, a 6.4% prevalence of sublevel IIB involvement was detected, 1% for patients scheduled for elective NDs and 30% for those scheduled for therapeutic NDs, with no cases of exclusive sublevel IIB localization.18 These data provide a high degree of evidence for the negligible involvement of submuscular recess LNs in patients scheduled for elective ND for laryngeal primary tumors. In our series, considering the 50 patients affected by cN0 laryngeal cancer, only a single case (2%) of exclusive sublevel IIB metastatic localization was observed (patient 19 in Table 2). There are only 2 studies that have focused on SCC of the oral cavity: in both reports, only elective NDs were evaluated with a relatively high frequency of sublevel IIB occult localization (5.4% and 6.7%, respectively).14,16 Our experience also indicates that the oral cavity has the highest overall prevalence of sublevel IIB metastasis (10%) among SCCs arising from the upper aerodigestive tract (Table 3), but with a lower prevalence in the cN0 setting (2%) compared with those reported in the literature. In conclusion, our multicentric prospective study analyzed a wide range of head and neck cancers with squamous and nonsquamous histologic type, involving most primary sites (except paranasal sinuses and nasopharynx), with the intent to provide information on sublevel IIB metastatic involvement. The data collected reinforce the concept already reported in the literature that sublevel IIB dissection is strongly recommended for all patients with cN+ tumors and in those with a tumor of the parotid gland, skin of the lateral face, and scalp scheduled for elective ND. A major limitation in our study is the small number of patients considered for some specific sites, such as the hypopharynx and parotid gland, which can be considered a source of bias for statistical analysis. The reasons for this distribution can be identified in our management policy, which mainly includes chemoradiation for the primary treatment of hypopharyngeal cancer and rarely requires ND for parotid primary tumors. Furthermore, patients with cN0 laryngeal primary tumors scheduled for elective ND appeared to be the ideal population for further studies aimed at prospective assessment of whether preservation of sublevel IIB is associated with an improvement in shoulder function using clinical and electromyographic evaluations. Data from the first preliminary report concerning this issue did not provide encouraging results, with no functional shoulder improvement and a similar axonal deterioration in patients who did not undergo sublevel IIB dissection.25 However, the small number of patients (n = 10) and the early timing of postoperative control (third postoperative month) suggest that further investigations on a large cohort of patients with adequate timing for postoperative evaluation are required. Moreover, additional measures could be adopted to reduce shoulder disability, such as meticulous preservation, when possible, of cervical branches (C2-C4) during ND and a systematic postoperative physical therapy. Back to top Article Information Correspondence: Andrea Bolzoni Villaret, MD, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Brescia, Piazza Spedali Civili 1, 25123 Brescia, Italy (dr.bolton@libero.it). Submitted for Publication: August 7, 2006; final revision received December 19, 2006; accepted April 6, 2007. Author Contributions: Dr Bolzoni Villaret had full access to all the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. Study concept and design: Bolzoni Villaret, Piazza, Peretti, Chiesa, and Nicolai. Acquisition of data: Bolzoni Villaret, Calabrese, Ansarin, Pellini, and Spriano. Analysis and interpretation of data: Piazza. Drafting of the manuscript: Bolzoni Villaret and Peretti. Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: Piazza, Calabrese, Ansarin, Chiesa, Pellini, Spriano, and Nicolai. Administrative, technical, and material support: Ansarin, Chiesa, Pellini, Spriano, and Nicolai. Study supervision: Bolzoni Villaret, Piazza, Peretti, Calabrese, Chiesa, Spriano, and Nicolai. Financial Disclosure: None reported. Previous Presentation: This study was presented at the Annual Meeting and Research Workshop on the Biology, Prevention, and Treatment of Head and Neck Cancer; August 17-20, 2006; Chicago, Illinois. References 1. Crile GW On the surgical treatment of cancer of the head and neck: with a summary of one hundred and twenty-one operations performed upon one hundred and five patients. Trans South Surg Gynecol Assoc 1905;18108- 127Google Scholar 2. Crile GW Excision of cancer of the head and neck—with special reference to the plan of dissection based on one hundred and thirty-two operations. JAMA 1906;471780- 1786Google ScholarCrossref 3. Martin HEDel Valle BEhrlich H et al. Neck dissection. Cancer 1951;4 (3) 441- 499PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 4. Suarez O El problema de las metastasis linfaticas y alejadas del cancer de laringe e hipofaringe. Rev Otorrinolaringol 1963;2383- 99Google Scholar 5. Bocca E Supraglottic laryngectomy and functional neck dissection. J Laryngol Otol 1966;80 (8) 831- 836PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 6. Shah JP Patterns of cervical lymph node metastasis from squamous cell carcinomas of the upper aerodigestive tract. Am J Surg 1990;160 (4) 405- 409PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 7. Kraus DHRosemberg DBDavidson BJ et al. Supraspinal accessory lymph node metastases in suprahomohyoid neck dissection. Am J Surg 1996;172 (6) 646- 649PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 8. Talmi YPHoffman HTHorowitz Z et al. Patterns of metastases to the upper jugular lymph nodes (the “submuscular recess”). Head Neck 1998;20 (8) 682- 686PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 9. Chone CTCrespo ANRezende ASCarvalho DSAltemani A Neck lymph node metastases to the posterior triangle apex: evaluation of clinical and histopathological risk factors. Head Neck 2000;22 (6) 564- 571PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 10. Talmi YPHorowitz ZWolf M et al. Upper jugular lymph nodes (submuscular recess) in non-squamous-cell cancer of the head and neck: surgical considerations. J Laryngol Otol 2001;115 (10) 808- 811PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 11. Koybasioğlu AUslu SYilmaz MInal EIleri FAsal K Lymphatic metastasis to the supraretrospinal recess in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2002;111 (1) 96- 99PubMedGoogle Scholar 12. Silverman DAEl-Hajj MStrome SEsclamado RM Prevalence of nodal metastases in the submuscular recess (level IIb) during selective neck dissection. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2003;129 (7) 724- 728PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 13. Coskun HHErisen LBasut O Selective neck dissection for clinically N0 neck in laryngeal cancer: is dissection of level IIb necessary? Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2004;131 (5) 655- 659PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 14. Lim YCSong MHKim SCKim KMChoi EC Preserving level IIb lymph nodes in elective supraomohyoid neck dissection for oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2004;130 (9) 1088- 1091PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 15. Corlette THCole IEAlbsoul NAyyash M Neck dissection of level IIb: is it really necessary? Laryngoscope 2005;115 (9) 1624- 1626PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 16. Elsheikh MNMahfouz MEElsheikh E Level IIb lymph nodes metastasis in elective supraomohyoid neck dissection for oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma: a molecular-based study. Laryngoscope 2005;115 (9) 1636- 1640PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 17. Elsheikh MNMahfouz MESalim EIElsheikh EA Molecular assessment of neck dissections supports preserving level IIB lymph nodes in selective neck dissection for laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma with a clinically negative neck. ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec 2006;68 (3) 177- 184PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 18. Lim YCLee JSKoo BSChoi EC Level IIb lymph node metastasis in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Laryngoscope 2006;116 (2) 268- 272PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 19. Greene FLPage DLFleming ID et al AJCC Cancer Staging Manual. 6th ed. New York, NY: Springer; 2002 20. Robbins KTClayman GLevine PA et al. American Head and Neck Society; American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Neck dissection classification update: revisions proposed by the American Head and Neck Society and the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2002;128 (7) 751- 758PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 21. Shah JPAndersen PE Evolving role of modifications in neck dissection for oral squamous carcinoma. Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg 1995;33 (1) 3- 8PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 22. Puri SKFan CYHanna E Significance of extracapsular lymph node metastases in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2003;11 (2) 119- 123PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 23. Leipzig BSuen JYEnglish JLBarnes JHooper M Functional evaluation of the spinal accessory nerve after neck dissection. Am J Surg 1983;146 (4) 526- 530PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 24. Cappiello JPiazza CGiudice MDe Maria GNicolai P Shoulder disability after different selective neck dissections (levels II-IV versus levels II-V): a comparative study. Laryngoscope 2005;115 (2) 259- 263PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 25. Koybasioğlu ABora Tokcaer AInal EUlsu SKocak TUral A Accessory nerve function in lateral selective neck dissection with undissected level IIb. ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec 2006;68 (2) 88- 92PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Archives of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery American Medical Association

Multicentric Prospective Study on the Prevalence of Sublevel IIB Metastases in Head and Neck Cancer

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Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright © 2007 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN
0886-4470
DOI
10.1001/archotol.133.9.897
pmid
17875856
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Abstract

Abstract Objective To evaluate the prevalence of sublevel IIB lymph node (LN) metastases for head and neck primary tumors in a large cohort of patients. Design Prospective study. Setting One referral university hospital and 2 national institutes of oncology. Patients Between 2003 and 2005, 297 patients (male to female ratio, 3.5:1; mean age, 58.8 years [range, 18-89 years]) affected by head and neck cancer were treated by surgery on the primary tumor and/or the neck. Primary site distribution included the following: oral cavity in 111 patients, larynx in 92, oropharynx in 32, thyroid gland in 22, skin of the lateral face or scalp in 16, hypopharynx in 11, unknown primary in 7, and parotid gland in 6. Sublevel IIB was evaluated for the number of LNs and pathologic N (pN) status. Interventions All patients underwent unilateral or bilateral neck dissection (ND) with therapeutic or elective intent according to the primary site and clinical T (cT) and clinical N (cN) status. Sublevel IIB was selectively dissected at the beginning of ND, labeled, and processed independently. Main Outcome Measures The distribution of metastases among the different levels was analyzed. The influence of several factors (institution in which the surgical procedure was performed, sex of the patient, site of primary, histotype, pathologic T [pT] status, cN status, lower level involved in the neck together with sublevel IIB, association with sublevel IIA metastasis, ipsilateral number of involved levels, and previous surgical treatment limited on the primary site) on the prevalence of sublevel IIB metastasis was statistically evaluated by the Pearson χ² test or Fisher exact test. Results A total of 443 NDs were performed (unilateral in 151 patients and bilateral in 146). Among the patients, the tumors were staged cN0/pN0 in 27%, cN+/pN+ in 50%, cN+/pN0 in 7%, and cN0/pN+ in 16%. The mean number of LNs collected at sublevel IIB was 5.4 (range, 0-24). The overall prevalence of sublevel IIB metastases was 5.6% (26 neck sides). Tumor histologic type in the sublevel IIB+ population was squamous cell carcinoma in 80%, papillary carcinoma in 8%, melanoma in 8%, and adenocarcinoma in 4%. The χ² test showed a significantly higher risk for LN metastases at sublevel IIB in patients affected by parotid gland primary tumors (33%), tumors of the skin or scalp (25%), unknown primary tumors (14%), and cancers of the oral cavity (10%) (P = .02) and in those clinically staged as cN+ (P < .001). Conclusions Sublevel IIB dissection is strongly recommended for all patients with cN+ tumors and in those affected by tumor of the parotid gland, skin, and scalp scheduled for elective ND. Patients affected by laryngeal cancer scheduled for elective ND can be considered the ideal candidates for preservation of sublevel IIB. However, whether this policy could be associated with a better functional outcome remains to be demonstrated by prospective studies on a large series of patients. In 1905 and 1906, George Crile1,2 published 2 milestone articles emphasizing the crucial role of cervical lymph node (LN) metastasis in the natural history and prognosis of head and neck tumors. He asserted that a “block dissection” of all lymphatic structures from level I to V encompassing the sternocleidomastoid muscle, the internal jugular vein, and the spinal accessory nerve had to be systematically performed to improve the survival rate for patients with clinical N (cN)+ tumors and those with cN0 tumors.1,2 The idea that neck dissection (ND) may be modulated in relation to specific clinical settings was subsequently developed by Hayes Martin, who introduced the concept of partial ND.3 Over the next decades, functional (or modified radical)4,5 and selective NDs6 were introduced with the intent to combine the oncologic control of disease with improved functional results. Recently, technical advances in preoperative neck evaluation by ultrasound sonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging, a better understanding of metastatic spread along the different levels and sublevels, and the observation of persistent shoulder functional impairment even after spinal accessory nerve–sparing procedures, led to the suggestion of performing a highly selective ND in specific clinical settings, with preservation of submuscular recess fat pad referred to as sublevel IIB.7-18 We report herein the results of the largest prospective study, to our knowledge, on patients with head and neck cancer scheduled for sublevel IIB fat pad dissection prior to completion of the surgical procedure on the neck, with the purpose of evaluating the prevalence of metastasis at this site in elective as well as in therapeutic NDs. Methods Between January 2003 and December 2005, 297 consecutive patients (male to female ratio, 3.5:1; mean age, 59 years [range, 18-89 years]) affected by head and neck cancer were treated by surgery on the primary site and/or the neck in 3 different Italian centers: the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at the University of Brescia in Brescia, the Head and Neck Department at the European Institute of Oncology in Milan, and the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at the Regina Elena Institute of Oncology in Rome. The inclusion criteria for the study were no previous surgery on the lateral compartment of the neck for either benign or malignant lesions, no previous radiation therapy or induction chemotherapy for the malignant neoplasm considered, no previous surgical and/or radiation treatment for other head and neck primary tumors, and the technical feasibility of isolation and dissection of sublevel IIB fat pat from the remainder of the ND (ie, patients with massive metastatic localization involving level II were excluded). All primary tumors and neck metastases were staged according to the sixth edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer TNM staging system.19 In general, bilateral ND was performed in all cases of medullary carcinoma, in papillary carcinomas with evidence of bilateral nodal disease, and in those squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) of the upper aerodigestive tract crossing the midline or with preoperative detection of contralateral suspicious LNs. The extent of ND was modulated according to the site of the primary and clinical neck status. Clinical staging of the neck was accomplished by physical examination, combined with ultrasound sonography, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance imaging. Neck dissections were classified according to the latest ND classification update.20 The sublevel IIB fat pad was isolated and dissected at the beginning of the surgical procedure, according to the anatomic landmarks provided in the latest ND classification update20: starting from the level of the skull base and dissecting posterior and lateral to the vertical plane defined by the spinal accessory nerve back to the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. The muscular fascia of the levator scapulae and splenius defined the deep plane of dissection. The LNs isolated over and behind the spinal accessory nerve were always included in sublevel IIB. Once dissected, the fat pad was removed before completing the remainder of the ND, labeled, and processed separately for histopathologic permanent section analysis. This procedure was applied with the specific intent to minimize the bias deriving from separating sublevel IIB from the entire ND specimen without precise anatomic markers. The ND was subsequently completed and the specimen divided in the different levels by the surgeon to improve the accuracy in localization of metastatic disease. All levels were histopathologically evaluated in standard fashion by assessing the overall number of LNs, the number of metastatic LNs, and the presence of extracapsular spread. As agreed by the different pathologists involved in the study, serial sections of the specimen were obtained to identify the lymphatic tissue. The LNs were harvested, and 1 or 2 slices (in relation to LN size) were obtained at the level of the longest axis of each isolated node and stained with hematoxylin-eosin. Statistical analysis was performed using a commercially available computer software package (SPSS for Windows version 10.0.1; SPSS Inc, Chicago, Illinois). The influence of different factors (institution in which the surgical procedure was performed, sex of the patient, site of primary, histotype, pathologic T [pT] status, cN status, lower level involved in the neck together with sublevel IIB, association with sublevel IIA metastasis, ipsilateral number of involved levels, and previous treatment) on the prevalence of sublevel IIB metastasis was statistically evaluated by cross-tabulation using the Pearson χ² test or Fisher exact test when at least 1 cell was expected to count less than 5. P<.05 was considered significant. Results A wide spectrum of primary sites and histologic types with different propensity to lymphatic spread were included. The primary site distribution included the following: oral cavity in 111 patients (38%), larynx in 92 (31%), oropharynx in 32 (11%), thyroid gland in 22 (8%), skin of the lateral face or scalp in 16 (5%), hypopharynx in 11 (4%), unknown primary in 7 (2%), and parotid gland in 6 (2%). The histologic type of the lesions was SCC in 90% (n = 267), papillary carcinoma in 5% (n = 15), medullary carcinoma in 2% (n = 7), and adenocarcinoma of the parotid gland and melanoma of the skin of the lateral face and scalp in 1.5% (n = 4) each. A total of 443 NDs (unilateral in 151 patients and bilateral in 146) were performed in 166 patients with a clinically positive neck and in 131 for an elective purpose. Surgery on the neck included 11 radical NDs from level I to V including the internal jugular vein, sternocleidomastoid muscle, and spinal accessory nerve; 127 modified radical NDs from level I to V preserving 1, 2, or 3 of the aforementioned nonlymphatic structures; and 305 different selective NDs. Taking into account the entire population, the tumors were staged cN0/pathologic N (pN)0 in 27% (true negatives), cN+/pN+ in 50% (true positive), cN+/pN0 in 7% (false positive), and cN0/pN+ in 16% (occult metastasis). These data are summarized in relation to the site of the primary tumor in Table 1. The mean number of LNs isolated at sublevel IIB was 5.4 (range, 0-24). The overall prevalence of sublevel IIB metastases was 8.4% and 5.8% when patients (25 of 297) or neck sides (26 of 443) were considered, respectively (Table 2). The oral cavity was the site of primary tumor in 11 cases (10 cN+ and 1 cN0), skin of the lateral face and scalp in 4 (4 cN+), oropharynx in 2 (1 cN+ and 1 cN0), larynx in 2 (1 cN+ and 1 cN0), parotid gland in 2 (2 cN+), thyroid gland in 2 (2 cN+), hypopharynx in 1 (1 cN+), and unknown primary in 1 (1 cN+). Only 1 case of bilateral involvement of sublevel IIB was observed (see patient 22 in Table 2). Adjunctive details concerning the different levels involved in association with sublevel IIB are listed in Table 2. The histologic type in the sublevel IIB+ population was SCC in 80% of patients, papillary carcinoma in 8%, melanoma in 8%, and adenocarcinoma in 4%. All 3 cases (1% of the patient population and 0.7% of the dissected neck sides) that were cN0/pN+ at sublevel IIB (2 pN1 and 1 pN2b) had a locally advanced SCC of the upper aerodigestive tract (see patients 6, 17, and 19 in Table 2). In 2 cases, metastasis exclusively involved 1 LN at sublevel IIB. The results of the statistical analysis evaluating the impact of several clinical factors on sublevel IIB LN involvement are reported in Table 3. A higher risk for metastasis at sublevel IIB was detected in the parotid gland, skin of the lateral face and scalp, and unknown primary tumors (P = .02). The oral cavity was the primary site among those of the upper aerodigestive tract, with the highest prevalence of metastasis at this sublevel (10%); by contrast, the lowest prevalence (2%) was observed in laryngeal cancers. A comparison between SCC and non-SCC histologic type did not reach statistical significance (P = .11). Conversely, when all different histotypes (SCC, adenocarcinoma, melanoma, medullary, and papillary carcinoma) were considered, the results paralleled those obtained by analysis of primary sites (P = .02). This probably reflects the preference of the different histologic types for specific sites. Moreover, the possibility to find a metastatic localization at sublevel IIB in a patient without clinical evidence of LN metastasis (cN0) was significantly lower than the probability of the same finding in patients staged as cN+ (P < .001). When considering synchronous metastatic involvement of sublevel IIA and IIB, in our series, this finding was observed in 65% (17 of 26) NDs and 63% (10 of 16) NDs of all head and neck primary tumors and SCCs of the upper aerodigestive tract, respectively, although the finding was nonsignificant (P = .08). Comment The pN status is generally considered the most important prognostic factor in patients with head and neck cancer and, in fact, the presence of nodal metastasis is estimated to decrease determinate survival by about 50%.21,22 Nevertheless, ND is a surgical procedure with remarkable sequelae that can influence the residual quality of life. Shoulder disability is one of the most important morbidities traditionally associated with radical ND characterized by shoulder drop, scapular flaring, pain, and weakness. A large spectrum of different procedures is presently available for treatment of LN metastasis, but the anatomic preservation of the spinal accessory nerve is not always associated with normal shoulder function. In fact, only 70% to 75% of patients who underwent to nerve-sparing dissections did not report any shoulder disability.23,24 The clearance of the submuscular recess inevitably causes mechanical traction and ischemic trauma on the cranial portion of the spinal accessory nerve running from the skull base to its entrance into the sternocleidomastoid muscle. In fact, the vascular supply to the nerve originates from the surrounding fat tissue with a segmental pathway, with unavoidable ischemic insult when dissection of both sublevels IIA and IIB is performed. The analysis of our data and review of the literature on the prevalence of sublevel IIB metastasis for head and neck SCC and non-SCCs (Table 4) suggests that for a specific subset of patients dissection of sublevel IIB could be reasonably avoided with the intent of minimizing functional impairment of the shoulder. Kraus et al7 prospectively evaluated the prevalence of occult nodal metastasis in selective ND specimens (levels I-III) for oral and oropharyngeal primary tumors, with only 1 case (2.1%) observed in a patient affected by a cT3N0 tonsil cancer who had concomitant occult disease at both sublevels IIA and IIB. Two years later, Talmi et al8 studied a series of patients with different head and neck primary tumors and attempted to define risk factors for metastasis involving LNs of the submuscular recess. Based on the observation of metastasis at this level in only 4 patients with cN2-cN3 tumors (3.9%), they concluded that dissection of this lymphatic station could be avoided in elective NDs. In 2 of the 4 cases, the oral cavity was the site of the primary tumor. Chone et al9 reported SCC metastatic spread to sublevel IIB in 6.5% of NDs, which was always in conjunction with other lymphatic localizations, with 1 case only of occult disease. They concluded that dissection of the “apex” is especially warranted in patients with cN+ tumors and pharyngeal lesions. The limitations of that study were its retrospective nature and the tagging of the sublevel IIB made on the ND specimen. Silverman et al,12 considering SCC of all head and neck sites, found metastatic localization at sublevel IIB in 4 NDs (4.4%), but only 1 of these cases (1.6%) was clinically staged as N0 and therefore affected by occult metastasis. They reported a higher prevalence of sublevel IIB metastasis in patients with advanced pN status (P = .003) and in those with metastatic disease involving sublevel IIA (P = .001). They concluded that sublevel IIB fat pad dissection could be avoided during elective NDs or for limited nodal disease not involving sublevel IIA. In one of the most extensive series reported in the literature, Corlette et al15 demonstrated that the prevalence of sublevel IIB metastasis may increase as high as 18.7% because of the inclusion of the parotid gland and skin of the lateral face and the scalp among the primary sites considered, with overall values of 50% for both sites. In contrast, no cases of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal primary tumors with sublevel IIB metastatic spread were reported. In 2001, Talmi and coworkers10 expanded their experience on the issue, focusing on non-SCC of the head and neck region. The sites analyzed are listed in Table 4, and the prevalence of sublevel IIB metastasis was 16%. Most of the cases were cN+ (78%), and at least 1 other level was always involved in tumor spread. In the absence of statistical analysis, it was concluded that in the case of cN+ primary tumors of the parotid and thyroid glands, with a prevalence of submuscular recess metastatic spread of 43% and 11%, respectively, sublevel IIB dissection should be strongly advocated. This concept was also confirmed by our data: in fact, 91% of thyroid gland and 50% of parotid gland primary tumors were cN+, with a prevalence of sublevel IIB metastasis of 33.3% and 8.7%, respectively. Whenever primary tumors arising from the parotid gland, the skin of the lateral face, and the scalp were included in the analysis, the prevalence of submuscular recess metastatic spread increased, not only because of the high percentage of cN+ cases10,15 but also because, independently of histologic type, this LN echelon is one of the first involved by tumor spread from these specific sites.20 Several reports have specifically focused on laryngeal primary tumors, considering both elective and therapeutic settings.11,13,17,18 Exclusive sublevel IIB metastatic localization was detected in 1 specimen (2%) from 51 elective NDs after molecular analysis by nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction for cytokeratin 19 and cytokeratin 20.17 In contrast, in a larger series of laryngeal primary tumors, a 6.4% prevalence of sublevel IIB involvement was detected, 1% for patients scheduled for elective NDs and 30% for those scheduled for therapeutic NDs, with no cases of exclusive sublevel IIB localization.18 These data provide a high degree of evidence for the negligible involvement of submuscular recess LNs in patients scheduled for elective ND for laryngeal primary tumors. In our series, considering the 50 patients affected by cN0 laryngeal cancer, only a single case (2%) of exclusive sublevel IIB metastatic localization was observed (patient 19 in Table 2). There are only 2 studies that have focused on SCC of the oral cavity: in both reports, only elective NDs were evaluated with a relatively high frequency of sublevel IIB occult localization (5.4% and 6.7%, respectively).14,16 Our experience also indicates that the oral cavity has the highest overall prevalence of sublevel IIB metastasis (10%) among SCCs arising from the upper aerodigestive tract (Table 3), but with a lower prevalence in the cN0 setting (2%) compared with those reported in the literature. In conclusion, our multicentric prospective study analyzed a wide range of head and neck cancers with squamous and nonsquamous histologic type, involving most primary sites (except paranasal sinuses and nasopharynx), with the intent to provide information on sublevel IIB metastatic involvement. The data collected reinforce the concept already reported in the literature that sublevel IIB dissection is strongly recommended for all patients with cN+ tumors and in those with a tumor of the parotid gland, skin of the lateral face, and scalp scheduled for elective ND. A major limitation in our study is the small number of patients considered for some specific sites, such as the hypopharynx and parotid gland, which can be considered a source of bias for statistical analysis. The reasons for this distribution can be identified in our management policy, which mainly includes chemoradiation for the primary treatment of hypopharyngeal cancer and rarely requires ND for parotid primary tumors. Furthermore, patients with cN0 laryngeal primary tumors scheduled for elective ND appeared to be the ideal population for further studies aimed at prospective assessment of whether preservation of sublevel IIB is associated with an improvement in shoulder function using clinical and electromyographic evaluations. Data from the first preliminary report concerning this issue did not provide encouraging results, with no functional shoulder improvement and a similar axonal deterioration in patients who did not undergo sublevel IIB dissection.25 However, the small number of patients (n = 10) and the early timing of postoperative control (third postoperative month) suggest that further investigations on a large cohort of patients with adequate timing for postoperative evaluation are required. Moreover, additional measures could be adopted to reduce shoulder disability, such as meticulous preservation, when possible, of cervical branches (C2-C4) during ND and a systematic postoperative physical therapy. Back to top Article Information Correspondence: Andrea Bolzoni Villaret, MD, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Brescia, Piazza Spedali Civili 1, 25123 Brescia, Italy (dr.bolton@libero.it). Submitted for Publication: August 7, 2006; final revision received December 19, 2006; accepted April 6, 2007. Author Contributions: Dr Bolzoni Villaret had full access to all the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. Study concept and design: Bolzoni Villaret, Piazza, Peretti, Chiesa, and Nicolai. Acquisition of data: Bolzoni Villaret, Calabrese, Ansarin, Pellini, and Spriano. Analysis and interpretation of data: Piazza. Drafting of the manuscript: Bolzoni Villaret and Peretti. Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: Piazza, Calabrese, Ansarin, Chiesa, Pellini, Spriano, and Nicolai. Administrative, technical, and material support: Ansarin, Chiesa, Pellini, Spriano, and Nicolai. Study supervision: Bolzoni Villaret, Piazza, Peretti, Calabrese, Chiesa, Spriano, and Nicolai. Financial Disclosure: None reported. Previous Presentation: This study was presented at the Annual Meeting and Research Workshop on the Biology, Prevention, and Treatment of Head and Neck Cancer; August 17-20, 2006; Chicago, Illinois. References 1. Crile GW On the surgical treatment of cancer of the head and neck: with a summary of one hundred and twenty-one operations performed upon one hundred and five patients. Trans South Surg Gynecol Assoc 1905;18108- 127Google Scholar 2. Crile GW Excision of cancer of the head and neck—with special reference to the plan of dissection based on one hundred and thirty-two operations. JAMA 1906;471780- 1786Google ScholarCrossref 3. Martin HEDel Valle BEhrlich H et al. Neck dissection. Cancer 1951;4 (3) 441- 499PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 4. Suarez O El problema de las metastasis linfaticas y alejadas del cancer de laringe e hipofaringe. Rev Otorrinolaringol 1963;2383- 99Google Scholar 5. Bocca E Supraglottic laryngectomy and functional neck dissection. J Laryngol Otol 1966;80 (8) 831- 836PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 6. Shah JP Patterns of cervical lymph node metastasis from squamous cell carcinomas of the upper aerodigestive tract. Am J Surg 1990;160 (4) 405- 409PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 7. Kraus DHRosemberg DBDavidson BJ et al. Supraspinal accessory lymph node metastases in suprahomohyoid neck dissection. Am J Surg 1996;172 (6) 646- 649PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 8. Talmi YPHoffman HTHorowitz Z et al. Patterns of metastases to the upper jugular lymph nodes (the “submuscular recess”). Head Neck 1998;20 (8) 682- 686PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 9. Chone CTCrespo ANRezende ASCarvalho DSAltemani A Neck lymph node metastases to the posterior triangle apex: evaluation of clinical and histopathological risk factors. Head Neck 2000;22 (6) 564- 571PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 10. Talmi YPHorowitz ZWolf M et al. Upper jugular lymph nodes (submuscular recess) in non-squamous-cell cancer of the head and neck: surgical considerations. J Laryngol Otol 2001;115 (10) 808- 811PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 11. Koybasioğlu AUslu SYilmaz MInal EIleri FAsal K Lymphatic metastasis to the supraretrospinal recess in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2002;111 (1) 96- 99PubMedGoogle Scholar 12. Silverman DAEl-Hajj MStrome SEsclamado RM Prevalence of nodal metastases in the submuscular recess (level IIb) during selective neck dissection. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2003;129 (7) 724- 728PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 13. 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Journal

Archives of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery – American Medical Association

Published: Sep 1, 2007

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