Table 2 Tumor Characteristics, Molecular Analyses and Clinical Outcome of 18 Patients with One (Cases 1–11) or Two (Cases 12–18) of Lymph Node Metastases Found at Routine Histopathologic Examination (pN+ Group)

From: Assessment and Clinical Significance of Micrometastases in Lymph Nodes of Head and Neck Cancer Patients Detected by E48 (Ly-6D) Quantitative Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction

Case

Tumor site

pTN-stage

RT

Lymph nodes

Patient status

Follow-up (mo)

    

Pos at PA level

No. analysed RT-PCR

No. E48-positive

Level(s) involved

  

1

Piriform Sinus

T2N1

Y

II

11

0

—

Alive

53.5

2

FOM

T3N1

Y

III

10

3

II V

DOD

35.5

3

Tonsil

T3N1

Y

II

10

0

—

Alive

53

4

Tonsil

T3N1

Y

II

11

0

—

DOD

23

5

B Tongue

T2N1

Y

II

12

0

—

Alive

50.5

6

Tonsil

T3N1

Y

II

13

1

II

Alive

48

7

Tonsil

T3N1

Y

II

12

2

II

Alive

49

8

M Tongue

T2N1

N

III

13

1

I

Alive

47

9

Oropharynx

Reca

N

III

10

2

II

Alive

35.5

10

Tonsil

T2N1

Y

II

10

6

I, II III, IV

Alive

30.5

11

FOM

T2N1

Y

II

11

0

—

Alive

31.5

12

FOM

T3N2b

Y

I/II

20

0

—

DOC

17

13

Oropharynx

T3N2b

Y

II

9

1

II

DOD

8

14

Piriform Sinus

T4N2b

Y

II/IV

14

1

IV

DOC

9

15

FOM

T2N2b

Y

I L I R

16

0

—

Alive

48

16

Oropharynx

T2N2b

Y

II

12

1

IV

Alive

46

17

Oropharynx

T2N2b

Y

III/IV

10

1

IV

DOD

22

18

M Tongue

T2N2b

Y

III

11

0

—

DOD

19

  1. The pathologic TN stage is indicated in column 3 and the levels of the tumor-positive lymph nodes found at routine histopathologic examination in column 5. The number of additional metastases assessed by E48 RT-PCR is indicated in column 7, whereas the next column specifies the levels of these E48-positive lymph nodes. Rec, recurrence.
  2. aThis patient developed a local recurrence after primary radiotherapy.
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