Prospektive Untersuchungen zu Ausmaß und Richtung der lymphogenen Metastasierung bei Patienten mit Karzinomen der oberen Luft- und Speisewege

Investigations into the extend and direction of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas in the upper aerodigestive tract show a multitude of possible sources for errors. Specifications about the methods used or the localisation of the primary cancer are often missing. It is even more difficult to judge a result, if the description of the localisation of the metastases is carried out without any reference to basic examination methods (e.g. palpation, sonography, histology). This study prospectively documents the relevant parameters for lymphogenic metastasis of head and neck carcinoma. Only squamous cell carcinomas with known primary were included. Patients without any of the parameters relevant for the investigation were excluded. The investigations that aided the localisation and extend of metastasis were an important basis for this study. All patients were examined preoperative by palpation and sonography; more than 50 percent additionally with cytology. The specifications for the histopathological investigation were standardized beforehand, with a high significance placed on the intraoperative and postoperative marking of the neck dissection preparation.