THE PATTERN OF EXTRACAPSULAR NODAL SPREAD IN CERVICAL METASTASIS

Abstract

The presence of metastatic cervical lymph nodes in a patient with head and neck cancer results in a worse prognosis: The number, size, and position of cervical nodes involvement are felt to be important determinants of a patients prognosis. The tendency of malignant cells to break the capsule of the lymph . nodes and infiltrating the surrounding tissue (ECS) is very important prognostic factor and it is indication for high local recurrence of the tumour in the neck. The management of cervical metastases is surgical by radical neck dissection operation or in combination with radiotherapy either pre­ or post operative.

The study conducted on thirty three patients with head and neck malignancy collected from National Cancer Institute in Cairo University. All patients were subjected to detailed information about history, presenting symptoms plain x-ray on different areas of head and neck, barium swallow, endoscopy, General examinations, and laboratory investigations were done to exclude inoperable cases.

All patients had classical radical neck dissection operation and other operations were done to the primary tumours. The specimens from radical neck dissection were sliced and one section was made from each block.