Evaluation of the frequency of cervical lymph node metastases in P16 + vs. P16 - oropharyngeal carcinomas

Background The importance of the HPV 16 status in oropharyngeal cancer with regard to the prognosis is well known. Less is described about the lymph node status at the initial diagnosis and initiation of therapy.

In this study, we examined whether there is a difference between HPV + and HPV- patients with oropharyngeal cancer regarding the occurrence of regional lymph node metastasis at the time of initial diagnosis.

Materials and methods The clinical data of 56 patients diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer in our clinic from October 2019 to October 2020 were retrospectively evaluated. The N-status in general and also based on the T-stage at the initial diagnosis were analyzed and divided into two groups with regard to their HPV status. These two groups received 2 different TNM classifications according to the 8th edition of the UICC.

Results The evaluation of the data showed that 24 were P16 + / OPC (group I) and 32 were P16 - / OPC (group II). Cervical lymph node metastases were detected in 19 of 24 patients (79.16 % ) in group I and in 18 of 32 patients (56.25 % ) in group II. From the T stage, the lymph node findings were as follows: Group I: (T1 2/3- 66.6 % -), (T2 3/4- 75 % -), (T3 7 /9- 77.7 % -), (T4 7/8- 87.5 % ). On the other hand the results were in the group II: (T1 1/5- 20 % -), (T2 3/7-42.8 % -), (T3 6/6 100 % ), (T4 8 /14- 57.1 % -).

Conclusion Although the oropharyngeal carcinomas associated with HPV have a relatively better prognosis according to the literature, our study showed that these tumors are more tend to regional metastasis at initial diagnose.

Poster-PDF A-1519.pdf

Conflict of interest

Der Erstautor gibt keinen Interessenskonflikt an.

Publication History

Article published online:
13 May 2021