Ganglionic drainage in scaly transglotic carcinoma

Abstract

Introduction: The handling of the cervical ganglion is basic in the treatment and prognosis of patients with scaly carcinoma of the larynx. There is consensus on doing ganglionic cervical drainage in the absence of clinical adenopathies (NO) when the risk of hidden metastasic adenopathies is over 20%. Laryngeal transglotic carcinoma (LTC) is characterized for presenting an incidence of hidden cervical metastasis of 30 to 40%. Objective: To evaluate histopathological findings in the LTC patients’ cervical ganglions, analyzing the incidence of hidden metastasis and their association with risk factors. Material and methods: Retrospective study through revision of the clinical files of LTC carrier patients, without previous treatment, surgically treated at the San Juan de Dios Hospital between years 1994 and 2002. Results: 20 patients were evaluated, 4 (20%) presented clinical adenopathies, undergoing in 2 cases radical drainage and in the other 2, functional dissection. The NO patients were 16 and a bilateral functional drainage was made. Hidden metastasis were detected in 12,5% on the NO patients. Conclusion: Carcinomas of NO transglotic location did not benefit from a cervical ganglionic drainage.