Background: We evaluated the prognostic value of lymph node ratio (LNR) in patients with advanced laryngeal and hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
Study design: Retrospective chart review.
Methods: Between 1994 and 2018, 79 patients underwent total laryngopharyngectomy and adjuvant therapy. LNR was determined and statistically compared to patients' overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), disease-free survival (DFS), locoregional and distant failure.
Results: The 5-year OS, DSS and DFS rates were 45.6%, 73.4% and 56.9%, respectively. 24.1% and 25.3% developed loco- regional failure or distant metastatic disease, respectively. Univariate analyses showed that high LNR (cut-off >0.07) was significantly associated with distant and locoregional failure. On multivariate analysis, LNR remained an independent predictor for OS (P = .004), DSS (P = .009) and DFS (P = .044).
Conclusion: Increased LNR in patients with advanced laryngeal or hypopharyngeal carcinoma is significantly linked to shortened OS, DSS, DFS and higher locoregional and distant metastatic disease.
Keywords: Laryngectomy; advanced larynx and hypopharynx carcinoma; lymph node ratio; oncological outcome.
© 2019 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.