Significance of lymph node metastasis in cancer dissemination of head and neck cancer.

ABSTRACT: Lymph node metastasis (LNM) in many solid cancers is a well-known prognostic factor; however, it has been debated whether regional LNM simply reflects tumor aggressiveness or is a source for further tumor dissemination. Similarly, the metastatic process in head and neck cancer (HNC) has not been fully evaluated. Thus, we aimed to investigate the relative significance of LNM in metastatic cascade of HNC using functional imaging of HNC patients and molecular imaging in in vivo models. First, we analyzed (18)Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET) parameters of 117 patients with oral cancer. The primary tumor and nodal PET parameters were measured separately, and survival analyses were conducted on the basis of clinical and PET variables to identify significant prognostic factor

SUBMITTER: Cho JK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4415144 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature