Cervical lymph node (staging)
Updates to Article Attributes
Title
was changed:
Cervical lymph node staging(staging)
Body
was changed:
Cervical lymph node staging is important in a variety of tumours, especially squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
TNM nodal staging
Nodal staging is the same for squamous cell carcinomas of most regions of the upper aerodigestive tract of the head and neck, including those of the of the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx and larynx.
- Nx: nodes cannot be assessed
- N0: no regional nodal metastases
- N1: single ipsilateral node, ≤3 cm
-
N2
- N2a: single ipsilateral node, 3-6 cm
- N2b: multiple ipsilateral nodes, <6 cm
-
N2c
- bilateral nodal metastasesor
- contralateral nodal metastases <6 cm
- N3: any nodal metastasis >6 cm
Size dependant criteria
- most nodes should be <10 mm in short-axis except:
- submental/submandibular & jugulodiagastric: <15 mm
- retropharyngeal: <8 mm
- if using size criteria alone then there is a
1010-20% error rate
The long-to-short axis ratio has also been proposed 2 to help evaluate enlarged nodes in the setting of head and neck SCC. When nodes have a ratio of >2 (i.e. long and flat) 95% are benign. When the ratio <2 (i.e. rounder) then a similar proportion were malignant.
Size independent criteria
- loss of fatty hilum
- focal necrosis
- cystic necrotic nodes
See also
-<li>if using size criteria alone then there is a 10-20% error rate</li>- +<li>if using size criteria alone then there is a 10-20% error rate</li>
-<li><a href="/articles/cystic-necrotic-nodes">cystic necrotic nodes</a></li>- +<li><a href="/articles/cystic-necrotic-lymph-nodes">cystic necrotic nodes</a></li>
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