Abstract
Background and Objectives: Neck metastasis is one of the most important prognostic factors in treating tonsillar cancer. Incidence and pattern of lymph node metastasis of tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma are the basic knowledge of treatment decision. Occult metastasis rate of tonsillar cancer and pattern of metastasis, failure pattern, survival were retrospectively analyzed. Patients and Methods: Seventy six patients who underwent surgery for tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma as an initial treatment from 1992 to 2004 were evaluated. Charts, imaging studies and pathologic reports were reviewed. Results: At the time of surgery, 78% of patients with tonsillar cancer had neck metastasis and 66% had multiple node metastasis. Occult neck metastasis was in 26%. There was high incidence of neck metastasis even in early stage of primary lesion. Conclusion: High incidence of lymph node metastasis was confirmed histopathologically in tonsillar cancer. All tonsillar cancer patients may need elective treatment of the neck. Tonsillar cancer had relatively good prognosis even though its neck metastasis rate is very high.
