OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to determine clinical and histologic factors that would predict nodal @entity3 in @entity1 with major @entity5 . METHODS: A retrospective study of 40 @entity1 who underwent surgery, including neck dissection, for major @entity5 between 1975 and 1997 was performed. @entity1 charts were reviewed, and clinical and pathologic data were extracted along with outcome. Predictive factors were identified and survival curves were obtained. RESULTS: Neck dissections were performed in 40 @entity1 , which revealed histologic evidence of @entity5 in lymph nodes in 15 cases. Histologically proven @entity3 was found in 16% of specimens from elective and 73% of specimens from therapeutic neck dissection. Five-year overall and locoregional disease-free survival rates for histologically positive and negative groups were 40% versus 63% (P < 0.05) and 67% versus 69% (P = 0.59), respectively. Univariate analysis of the factors revealed that clinical evidence of nodal @entity3 (P < 0.001) and high-grade @entity5 (P < 0.033) predicted histologic nodal involvement. Multivariate analysis revealed that only a positive neck examination was a significant predictive factor (OR = 31, 95%CI = 2.99-312). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that clinical neck examination is a reliable predictor of regional @entity3 in @entity1 with major @entity5 . In view of the low frequency of occult metastases, routine elective treatment of the neck is not recommended.

Predictors of nodal XXXX in @entity5 .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'Patient'] @entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['tumor', 'salivary gland cancer', 'cancer'] @entity3 :: ('MESH:D009362', 'Disease') :: ['metastasis']
@entity3 :: (MESH:D009362,Disease) :: ['metastasis']
