What does it mean to treat lymph node metastasis?
Among 74 patients diagnosed with hypopharyngeal carcinoma, 64 underwent radical treatment. Of these, tumor recurrence was found in 33 cases. The recurrence period ranged from 3 to 70 months after radical treatment, and the mean recurrence period was 14 months.

Local recurrence = 8/64 (13%),
regional lymph node metastasis = 12/64 (19%),
distant metastasis = 18/64 (28%) [1]

There were 45 deaths. Patients die between 1 and 98 months after initial treatment. The mean survival time is 21 months.

Local recurrence = 11/74 (15%),

Regional lymph node metastasis = 15/74 (20%),

Distant metastasis = 25/74 (34%).

The values in parentheses are the number of patients who received palliation or no treatment. Treatment of lymph node metastasis improves the 5-year survival rate.

The method we propose will benefit patients by eliminating dissection, reduce side effects, and lower the cost of treatment.

References
[1] M. Tateda, K. Shiga, H. Yoshida, S. Saijo, J. Yokoyama, H. Nishikawa, Y. Asada, K. Matsuura, T. Kobayashi, Management of the Patients with Hypopharyngeal Cancer: Eight-Year Experience of Miyagi Cancer Center in Japan, The Tohoku journal of experimental medicine, 205 (2005) 65-77.