Diagnosis and Staging of Head and Neck Cancer

Abstract

ACCURATE pretherapeutic localization of a suspected malignant neoplasm and early detection of lymph node metastases plays a crucial role in the prognosis as well as in the choice and extent of the therapeutic procedure required by patients with head and neck cancer. In primary tumor localization with a statistical metastasizing rate of 20% or less, a neck dissection is optional in N0-stage patients . It is a well-known fact that in 40% of the clinically nonapparent lymph nodes, a metastatic involvement can be demonstrated. The 5-year survival rate is as low as 30% in patients with pretherapeutic locoregional spread.1-4 Staging procedures usually comprise modern imaging techniques such as sonography, computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging.