Articles Vol. 67 No. Số CĐ12- Bệnh viện Ung bướu Nghệ An (2026) 14/08/2026

CERVICAL LYMPH NODE METASTASIS AFTER ELECTIVE NECK DISSECTION IN HIGH-RISK PAROTID GLAND CARCINOMA

Nguyen Viet Dung1,2, Phan Van Manh1,2, Truong Thanh Tri3,4, Nguyen Xuan Truc2,5
1 Department of Head and Neck Surgery - Otorhinolaryngology, Ho Chi Minh city Oncology Hospital
2 Khoa Ngoại Đầu cổ - Tai mũi họng, Bệnh viện Ung Bướu thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
3 Department of Oncology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh city
4 Bộ môn Ung thư, Đại học Y Dược thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
5 Department of Head and Neck Surgery - Otorhinolaryngology, Ho Chi Minh city Oncology Hospita
DOI: 10.52163/yhc.v67iCD12.6120
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Keywords
High-risk parotid gland carcinoma, occult cervical lymph node metastasis, high-risk histopathology, elective neck dissection.
Abstract

Objectives: Survey of the rate of occult cervical lymph node metastasis and identification of associated factors in high-risk parotid cancer patients with cervical lymphadenopathy.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective descriptive case-series study of clinically node-negative patients with high-risk parotid gland carcinoma who underwent total parotidectomy combined with elective neck dissection at the Department of Head and Neck Surgery - Otorhinolaryngology, Ho Chi Minh city Oncology Hospital, from January 1, 2022 to July 1, 2025.

Results: A total of 42 patients with high-risk parotid gland carcinoma underwent surgery. The mean age was 50.6 years (95% CI: 16-80 years), with a female-to-male ratio of 1.2/1. Most tumors were at an advanced clinical stage (cT3, cT4), accounting for 83.3% of cases. High-risk histopathologic subtypes comprised 57.1% of the cohort. The postoperative rate of histologically confirmed cervical lymph node metastasis was 40.5%. An independent association was found between high-risk histopathologic subtype and cervical lymph node metastasis rate (p = 0.024).

Conclusions: Cervical lymph node metastasis is common in high-risk parotid gland carcinoma. Elective neck dissection should be considered, particularly in cases with high-risk histopathologic features.

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