• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.18-21
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• 1999

Background and Objectives: Occult neck metastasis rate of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer varies widely depending upon authors. Materials and Methods: Sixty four cases, previously untreated, of N0 laryngeal and hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients who underwent surgery as an initial treatment from 1992 to 1997 were evaluated. All had unilateral or bilateral elective neck dissection at the time of surgery for the primary. Occult neck metastasis rate was evaluated with pathologic examination of neck dissection specimen. Results: Occult neck metastasis rate by primary site was as follows. Supraglottis ipsilateral 32%(8/25) contralateral 15%(3/20), glottis ipsilateral 17%(5/30), contralateral 0%(0/22), hypopharynx ipsilateral 78%(7/9), contralateral 25%(2/8). Conclusion: Supraglottic and hypopharyngeal cancer may need elective neck treatment bilaterally. Occult neck metastasis of glottic cancer to opposite site was minimal.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.19-23
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• 2004

Background and Objectives: Neck metastasis is one of the most important prognostic factor in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Recently, elective neck dissection has been widely accepted for accurate pathologic staging and elective treatment of neck. Occult metastasis rate of laryngeal cancer varies widely depending upon authors. To evaluate the rate and characteristics of occult metastasis and efficacy of the elective neck dissection in clinical N0 laryngeal cancer, we performed this study. Materials and Method: Seventy two patients (supraglottic cancer: 19 cases, glottic cancer: 53 cases) who underwent surgery for laryngeal cancer as an initial treatment from 1993 to 2002 were evaluated. All was underwent elective neck dissection at the time of surgery for the primary treatment. The record of patients and pathologic report were reviewed retrospectively. Results: Occult metastasis rate of supraglottic and glottic cancer were 42.1% (8/19) and 9.4% (5/53), respectively. According to T stage, the occult meastasis of supraglottic and glottic cancer was 20%, 0% in T1, 36.4%, 0% in T2, 100%, 40% in T2, 100%, 20% in T4, respectively. Occult metastasis was mostly confined within level II (69.2%), III (76.9%), IV (23.1%). Conclusion: Based on ours results, elective neck dissection might be needed in treating of clinically N0 all supraglottic cancer and advanced T3, T4 glottic cancer.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.166-170
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• 2017

Objectives: To define the risk of occult cervical metastasis of maxillary squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and the therapeutic value of elective neck dissection (END) in survival of clinically negative neck node (cN0) patients. Materials and Methods: Sixty-seven patients with maxillary SCC and cN0 neck were analyzed retrospectively, including 35 patients with maxillary gingiva and 32 patients with maxillary sinus. Results: Of 67 patients, 10 patients (14.9%) had occult cervical metastasis. The incidence of occult cervical metastasis of maxillary gingival SCC was higher than that of maxillary sinus SCC (17.1% and 12.5%, respectively). The 5-year overall survival rate was 51.9% for the END group and 74.0% for the non-END group. The success rate of treatment for regional recurrence was high at 71.4%, whereas that for local or locoregional recurrence was low (33.3% and 0%, respectively). Conclusion: The incidence of occult cervical metastasis of maxillary SCC was not high enough to recommend END. For survival of cN0 patients, local control of the primary tumor is more important than modality of neck management. Observation of cN0 neck is recommended when early detection of regional recurrence is possible irrespective of the site or T stage. The key enabler of early detection is patient education with periodic follow-up.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1267-1272
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• 2012

Background and Objective: The optimal resection extent for clinically unilateral papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) remains controversial. The objective was to investigate risk factors associated with occult contralateral carcinoma, and put emphasis on the predictive value of preoperative BRAF mutation. Materials and Methods: 100 clinically unilateral PTMC patients all newly diagnosed, previously untreated were analyzed in a prospective cohort study. We assessed the T1799A BRAF mutation status in FNAB specimens obtained from all PTMC patients before undergoing total thyroidectomy (TT) and central lymph node dissection (CLND) for PTMC. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to reveal the incidence of contralateral occult cancer, difference of risk factors and predictive value, with respect to the following variables: preoperative BRAF mutation status, age, gender, tumor size, multifocality of primary tumor, capsular invasion, presence of Hashimoto thyroiditis and central lymph node metastasis. Results: 20 of 100 patients (20%) had occult contralateral lobe carcinoma. On multi-variate analysis, preoperative BRAF mutation (p = 0.030, OR = 3.439) and multifocality of the primary tumor (p = 0.004, OR = 9.570) were independent predictive factors for occult contralateral PTMC presence. However, there were no significant differences between the presence of occult contralateral carcinomas and age, gender, tumor size, capsular invasion, Hashimoto thyroiditis and central lymph node metastasis. Conclusions: Total thyroidectomy, including the contralateral lobe, should be considered for the treatment of unilateral PTMC if preoperative BRAF mutation is positive and/or if the observed lesion presents as a multifocal tumor in the unilateral lobe.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.156-160
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• 2004

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.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.24-29
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• 1997

Background: Supraglottic and hypopharyngeal regions drain into the upper deep cervical lymph nodes. And bilateral neck node metastasis is frequently occured especially, in the early stage. It influences on the prognosis of above diseases. The prognosis for patients wih supraglottic and hypopharyngeal cancers, although usually poor, has improved by modern imaging technique, better application of treatment modalities, increasing assortment of reconstructive procedures and improved application of radiation therapy. Objectives: This study was designed to obtain objective data about the patterns of neck node metastasis and to identify the necessity of elective bilateral neck dissection. Material and Methods: Twenty four patients with supraglottic cancer and twenty six patients with hypopharyngeal cancer were investigated from the chart review. Results: In supraglottic cancer, the most frequent sites of neck metastasis is level II (52.9%) and level III (52.9%) in ipsilateral side, level II (29.4%) in contralateral side, in hypopharyngeal cancer, level II (73.7%) and III (52.6%) in ipsilateral side, level II (10.5%) in contralateral side. In elective neck dissection, the occult metastasis is about 50% in supraglottic cancer, but there is no occult metastasis in hypopharyngeal cancer. Conclusion: In supraglottic cancer, elective bilateral neck dissection is necessary because of early contralateral neck metastasis, but in hypopharyngeal cancer, elective contralateral neck dissection may not be always necessary because of rare occult metastasis and contralateral neck metastasis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.1125-1131
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• 1997

Occult papillary adenocarcinoma of the thyroid is known to be indolent, slow metastatic, and has a good prognosis. Occult thyroid carcinoma presenting as a blood-borne metastasis without obvious cervical lymph node involvement is extremely rare. A 65-year-old male patient was visited for hoarseness, dysphagia, and shortness of breath. Bronchoscopy with biopsy revealed a papillary carcinoma of thyroid by immunohistochemical staining. Head & neck CT revealed that involving both the upper esophagus and the posterior tracheal wall, extending into the mediastinum along the upper thoracic spine at $T_1-T_2$. We have experienced a rare case of occult papillary carcinoma which invaded the trachea, esophagus and fascia of thoracic spine. Treatment was initiated with radioactive iodine and external bean therapy.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.594-599
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• 1995

Although papillary carcinoma of the thyroid generally follows an indolent course characterized by slow growth and the absence of distant metastases, several available reports suggest that metastasis to bone and/or lung parenchyma may occur infrequently. But pleural metastases are known to be very rare, so there have been only two case reports about the pleural metastases of papillary thyroid carcinoma in the literatures. Even the case of occult papillary thyroid carcinoma presenting as a metastatic pleural effusion has been never been reported. Recently we experienced a case with the chief complaint of dyspnea due to massive pleural effusion, the cytologic examination of which revealed the papillary carcinoma with psamomma bodies. The examination of the thyroid revealed no definite primary tumor. The total thyroidectomy was done with the plan of post-operative radioactive iodine treatment and the pathologic result confirmed the occult papillary microcarcinoma as expected. With the present case report, the extension of the clinical spectrum. of metastatic papillary carcinoma of the thyroid is expected.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.2947-2951
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• 2015

Background: The phenomenon of occult carcinoma maybe observed in patients with clinically unilateral papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). Although many studies have reported that the $BRAF^{T1799A}$ mutation is associated with aggressive PTMC, the relationship between $BRAF^{T1799A}$ mutation and occult carcinoma is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors, including $BRAF^{T1799A}$ mutation, for occult contralateral carcinoma in clinically unilateral PTMC accompanied by benign nodules in the contralateral lobe. Materials and Methods: From January 2011 to December 2013, we prospectively enrolled 89 consecutive PTMC patients with clinically unilateral carcinoma accompanied by benign nodules in the contralateral lobe who received a total thyroidectomy and cervical lymph node dissection. $BRAF^{T1799A}$ mutation was tested by pyrosequencing on postoperative paraffin specimens. The frequency and predictive factors for occult contralateral carcinoma were analyzed with respect to the following variables: age, gender, family history, tumor size, presence of Hashimoto thyroiditis, extrathyroidal extension, central lymph node metastasis, multifocality of primary tumor, or $BRAF^{T1799A}$ mutation. Results: A total of 36 patients (40.4%) had occult PTMC in the contralateral lobe. The median diameter of the occult tumors was $0.33{\pm}0.21cm$. The $BRAF^{T1799A}$ mutation was found in 38 cases (42.7%). According to the univariate analysis, there were no significant differences between the presence of occult contralateral carcinoma and age, gender, family history, tumor size, presence of Hashimoto thyroiditis, extrathyroidal extension, central lymph node metastasis, multifocality of primary tumor, or $BRAF^{T1799A}$ mutation. Conclusions: Using current methods, it is difficult to preoperatively identify patients with PTMC, and further research is needed to determine predictive factors for the presence of occult contralateral carcinoma in patients with unilateral PTMC.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.73-81
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• 1995

The poor survival rates of patients with carcinoma of a tongue, despite of modern therapy, is well recognized. One of the most important prognostic factors is status of the cervical lymph nodes. There have been a long-standing debate about the treatment of cervical lymph nodes in early-stage tongue cancer. There are two major treatment opinion. The one is surgical excision of primary tumor with prophylactic neck dissection, simultaneously, and the other is to delay the cervical therapy until cervical lymph node is palpable. Recently we have experienced the early cervical metastasis in three patients who had been diagnosed as a carcinoma of the tongue. They were T1, T2 lesion and no palpable node was found. But histopathologic examination showed the occult metastasis or delayed cervical metastasis was occured. By the review of literature and clinical experience, we could conclude the prophylactic neck dissection offers a better chance for success than therapeutic neck dissection of palpable lymph nodes, in case of oral tongue cancer.