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3172885 
Journal Article 
Which is the most suitable lymph node predictor for overall survival after primary surgery of head and neck cancer: pN, the number or the ratio of positive lymph nodes, or log odds? 
Yildiz, MM; Petersen, I; Eigendorff, E; Schlattmann, P; Guntinas-Lichius, O 
2016 
Yes 
Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology
ISSN: 0171-5216
EISSN: 1432-1335 
142 
4 
885-893 
English 
26711282 
PURPOSE: To investigate the best lymph node (LN) metastasis predictor for overall survival (OS) in head neck cancer (HNC): pN classification, number of positive lymph nodes (PNOD), lymph node ratio (LNR), or log odds of positive lymph nodes (LODDS).

METHODS: In total, 225 surgically treated HNC patients were evaluated for the different LN classifications and OS.

RESULTS: Five-year OS was 71.8 %. Mean number of yielded LN and PNOD was 25.3 ± 16.7 and 2.7 ± 5.9, respectively. 64.8 % had a LNR > 0.10 and 64.4 % a LODDS > 10. In univariable analysis, multimodal therapy (p = 0.039), advanced pT (p < 0.0001), advanced UICC stage (p = 0.029), LNR > 0.10 (p = 0.049), and LODDS > -1.0 (p = 0.021) were associated with lower OS. In multivariable analysis, advanced pT [hazard ratio (HR) 2.194; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.294-3.722; p = 0.004] and LODDS > -1.0 (HR 1.634; 95 % CI 1.002-2.665; p = 0.059) remained independent predictors for lower OS.

CONCLUSIONS: It seems useful to analyze the prognostic significance of LODDS in other samples of HNC.