淋巴转移大小已被证实可以预测不同类型的癌症的预后，但不包括位于下咽、口咽和声门上区域等地点的头颈部鳞状细胞癌（HNSCC）。本研究的目的是评估淋巴转移大小在HNSCC中的预后价值，以指导临床决策。从2008年至2022年，我们中心共有171名被诊断为HNSCC的患者纳入研究。记录和分析了人口统计学数据、临床病理特征和淋巴转移大小，采用Kaplan-Meier方法和Cox回归分析进行分析。在171名患者中，107例为下咽癌，38例为声门癌，26例为口咽癌。淋巴转移大小的中位数为8毫米（范围：0-46毫米）。根据淋巴转移大小，将患者分为三个亚组：I组（0毫米）、II组（≤10毫米）和III组（>10毫米）。Kaplan-Meier分析和log-rank检验显示，I组和II组在局部区域控制率、远处转移自由概率、无病生存和总生存方面的表现相似（所有p值均大于0.05），而III组的预后显著较差。调整人口统计学和其他临床病理特征后，淋巴转移大小在HNSCC的无病生存和总生存中是一个独立的预测因子。淋巴转移大小是HNSCC中的一种独立预后因子，可辅助术后辅助治疗决策。© 2023.该作者单独授权予SpringerNature的Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany部分所有权。

Lymphatic metastatic size was proved to predict prognosis in different types of carcinomas, except in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) located in hypopharynx, oropharynx and supraglottic region et al. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prognostic value of lymphatic metastatic size in HNSCC, which may guide clinical decision-making in practice.From 2008 to 2022, 171 patients, who were diagnosed as HNSCC in our center, were included. The demographic data, clinicopathological characteristics and lymphatic metastatic size were recorded and analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression analysis.Among 171 patients, 107 cases were hypopharyngeal cancer, 38 cases supraglottic cancer and 26 cases oropharyngeal cancer. The median of lymphatic metastatic size was 8 mm (range 0-46). According to lymphatic metastatic size, the patients were assigned to three subgroups: Group I (0 mm), Group II ( ≤ 10 mm) and Group III (> 10 mm). Kaplan-Meier analysis with log rank test revealed that Group I and Group II had similar locoregional control rate, distant metastasis free probability, disease-free survival and overall survival (all p > 0.05), whereas Group III had significant worse prognosis. Adjusted for demographic and other clinicopathological characteristics, lymphatic metastatic size was an independent predictor of disease-free survival and overall survival in HNSCC.Lymphatic metastatic size was an independently prognostic factor in HNSCC, which may assist in postoperative adjuvant treatment decisions.© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.