Lymph Node Drainage

Question 1

What lymph node level does supraglottic cancer drain to?

Answer 1

level II, III, and IV

Question 2

What lymph node level does glottic cancer drain to?

Answer 2

Glottic cancers have almost no LN drainage, so LNs are not covered for stage I disease and rarely in stage II disease

Question 3

What lymph node level does subglottic cancer drain to?

Answer 3

level VI

Question 4

Hypopharyngeal cancers are richly drained by lymphatics and ~ 75% have nodal involvement at diagnosis. Which levels are involved?

Answer 4

levels II, III, VI, and V and RP LNs (level IV is covered as well)