OBJECTIVETo evaluate the missing diagnosis of neck metastases by routine detecting method (palpation combined with one pathological slide) in laryngeal carcinomas.

METHODSSixty-six specimens of neck dissections were collected and observed by routine method, transparent method, and continuous sliding method.

RESULTSTotally, 1153 lymph nodes were detected by palpation method and another 1204 lymph nodes were detected by transparent method. The lymph nodes detected by transparent method account for 51.1% of the total, and among them 10 metastases were found, which account for 15.6% (10/64) of metastatic lymph nodes. For those with no metastasis detected by routine method, 50 microm interval continuous sliding method was performed, and 14 tiny metastases were found, which account for 21.9% (14/64) of metastatic lymph nodes. Detecting by routine method, most lymph nodes (95%) were in tumor growth and tumor suffusion stage. The missing diagnosis rate of routine method was 37.5% (24/64).

CONCLUSIONSWhen routine method was used to detect lymph nodes in neck specimens, missing diagnosis should be considered to select best therapy. Through transparent method small lymph nodes could be found and it is a valuable method to observe pathological changes of small nodes. Continuous sliding method could find micrometastasis precisely, but the work burden is heavy and it is difficult to be widely used.