Table 1 Patient and tumor characteristics

Age (years)

Median 57 (range 38-74)

Gender

   Male

41

82

   Female

9

18

Primary site

   Nasopharynx

25

50

   Oropharynx

12

24

   Hypopharynx

9

18

   Larynx

4

8

T classification

   1

14

28

   2

19

38

   3

8

16

   4

9

18

N classification

   1

12

24

   2

30

60

   3

8

16

Stage

   2

7

14

   3

14

28

   4

29

58

Histology

   Squamous cell carcinoma

25

50

   Nonkeratinizing undifferentiated carcinoma

22

44

   Nonkeratinizing differentiated carcinoma

1

2

   Keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma

2

4

Differentiation

   Well differentiated

3

6

   Moderate differentiated

8

16

   Poorly differentiated

6

12

   Undifferentiated

22

44

   Not available

11

22

Initial maximal lymph node size (cm)

Median 2 (range 1-7)