Hi Gary,

I didn't make the connection between ECS and tumor grade. I'll have to research this further, as from what I've read I don't recall these being related. What I thought was relative was the size of the lymph node--i.e. that the larger the node the greater the probability of ECS.

Interestingly enough, ECS does not directly figure into the staging--although size (and number) of the lymph node(s) do.

IMO, the staging as it exists is pretty simplistic and may be non-representative (or over-representative) of the patent's condition. It is an approximation, at best. I guess I would have expected the medical community, with its amassed brainpower, to come up with a better system.

Regards,

Oscar


Stage IVa, T1N2a, Rt tonsil, neck dissection, 33x IMRT, no chemo