Risk factors of lymphovascular invasion in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and its influence on prognosis

Lymphatic vascular invasion (LVI) is a poor prognostic factor for hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPSCC), but the risk factors of LVI and its relationship with clinicopathological of HPSCC remain unclear. This study aims to explore these issues. We retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological data of 170 patients with HPSCC from January 2011 to December 2015. The relationship between LVI and clinicopathologic was analyzed by Chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test. The risk factors of LVI were examined using a logistic regression model, while risk factors of survival rate were carried out using the Cox regression model. LVI occurred in 59 cases (34.7%). In multivariate analysis, T3–4 stage (HR = 2.877; 95% CI: 1.379–6.004; p = 0.005), N2–3 stage (HR = 2.325; 95% CI: 1.120–4.824; p = 0.024), and poor differentiation (HR = 2.983; 95% CI: 1.229–7.242; p = 0.016) were independent risk factors for LVI; positive LVI was an independent risk factor for local recurrence (HR = 2.488; 95% CI: 1.150–5.383; p = 0.021), poor 5-year OS (HR = 0.375; 95% CI: 0.232–0.606; p < 0.000), DSS (HR = 0.374; 95% CI: 0.235–0.595; p < 0.000), and DFS (HR = 0.454; 95% CI:0.254–0.813; p = 0.008). T3–4 stage, N2–3 stage and poor differentiation are independent risk factors for LVI of HPSCC; LVI increases the local recurrence and regional recurrence rate, and decreases 5-year OS, DFS and DSS of HPSCC.