Korean J Otolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2002 Feb;45(2):154-158.

Cervical Lymph Node Metastasis of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Tongue and Floor of Mouth

• Kim CH
• Bae JH
• Shin SH
• Koh YW
• Kim YH
• Choi EC

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity is a well known tumor with frequent nodal metastases, but reports on detailed prevalence of nodal metastases by primary subunits and neck level are lacking.
PATIENTS AND METHOD
A retrospective review of 63 previously untreated patients (who visited the hospital from 1992 to 2001) with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue and floor of the mouth, were undertaken to ascertain the prevalence of ipsilateral neck node metastases by neck level; of elective dissection in cN0 neck (n=43), and of therapeutic dissection in cN+ neck (n=20).
RESULTS
Overall incidence of neck metastases, cancer of the oral tongue, and cancer of the floor of the mouth were 44.4%, 50% (24/48) and 26.7% (4/15), retrospectively. False negative and false positive rates were 27.9% and 20%, respectively. Neck metastasis was predominantly revealed in levels I, II, and III. Metastases at level IV and V were exclusively accompanied with metastases to other levels.
CONCLUSION
Squamous cell carcinomas of the oral tongue and floor of the mouth metastasized to the neck frequently and neck metastasis correlated to T-stage. Elective treatment is needed to ipsilateral neck level I, II, and III. However, comprehensive neck dissection is needed for cN+ neck.

Keyword

Squamous cell carcinoma; Tongue; Floor of the mouth; Lymph node metastasis

MeSH Terms

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell*
Humans
Incidence
Lymph Nodes*
Mouth
Mouth Floor*
Neck
Neck Dissection
Neoplasm Metastasis*
Prevalence
Retrospective Studies
Tongue*