Elective neck treatment versus observation in patients with T1/T2 N0 squamous cell carcinoma of oral tongue

A retrospective analysis of 80 patients treated for T1/T2 N0 squamous cell carcinoma of oral tongue was performed. The patients were divided into two groups according to the management of the neck: those without (n = 34) and those with elective neck treatment (n = 46). The two groups were compared with respect to overall survival (OS), disease specific survival (DSS), and recurrences. The incidence of occult nodal disease and the results of salvage treatment were analysed. There were significantly fewer regional recurrences in patients with elective neck treatment. Statistical differences in OS or DSS between the treatment groups were not found. Of all the patients with locoregional recurrence, 33% were salvaged. The incidences of occult metastasis for T1 and T2 tumours were 24% and 35%, respectively. The elective neck treatment resulted in better regional control. The results of salvage treatment were poor. The risk for occult cervical metastasis is high in patients with early tongue tumours and only carefully selected patients can be left without prophylactic neck treatment.     

舌体鳞癌隐匿性颈淋巴结转移的外科治疗探讨

背景与目的:对于临床颈淋巴结阴性(cN0)的舌癌颈部的处理一直存在争议,本研究旨在探讨cN0舌体鳞癌颈部的合理治疗方案。方法:回顾性分析187例手术前后未行放、化疗的cN0舌体鳞癌初诊患者的临床资料;分析颈部隐匿性淋巴结转移规律和隐匿性淋巴结转移及预后的影响因素,以及颈部不同处理方式的控制情况。结果:隐匿性淋巴结转移率为23.0%,其最常见的位置在同侧颈Ⅱ区,83.0%的隐匿性淋巴结转移分布在同侧颈Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ区;病理分级是影响隐匿性淋巴结转移的独立因素;隐匿性淋巴结转移为影响cN0舌癌患者预后的独立因素;肩胛舌骨肌上清扫术的颈部复发率为6.7%。结论:肩胛舌骨肌上颈清扫术是cN0舌体鳞癌患者有效而安全的治疗措施。     

Predictive value of histopathologic parameters in early squamous cell carcinoma of oral tongue

The clinical course of early squamous cell carcinoma of oral tongue (OTSCC) is unpredictable and various histopathologic parameters of the primary tumour have been suggested as prognostic factors to be used in clinical decision-making. We reviewed clinicopathologic data of 73 patients diagnosed with Stage I–II OTSCC. Predictive value of pathological T-stage, depth of infiltration, grade, and mode of invasion with respect to local recurrences, occult cervical metastases, and disease specific survival (DSS) was analysed. Depth of infiltration and pT-stage significantly predicted occult nodal disease, while only pT-stage predicted local recurrence. Specific cut-off value for depth of infiltration separating high-risk and low-risk patients was not found. Significant correlations between the histopathologic parameters and DSS were not found. We conclude that depth of infiltration predicted occult nodal disease but its value in clinical decision-making is limited because of poor specificity when using a cut-off value that offers reasonable sensitivity for finding the patients with occult nodal disease. The risk for occult metastases and local recurrence was high in patients with pT2 tumours.     

The prognostic value of hypoxia markers in T2-staged oral tongue cancer

Tumor hypoxia is associated with poorer outcome in patients with head and neck carcinomas, but little is known about hypoxia biomarkers in oral tongue cancer. We evaluated whether hypoxia biomarkers and clinicopathologic variables were prognostic predictors in patients with T2-staged squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oral tongue. Tissue microarrays were constructed from formalin-fixed tumor blocks of 43 patients with T2-staged tongue SCCs treated by surgical resection and neck dissection. Tissue samples were stained with monoclonal antibodies to hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1alpha, HIF-2alpha, carbonic anhydrase (CA)-9, glucose transporter (GLUT)-1, and erythropoietin receptor (EPOR). Locoregional control and survival rates were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method, and prognostic factors were calculated from uni- and multivariate analyses. Tumor thickness was correlated with expression of CA-9 and GLUT-1 and nodal classification was correlated with GLUT-1 expression. The nodal metastasis rate was 51%, and the 5-year locoregional control and disease-specific survival (DSS) rates were 59% and 69%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that HIF-1alpha and EPOR expression were significantly related to DSS. Multivariate analysis showed that EPOR expression was an independent predictor of DSS (P=0.030). EPOR expression may be an independent predictor for DSS in patients with T2-staged SCC of the oral tongue.     

Management of the node negative early carcinoma tongue

Objective

To determine the role of thickness of the primary lesion in early Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) of the oral tongue for decision-making regarding the management of possible occult cervical node metastases.

Setting

Tertiary referral centre

Patients

Patients who were treated by the authors for early (T1, T2) primary lesions in the oral tongue in two malignancy treatment centres of the Armed Forces Medical Services were included in this prospective study. Where the primary lesion was less than 04 mm in depth, the neck was not addressed electively. Those who developed nodal disease in the neck on follow up were subjected to comprehensive neck dissection. In those patients where the tumour thickness was more than 04 mm, the neck was addressed with at least a supra-omohyoid neck dissection. Postoperative radiotherapy was given as per standard indications. The patients were followed up as per standard protocol.

Results

Disease free survival rate achieved was 86% and this compares well with survival rates achieved by other workers.

Conclusion

Treatment of neck nodes in early (T1,T2) SCC of the oral tongue can be expectant in cases where tumour thickness is less than 04 mm, but where it is more than 04 mm elective treatment of the neck is recommended.     

Perivascular-submandibular lymph node metastasis in squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue and floor of mouth.

AIMS: The goal of this study was to investigate the incidence of occult metastasis in perivascular lymph node and nodal recurrence in these nodal pads in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the tongue and floor of mouth. METHODS: We performed a prospective analysis of the incidence of an occult metastasis in the perivascular lymph nodes in 55 patients (41 with an oral tongue carcinoma and 14 with a mouth floor carcinoma) who underwent an elective supraomohyoid neck dissection (SOHND) for SCC of the tongue and floor of mouth, from 1997 to 2002. 99 SOHND procedures were performed as follows: 72 in tongue carcinomas and 27 in the mouth floor carcinomas. RESULT: Clinically occult, but pathologically positive perivascular lymph nodes occurred in four of 72 of the tongue carcinomas and two of 27 of the mouth floor carcinomas. The incidence of the regional recurrence at level I was three of 45. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary report reveals a small incidence of perivascular lymph-node metastases and the infrequent nodal recurrence in this area after SOHND in early-staged tongue and floor of mouth SCC.     

Depth of invasion is the most significant histological predictor of subclinical cervical lymph node metastasis in early squamous carcinomas of the oral cavity.

AIMS: Cervical node metastasis is the single most important prognostic factor in head and neck squamous carcinomas. Taking a homogenous patient population, applying stringent selection criteria, and standard pathological evaluation methods, this retrospective study aims to establish histological predictors of subclinical cervical node metastasis in early (T1-T2/N0) squamous carcinomas of the oral cavity, thereby identifying a subset of patients who are at an increased risk for cervical node metastasis. METHODS: Forty-eight previously untreated patients with clinically T1 or T2, and N0, squamous carcinomas of the oral cavity who were treated with primary excision of the tumour and elective neck node dissection were selected. Various histological factors including T size, gross and microscopic tumour depth and thickness, grade of differentiation, pattern of invasion, inflammatory response, perineural and lymphovascular invasion were studied. The statistical significance of various parameters as predictors of subclinical node metastasis was determined using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Of all the parameters studied, microscopic tumour depth and thickness were the only significant factors (P value=0.026 and 0.046, respectively) which correlated with cervical node metastasis, on univariate analysis. Tumour depth emerged as a single most significant predictor on multivariate analysis. Majority of patients with node metastasis had a tumour depth of more than or equal to 5 mm. CONCLUSION: Depth is the most significant predictor of cervical node metastasis in early squamous carcinomas of the oral cavity. Patients with a tumour depth of more than or equal to 5 mm are at an increased risk of harbouring node metastasis, hence should be taken up for elective node dissection.     

125例cT1-2NO舌鳞癌治疗后复发的相关因素分析

背景与目的:cT1-2N0舌鳞癌的治疗存在颇多争议,且术后复发率较高,挽救性治疗的成功率低.本研究旨在探讨cT1-2NO舌鳞癌治疗后复发的相关因素,及诸因素对生存率的影响,以指导临床选择更合理的治疗方法.方法:回顾性分析中山大学肿瘤防治中心1992年1月至2000年12月收治的125例cT1-2N0期舌鳞癌患者的临床资料(T1 58例和T2 67例),所有患者的治疗方式以手术为主,17例(13.6%)只行原发灶手术,53例(42.4%)行原发灶手术加选择性颈清扫,55例(44.0%)行综合治疗.x2检验和Cox模型分析性别、病程、生长方式、肿瘤部位、分化程度、TNM分期、隐匿性颈淋巴结转移、浸润深度、颈部处理、治疗方案、手术方式与复发、预后的关系.结果:125例患者有41例复发,总复发率是32.8%.总的5年生存率为62.59%,复发组与未复发组的5年生存率分别为38.74%、74.69%,两组比较有统计学意义(log-rank=19.27,P＜0.001).经统计学分析显示,cT1-2NO舌癌的复发与病程(x2检验,P=0.002)、生长方式(x2检验,P＜0.001)、颈部处理(x2检验,P＜0.001)、隐匿性颈淋巴结转移(x2检验,P=0.040)显著相关.舌癌的预后与浸润深度(Cox回归,P=0.005)和复发部位(Cox回归,P＜0.001)有显著相关性.结论:病程、生长方式、颈部处理和隐匿性淋巴结转移是cT1-2NO舌癌复发的重要因素.浸润深度和复发部位是影响预后的重要因素.     

Metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue is associated with down-regulation of epidermal fatty acid binding protein (E-FABP)

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the tongue is one of the most common cancers encountered in India, due to the prevalent habits of tobacco chewing and smoking. Up to 40% of the early stage tumours (clinical N0 M0) presenting at the Tata Memorial Hospital have occult cervical lymph node metastasis. Therefore, features in the primary tumour that would predict metastasis would be very useful for designing therapeutic approaches. Hence, we aimed at detecting genotypic markers of the metastatic sub-clones within the heterogeneous primary tumour population. We studied the differential expression of mRNAs between the primary tumour samples of SCC of the oral tongue and their metastasis by differential display analysis and identified a gene, FABP5, coding for Epidermal fatty acid binding protein (E-FABP-GenBank Accession ). Its expression was up to 4-fold higher in the primary tumours (67%) as compared to the corresponding metastatic lymph nodes by northern blot analysis.     

Early stage squamous cell cancer of the oral tongue--clinicopathologic features affecting outcome

BACKGROUND:

The objective of this study was to report the authors' experience in the management of patients with early stage squamous cell cancer (SCC) of the oral tongue and determine clinicopathologic factors predictive of outcome.

METHODS:

Two hundred sixteen patients with early stage (cT1T2N0) SCC of the oral tongue were identified from a pre‐existing database of patients with oral cancer who were treated at Memorial Sloan‐Kettering Cancer Center from 1985 to 2005. Patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics were recorded. Overall survival (OS), disease‐specific survival (DSS), and recurrence free survival (RFS) were calculated using the Kaplan‐Meier method. Predictors of outcome were identified using multivariate analysis.

RESULTS:

With a median follow‐up of 80 months (range, 1‐186 months), the 5‐year DSS, OS, and RFS rates were 86%, 79%,and 70%, respectively. Local, neck, and distant recurrences occurred in 24 patients (11%), 40 patients (18%), and 5 patients (2%), respectively. Multivariate analysis identified occult neck metastases as the main independent predictor of OS, DSS, and RFS; patients who had occult metastases had a 5‐fold increased risk of dying of disease compared with patients who did not have occult metastases (5‐year DSS, 85.5% vs 48.5%; P = .001). A positive surgical margin was the main independent predictor for local RFS (91% vs 66% for a negative surgical margin; P = .0004), and depth of invasion was the main predictor for neck RFS (91% vs 73% for depth of invasion <2 mm and >2 mm, respectively; P = .02).

CONCLUSIONS:

In the authors' experience, patients with early stage oral tongue cancer have excellent outcomes. In the current study, the presence of occult metastases was the main predictor of survival outcome. Cancer 2012;. © 2011 American Cancer Society.     

早期舌鳞癌的隐匿性淋巴结转移与治疗

目的：研究18例I期和Ⅱ期舌鳞癌的颈部隐匿性转移和挽救治疗的效果。方法：18例病以前均未接受过治疗。原发灶经口腔切除,并密切随访观察颈部。结果：手术切缘均呈阴性。11%（2/18）的病人原发灶处有复发,局部控制率是89%（16/18）。50%（9/18）的病人在随访期中发现锁骨上淋巴结转移。在原发灶已控制的情况下,淋巴结转移率是44%（7/16）。总的五年生存率是67%（12/18）。颈部隐匿性转移的病人五年生存率是27%（3/7）。结论：舌癌颈部隐匿性转移率较高,挽救成功率较低。因此,我们建议对早期舌鳞癌应施行选择性颈清扫术或预防性放射治疗,以提高生存率。     

舌鳞癌隐匿性颈淋巴结转移的特点及其对患者预后的影响

背景与目的:舌鳞癌隐匿性颈淋巴结转移有一定的规律性,且影响预后。本研究的目的是分析舌鳞癌隐匿性颈淋巴结转移的特点及其对患者预后的影响,为选择性肩胛舌骨肌上颈清扫提供临床依据。方法:收集1990～1996年间在我院住院行手术治疗的164例舌鳞癌患者的资料,分析舌鳞癌隐匿性颈淋巴结转移的特点及其对患者预后的影响。结果:164例舌鳞癌隐匿性颈淋巴结转移率为25.71%,最常见的转移部位是同侧的Ⅱ区,其次分别为同侧的Ⅰ和Ⅲ区,82.98%隐匿性转移的颈淋巴结位于以上3个区域,大多数隐匿性转移的颈淋巴结在首次手术治疗后2年内(33/36)被发现。经统计学分析,显性颈淋巴结转移和隐匿性颈淋巴结转移与无转移组之间患者的预后有显著性差异(log-rank,P<0.01),而显性转移组与隐匿性转移组患者的预后之间无显著性差异(log-rank,P>0.05)。结论:同侧的Ⅰ～Ⅲ区是舌鳞癌隐匿性颈淋巴结转移的常见区域,对较易发生隐匿性颈淋巴结转移的cN0舌鳞癌患者可行选择性肩胛舌骨肌上颈清扫术。隐匿性颈淋巴结转移影响cN0舌鳞癌患者的预后。     

95例Ⅰ期舌体鳞癌的颈部处理

背景与目的颈淋巴结的转移与复发是舌癌治疗失败的常见原因,目前对早期舌癌的颈部处理仍有争论,本研究旨在探讨选择性颈清扫术在治疗临床Ⅰ期舌体鳞癌中的作用。方法回顾性分析1988年至1997年间手术治疗的95例临床Ⅰ期舌体鳞癌患者,分为颈部观察和选择性颈清扫两组,总结分析选择性颈清扫对颈部复发率、总体生存率等治疗结果的影响。结果行颈部观察组24例,颈部复发率为25.0%(6/24),由于颈部复发而导致的死亡率为20.8%(5/24);行选择性颈清扫组71例,颈部复发率和由于颈部复发而导致的死亡率分别为7.0%(5/71)和4.2%(3/71)。两组的颈部复发率和由于颈部复发而导致的死亡率差异均有显著性(χ2检验,P<0.05);选择性颈清扫组的总体生存率亦显著高于颈部观察组(log鄄rank检验,P<0.05)。结论对临床Ⅰ期舌体鳞癌行选择性颈清扫不但可以提高患者的颈部控制率,而且能减少因颈部复发导致的死亡率,提高患者的总体生存率。     

Cyclin D1 gene numerical aberration is a predictive marker for occult cervical lymph node metastasis in TNM Stage I and II squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity

BACKGROUND: The management of occult cervical lymph node metastases originating from oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of cyclin D1 gene (CCND1) numerical aberrations in predicting the risk of late lymph node metastases. METHODS: Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), using a BAC clone specific for CCND1, was performed on OSCC specimens obtained by fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy from 45 patients with previously untreated TNM Stage I and II (T1-2N0M0) disease who had not undergone elective cervical lymph node dissection. RESULTS: CCND1 numerical aberrations were observed in 15 (33.3%) of the 45 patients and were significantly associated with the mode of invasion of the primary tumor (P = 0.01) and the presence of occult lymph node metastases (P < 0.001). Twelve of these 15 patients (80%) developed late cervical lymph node metastases within 2 years of surgery for primary OSCCs. All patients with cluster-type amplification of CCND1 developed late lymph node metastases. Multivariate analysis showed that only CCND1 numerical aberrations (risk ratio, 8.685%, 95% confidence interval = 2.232-33.802, P = 0.002) independently predicted late cervical lymph node metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: Aberrations in CCND1 numbers appear to be valuable in identifying patients at high risk of late lymph node metastasis in Stage I and II OSCCs. Analysis of CCND1 numerical aberrations using FISH on FNA biopsy specimens may be useful in selecting patients for elective cervical lymph node dissection.     

Surgical pathology of squamous carcinoma of the oral cavity: its impact on management

Squamous carcinoma of the oral cavity is relatively common in India. The anterior tongue and buccal mucosa are the two common sites. A retrospective analysis of various histological parameters in surgically treated patients with carcinoma of the anterior tongue (57 cases) and buccal mucosa (71 cases) was undertaken to evaluate their role in prognosis and management. The main findings of this study are the strong correlation between high tumour grade, infiltrative tumour margins, perineural invasion, and tumour size greater than 2 cm and lymph node metastasis at presentation, for both groups of patients. Tumor thickness greater than 5 mm was an additional variable associated with both overt and occult nodal metastases for anterior tongue lesions. All tumours thicker than 5 mm recurred in the untreated N0 neck. Clinically palpable nodes (N1) were falsely positive in 63% of patients with T4 buccal mucosa carcinoma. Grade I histology on biopsy can be used to predict which patients will have negative lymph nodes. Patients with pathologically proven nodal metastases have a poor prognosis. However, the mode of invasion and the presence of perineural invasion in the resected specimen determines the subsequent recurrence of histologically staged N0 cases, most of whom will relapse at the primary site. The low incidence of neck node metastases even in large, buccal mucosa tumours and the virtual absence of "skip" metastases to low nodal sites has made a supraomohyoid lymph node dissection after intraoperative staging a logical alternative to a conventional neck dissection for T3 and T4 buccal mucosa tumours. Finally, carcinoma of the oral cavity in India can be said to be at least two diseases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Neck treatment of patients with early stage oral tongue cancer: comparison between observation, supraomohyoid dissection, and extended dissection

BACKGROUND: The role of elective and therapeutic selective neck dissection in patients with early stage cancer of the oral tongue remains controversial. The purpose was to investigate the role of neck treatment in the management of this condition. METHODS: A total of 380 patients with cT1-2N0 oral tongue cancer were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were staged by means of computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. A total of 324 patients received elective neck dissection (END), whereas 56 participants received observation (OBS). In all, 287 patients received supraomohyoid neck dissection (SOND), whereas 37 patients received modified radical neck dissection (MRND). Overall survival (OS) and neck control rates (NCR) were investigated according to the treatment modality. RESULTS: In the END group the occult metastasis (OM) rates in cervical lymph nodes were 5.2% for cT1 lesions and 14.6% for cT2 lesion (P = .005). The 5-year OS (P = .029) and NCR rates (P = .001) were significantly better in the END group compared with the OBS group. Patients who received MRND had a better 5-year NCR compared with SOND, albeit not significantly (91.4% vs 85.3%, P = .415). Multivariate analysis showed that END and stage were independent predictors of both NCR and OS. CONCLUSIONS: END should be performed routinely in patients with early-stage oral tongue cancer, even in the presence of negative neck by CT scans and MRI.     

Apoptosis index is a predictor of metastatic phenotype in patients with early stage squamous carcinoma of the tongue: a hypothesis to support this paradoxical association

BACKGROUND: Patients with squamous carcinoma of the oral tongue in clinical stages TIN0M0 and T2N0M0 with a tumor thickness < or = 3 mm usually do not have lymph node (LN) metastasis. However, factors that are useful in predicting LN metastasis in thicker tumors (> 3 mm thick) need to be identified. The authors investigated the clinical relevance of the apoptotic index (AI), the proliferation index, and tumor grade in relation to LN metastasis in patients with early stage squamous carcinoma of the oral tongue. METHODS: Twenty-three patients with squamous carcinoma of the anterior two-thirds of the tongue measuring < 2 cm in height and > 3 mm in thickness were evaluated for tumor grade, AI (by using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling technique), and proliferation index (by proliferating cell nuclear antigen [PCNA] expression). RESULTS: The mean AI value was significantly higher in LN positive patients compared with LN negative patients (P = 0.012). The LN positive and LN negative subgroups did not differ in the mean PCNA index, and there was no significant difference in the distributions of tumor grade between LN positive and LN negative subsets. Four of 12 tumors with an AI < or = 5% and 10 of 11 tumors with an AI > 5% had LN metastasis (P = 0.009; risk ratio, 20). The AI maintained its significance with respect to LN metastasis in the multivariate analysis (P = 0.003). The 4-year recurrence free survival was significantly better in patients with tumors that had an AI value < or = 5% compared with patients with tumors that had an AI > 5% (92% vs. 32%) (P = 0.033). However, the AI lost its impact on recurrence free survival within a Cox proportional hazards model (P = 0.068). CONCLUSIONS: A higher AI value is a predictor of LN metastasis and may serve as a prognostic factor in patients with early stage squamous carcinoma of the oral tongue. The authors present a hypothesis to explain this rather surprising finding.     

Early stage carcinoma of oral tongue: prognostic factors for local control and survival

The purpose of this study was to assess prognostic factors, treatment outcomes and patterns of relapse in patients with early stage (T1-2 N0) squamous cell carcinoma of oral tongue treated primarily by surgery. The medical records of all patients with early stage (T1-2 N0) oral tongue cancer, radically treated at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center between January 1980 and December 1997, were reviewed. Eighty-five patients were identified for analysis, 38 male and 47 female. With a median follow-up for surviving patients of 64 months, 5-year actuarial overall, disease-specific (DSS), and relapse-free survival (RFS) were 71, 75, and 63%, respectively. Univariate analysis for DSS showed survival advantage for patients with tumor thickness (TT) of 10 mm (P=0.0002) and distance from resection margin (DFRM) of >5 mm (P=0.005). The effect of TT of 10 mm was maintained (P=0.001) on multivariate analysis. Higher RFS was observed with TT of 10 mm (P=0.0002), DFRM of >5 mm (P=0.0002) and DFRM of >10 mm (P=0.007). On multivariate analysis higher RFS was also found for TT 10 mm (P=0.01) and DFRM >5 mm (P=0.01). Salvage of local tongue recurrence was higher than neck node failure, with 5-year DSS of 71 and 19%, respectively (P=0.007). Time interval for recurrence showed no significant impact on outcome. In T1-2 N0 oral tongue cancer, TT, and DFRM are significant prognostic factors for both local control and survival. Neck node recurrence is associated with poor prognosis and low salvage rate.     

Oral cavity and oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma with metastasis to the parotid lymph nodes

To increase awareness of the potential of oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) to metastasize to the parotid region. We retrospectively reviewed patients who had undergone parotidectomy for metastatic oral or oropharyngeal SCC at a single tertiary care facility from January 1988 to January 2004. Exclusion criteria were a history of cutaneous SCC of head and neck or extension of primary tumor into the parotid gland. Twelve patients met study criteria. Parotid metastasis represented the initial disease manifestation in 4 cases. In 1 case, parotid metastasis presented synchronously with the primary tumor. Parotid metastasis represented recurrent disease in the other 7 cases. Primary subsites included tongue base (n=4), tonsil (n=3), lateral pharyngeal wall (n=2), oral floor (n=1), maxillary alveolus (n=1), and retromolar trigone (n=1). Pathologic findings showed grade 3 or 4 SCC in all patients. Parotid metastasis was located in the inferior parotid nodes in 7 cases; multiple superficial nodes, 3 cases; and both deep and superficial nodes, 2 cases. Oral and oropharyngeal SCC can metastasize to the intraparotid lymph nodes. The inferior parotid nodes are most commonly involved, and patients generally have substantial associated cervical metastases. When treating patients who have oral or oropharyngeal cancer with substantial cervical metastasis, physicians should consider removing the inferior parotid lymph nodes. We recommend that when intraparotid lymph node metastasis is detected, total parotidectomy and multidisciplinary adjuvant therapy should be conducted.