肩胛舌骨肌上颈清扫术在临床N0口腔癌治疗中的应用

目的探讨肩胛舌骨肌上颈清扫术在口腔癌治疗中的应用价值。方法对27例临床N0(T1~3)口腔鳞状细胞癌患者行肩胛舌骨肌上颈清扫,清扫范围为第Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ区淋巴结。记录颈清扫手术时间、术后淋巴结病理检查结果、术后肩功能及随访结果。结果手术时间平均(x±s)为(16±02)h。术后病理检查证实5例出现颈淋巴转移(19%),转移发生于第Ⅰ区2例(7%)、第Ⅱ区4例(15%),其中1例同时存在第Ⅰ、Ⅱ区转移。肩功能在术后3个月内基本恢复。术后随访2~4年,随访率100%,未见原发灶复发及颈淋巴转移。结论肩胛舌骨肌上颈清扫术是临床颈部N0口腔癌的合适术式,它既能达到治疗目的,又能最大程度地保留肩颈部外形与功能。     

头颈鳞癌颈部N_0的局限性颈清扫术

目的：头颈部肿瘤颈部Ｎ０的处理有不同意见。本文提供两组病例：一组为１４９例喉癌声门上型;一组为２１９例舌活动部癌。试图从这两组患者治疗结果讨论Ｎ０适宜治疗。方法：我科于１９７６～１９９０年外科或综合治疗声门上型喉癌１４９例;１９６０～１９９３年外科或放射治疗舌活动部鳞癌２１９例。这两类病种均易有颈淋巴结转移,均为Ｔ１～４Ｎ０病例。声门上癌颈部做上颈清扫术;舌癌大部做全颈清扫术。两组原发灶以手术或放射治疗。利用手术标本病理检查及随诊资料进行分析讨论。结果：声门上型喉癌Ｎ０上颈清扫术后,病理无淋巴结转移者１４９例（病理有转移者立即做全颈清扫,不包括在这一组内）,５年观察后有１５例（１０．１％）出现颈转移。和文献报告全颈清扫后复发率可以相比。２１９例舌癌患者１１６例做全颈清扫,病理阳性率为１９．８％（２３／１１６）。３年观察后颈部复发的病例如下：原发与颈部放疗者１７．２％（１０／５８）;颈部无治疗者１６．１％（５／３１）;颈清扫病理阴性者１２．０％（１０／８３）。统计学上无差别。结论：对Ｎ０患者,无需做经典性全颈清扫术。对声门上型患者,上颈清扫（Ⅱ组淋巴结）做为诊断措施可以解决问题,进一步可以考虑肩胛舌骨肌上清扫     

颈清扫术治疗晚期颈转移癌的远期效果及复发相关因素分析

目的 探讨颈清扫术治疗晚期颈转移癌的远期效果及术后颈部复发的相关影响因素。方法 对112例接受全颈清扫手术的头颈部鳞状细胞癌N2、N3患者，利用手术标本病理检查及随访资料进行回顾性分析。结果 晚期颈转移癌全颈清扫术后5年颈部复发率为27．7％(31／112)，其中N2、N3患者的术后5年颈部复发率分别为16．5％(13／79)、54．5％(18／33)。31例全颈清扫术颈部复发患者，Kaplan-Meier法统计术后3年生存率、5年生存率分别为16．1％(5／31)、9．7％(3／31)。单因素χ^2分析显示，临床N分期、病理颈淋巴结大小、转移淋巴结包膜外扩散、颈部非淋巴组织结构受侵情况与术后颈部复发有关。多因素Logistic回归分析结果表明，仅病理检查颈淋巴结大小与术后颈部复发明显相关。结论 颈部复发是晚期颈转移癌患者最常见的术后肿瘤复发原因。转移颈淋巴结大小是全颈清扫术后颈部复发根本和决定性影响因素。而临床N分期、转移淋巴结包膜外扩散、颈部非淋巴组织结构受侵情况对全颈清扫术后颈部复发具有重要影响。     

舌活动部鳞癌颈淋巴结阴性(cN0)的处理

目的 :通过分析舌活动部鳞癌病人临床检查颈淋巴结阴性 (c N0 )的隐匿性淋巴结转移在颈部各区的分布 ,显示舌活动部鳞癌的淋巴结转移规律 ,并指导舌活动部鳞癌 c N0 的分区性颈淋巴清扫的范围。方法 :回顾分析 33例 c N0 的舌活动部鳞癌行选择性全颈淋巴结清扫和挽救性颈淋巴结清扫术的病例 ,分析手术后病理阳性淋巴结 (p N+ )在颈部各区的分布。结果 :病理证实单个淋巴结转移 14例 ,其中 区淋巴结转移 3例 , 区淋巴结转移 7例 , 区淋巴结转移 4例 , 区和 区未见淋巴结转移。多个淋巴结转移 19例 ,各区转移频率分别为 : 区 2 7.4 5 % ; 区 39.2 2 % ; 区31.37% ; 区 0 % ; 区 1.96 %。结论 :舌活动部鳞癌 c N0 的颈部处理没有必要采用经典性全颈清扫术 ,建议行肩胛舌骨肌上的分区性清扫 ,即 区清扫 + 区清扫 + 区清扫即可 ,避免全颈清术给患者造成的术后损害。     

舌活动部鳞癌颈淋巴结阴性（cN0）的处理

目的：通过分析舌活动部鳞癌病人临床检查颈淋巴结阴性（cN0)的隐匿性淋巴结转移在颈部各区的分布，显示舌活动部鳞癌的淋巴结转移规律，并指导舌活动部鳞癌cN0的分区性颈淋巴清扫的范围。方法：回顾分析33例cN0的舌活动部鳞癌行选择性全颈淋巴结清扫和挽救性颈淋巴结清扫术的病例，分析手术后病理阳性淋巴结（pN^ )在颈部各区的分布。结果：病理证实单个淋巴结转移14例，其中Ⅰ区淋巴结转移3例，Ⅱ区淋巴结转移7例，Ⅲ区淋巴结转移4例，Ⅳ区和Ⅴ区未见淋巴结转移，多个淋巴结转移19例，各区转移频率分别为：Ⅰ区27.45%,Ⅱ区39.22%，Ⅲ区31.37%,Ⅳ区0%，Ⅴ区1.96%。结论：舌活动部鳞癌cN0的颈部处理没有必要采用经典性全颈清扫术，建议行肩胛舌骨肌上的分区性清扫，即Ⅰ区清扫 Ⅱ区清扫 Ⅲ区清扫即可，避免全颈清术给患者造成的术后损害。     

择区性颈清扫术在临床N0舌鳞状细胞癌治疗中的应用

目的比较择区性颈清扫术(selective neck dissection，SND)与经典性或改良性颈清扫术(radical neck dissection，RND)在治疗舌鳞状细胞癌颈淋巴结临床阴性(cN0)患者中的效果。方法将1998年1月-2002年12月之间采用肩胛舌骨肌上颈清扫术(Ⅰ～Ⅲ区)14例及Ⅰ～Ⅳ区清扫19例(SND组)共33例与1980年1月-1997年12月之间112例采用经典性或改良性颈清扫术(RND组)的病例，根据T分期、综合治疗方式和淋巴结病理情况进行随机配对分析。Kaplan—Meier方法计算复发率和颈部淋巴结复发或生存趋势。结果RND组5年颈部复发率为9．1％(3例)，SND组5年同侧颈部复发率12．1％(4例)；两组的5年生存率分别是78．8％和82．9％(分别为26例和28例)。Ⅰ-Ⅲ区清扫组5年颈部复发率为21．2％(3例)，清扫野外复发率为14．3％(2例)；Ⅰ-Ⅳ区清扫组5年同侧颈部复发率5．3％(1例)，清扫野外复发率为0。结论与经典性或改良性颈清扫术相比，择区性颈清扫术并不影响cN0舌癌患者的肿瘤治疗效果，术式以Ⅰ～Ⅳ区清扫为适宜。     

cN0声门上型喉癌颈淋巴结隐匿性转移规律及处理

目的:探讨cN0声门上型喉癌患者颈部淋巴结隐匿性转移规律并选择合理的颈清扫区域。方法:139例cN0声门上型喉癌患者在行喉切除术同时行颈淋巴结清扫术,其中行改良性颈清扫57例,肩胛舌骨肌上淋巴结清扫30例,颈Ⅱ、Ⅲ区淋巴结清扫52例。将所获淋巴结按颈部分区逐一行组织病理学检查,观察其转移规律及临床疗效。结果:139例cN0声门上型喉癌患者中,同期行单侧颈清扫113例,同期行双侧颈清扫26例。139例(165侧)颈清扫标本经病理学检查,颈淋巴结阳性36例(25.9%),首次病理学检查颈淋巴结阴性者在随访中发现未手术侧淋巴结转移6例,总颈淋巴结隐匿性转移率为30.2%(42/139),单侧隐匿性转移率为26.6%(37/139),双侧隐匿性转移率为3.6%(5/139)。165侧颈清扫标本共获得淋巴结3 594枚,平均每侧21.8枚,共获病理阳性淋巴结83枚,其中位于Ⅰ区1枚(1.2%),Ⅱ区65枚(78.3%),Ⅲ区16枚(19.3%),Ⅳ区1枚(1.2%),Ⅴ区0枚。颈部复发率为5.0%(7/139),pN0与pN+的颈部复发率分别为0和16.7%(7/42),差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),总5年生存率为76.3%(106/139)。结论:颈Ⅱ、Ⅲ区是cN0声门上型喉癌颈部淋巴结隐匿性转移的主要区域,择区性(Ⅱ、Ⅲ区)颈淋巴结清扫术治疗cN0声门上型喉癌是合适的。     

同期双颈淋巴廓清术37例分析

目的探讨同期实施双颈淋巴廓清术提高癌症患者生存率的可能性.方法头颈部癌伴双颈淋巴转移,在切除原发灶的同时一期行双颈淋巴廓清术.根据淋巴结的大小及分布范围,分别采用4种术式,(1)经典性全颈清扫术;(2)改良性全颈清扫术;(3)分区性颈清扫术;(4)颈扩大清扫术.结果经随访,3年生存率为62.1%(23/37),5年生存率为37.8%(14/37).并发症有乳糜漏2例,血肿2例,颈皮瓣延期愈合1例,严重面部软组织水肿5例.无因手术而死亡或偏瘫者.结论为了提高癌症患者的生存率及生存质量,只要严格掌握手术适应证,术中(至少)保留一侧颈内静脉,同期行双颈淋巴廓清并发症不重,手术是安全可行的.     

声门上型喉癌颈淋巴隐匿性转移及其处理

目的 探讨声门上型喉癌颈淋巴隐匿性转移规律及其处理方法。方法 选择术前未行放疗、化疗的声门上喉鳞状细胞癌，临床N0M0病例，共30例，男19例，女11例；年龄40～72岁，平均54．8岁；按UICC(1997年)标准分期1、28例，1318例，T44例。行主病变侧肩胛舌骨肌上颈清扫术(supraomohyoid neck dissecton，SOHND)，将获得淋巴结逐一行病理组织学检查，观察其转移规律及临床治疗效果。结果 首次颈清扫术30例中有6例颈淋巴结转移癌阳性，在2～3年随访中有3例发生对侧颈淋巴结转移，计有9例颈淋巴转移，隐匿性转移率同侧为20％(6／30)，对侧为10％(3／30)。颈清扫术共获淋巴结527个，平均每侧17．6个。获转移阳性淋巴结10个，其中Ⅱ区9个，Ⅲ区1个，Ⅰ区无癌转移。喉及主病变侧颈部均无复发，2年无瘤生存率86．7％(26／30)。结论 声门上型喉癌颈淋巴结隐匿性转移率达30％，采用Ⅱ、Ⅲ区的择区性颈清扫术处理其颈淋巴结(Ⅰ区可不必作为常规清扫区域)是切实可行的。     

舌鳞状细胞癌临床N0颈清扫模式的探讨

目的 探讨舌鳞状细胞癌(简称鳞癌)临床N0(clinical N0，cN0)颈部合理的治疗模式，避免过度治疗和治疗不足。方法 回顾性分析1985年1月-2001年4月cN0舌鳞癌327例的临床病理资料，比较不同治疗方法对颈部控制率的影响，并进行预后和死因分析。结果 全部病例随访3年以上，总的3年生存率为69．7％(228／327)，颈部治疗失败组和颈部控制组的3年生存率分别为39．1％(25／64)和77．2％(203／263)；51．5％(51／99)死亡与颈部治疗失败有关；总的颈部控制率为80．4％(263／327)，采取观察随访、Ⅰ区清扫、Ⅰ Ⅱ区清扫、肩胛舌骨肌上颈清扫术、经典性颈清扫术、功能性颈清扫术的颈部控制率分别为67．5％(27／40)、72．7％(24／33)、60．0％(15／25)、84．9％(45／55)、86．8％(131／151)、84．0％(21／25)，影响颈部控制率的独立因素为颈部治疗方法和术后N分期。结论 颈部控制是cN0舌鳞癌预后的关键因素；舌鳞癌cN0颈部的治疗首选肩胛舌骨肌上颈清扫术；对于术后病理提示有多个淋巴结转移和(或)包膜外侵犯者应考虑术后放疗。     

淋巴转移阳性舌体鳞癌的颈部治疗策略探讨

目的 分析影响淋巴转移阳性(pathologically node positive,pN+)舌体鳞癌患者颈部复发的相关因素和淋巴转移规律,探讨pN+舌体鳞癌的颈部治疗策略.方法 回顾性分析1991年1月至2006年12月期间138例pN+舌体鳞癌患者的临床和随访资料,分析pN+舌体鳞癌颈部转移淋巴结和复发淋巴结的分布规律和pN+舌体鳞癌临床病理因素和治疗方法对颈部复发的影响.结果 全部病例随访2年以上或至患者死亡.Kaplan-Meier法计算3年生存率为46.4%,5年生存率为36.2%.138例共203个分区发生转移,其中同侧Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ区累及频率达94.6%,47例共66个分区出现颈部淋巴结复发,其中同侧Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ区复发频率达77.3%.颈部复发率与pT分期、pN分期、pTNM分期、淋巴结包膜外侵犯有关(P值均＜0.05);当淋巴结有包膜外侵犯时,术后放疗组的颈部复发率低于未放疗组,但差异无统计学意义(P=0.076);不同颈清扫方式间的颈部复发率差异无统计学意义(P值均＞0.05).Cox多因素生存分析显示,pTNM分期和淋巴结包膜外侵犯是影响pN+舌体鳞癌预后的独立危险因素.结论 pT分期、pN分期、pTNM分期、淋巴结包膜外侵犯是影响pN+舌体鳞癌颈部复发的因素;当淋巴结有包膜外侵犯时,术后放疗有可能降低颈部复发率;改良性颈清扫的颈部复发率与经典性颈清扫没有差异,对非淋巴结构无肿瘤侵犯的pN+舌体鳞癌尽量行改良性颈清扫;pN+舌体鳞癌转移和复发淋巴结主要分布在同侧Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ区,择区性颈清扫可应用于pN+舌体鳞癌.     

Treatment of contralateral N0 neck in early squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue: elective neck dissection versus observation

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Prophylactic treatment of contralateral N0 neck in early squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oral tongue is a controversial issue. The aim of this study was to analyze the rates of occult metastases and their prognostic effects in stage I and stage II SCC of the oral tongue, and to compare the results of elective neck dissection to observation of the contralateral N0 neck in the treatment of these patients. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 54 patients who were treated at Severance Hospital from 1992 to 2003 and had been diagnosed with stage I or stage II SCC of the oral tongue and had not received prior treatment. All patients underwent an ipsilateral elective neck dissection simultaneously with the primary lesion. The management of the contralateral N0 necks involved "watchful waiting" in 29 patients and elective neck dissection in 25 patients. Surgical treatment was followed by radiotherapy in 20 patients. Of these, seven patients belonged to the "observation" group who did not receive contralateral elective neck dissection. The follow-up period ranged from 3 to 110 months, with a mean of 56.3 months. Data were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method, the log-rank test, and the chi(2) test. RESULTS: Fifteen patients (28%, 15 of 54) had occult metastases. Of these, 14 patients (26%, 14 of 54) had ipsilateral pathologic metastases. The remaining case (4%, 1 of 25) had the only contralateral level II occult neck metastasis without ipsilateral metastasis. Disease recurred in 17 of 54 patients (31%). Of these, eight cases (47%, 8 of 17) had regional recurrences. All regional recurrences developed in the ipsilateral neck; there were no cases of contralateral neck recurrence. The 5-year actuarial disease-free survival rates were 82% for the "observation" group and 68% for the elective neck dissection group. This difference was not statistically significant (P = .182). The 5-year actuarial disease-free survival rates were 83% for the "observation" group when those patients who underwent radiotherapy were excluded (n = 22) and 68% for the elective supraomohyoid neck dissection group (n = 25), which showed no statistically significant difference (P = .127). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that ipsilateral elective neck management is indicated for stage I and II SCC of the oral tongue. On the other hand, our series suggests that contralateral occult lymph node metastasis was unlikely in early-stage oral tongue SCC, and that there was no survival benefit for patients who underwent elective neck dissection in place of observation. Thus, it may not harmful to observe the contralateral N0 neck in the treatment of early oral tongue cancer.     

鼻咽癌放疗后颈淋巴结复发和残留的外科治疗

目的 分析鼻咽癌放疗后颈淋巴结残留和复发者的4种清扫方式的疗效，希望能为临床提供更多手术方式的选择。方法 回顾性分析88例鼻咽癌患者资料，分析总体疗效：生存率、复发率、远处转移率和手术并发症；比较全颈清扫、改良性、择区性颈清扫术和颈淋巴结切除术4种手术方式的生存率、复发率；比较术后颈部放疗与否者的生存率、复发率。结果 采用生命表法统计88例鼻咽癌患者5年累积生存率42.8％，颈淋巴结复发率为22．7％。Ⅱ期、Ⅲ期、Ⅳ期患者的5年生存率(生命表法)分别为56.7％、36．1％、32.4％。全颈清扫术、改良性颈清扫术、择区性颈清扫术和颈淋巴结切除术组5年累积生存率(Kaplan-Meier法)分别为39．8％、60．0％、37．9％和44．1％，差异无统计学意义(Log Rank统计值=1．0，P=0.8011)，颈淋巴结复发率差异也无统计学意义(χ^2=0．470，P=0．493)。颈清扫术后颈部给予与未给予术后放疗者的5年累积生存率(Kaplan-Meier法)分别为39．1％和45．3％，差异无统计学意义(Log Rank统计值=0．06，P=0．8138)，颈淋巴结复发率差异也无统计学意义(χ^2=0．593，P=0．441)。结论 只要合理选择病例，配合必要的术后局部和浅表的放疗，4种清扫方式都能有效和安全地控制肿瘤。     

择区性颈清扫术在头颈部鳞状细胞癌颈淋巴转移患者中应用的初步分析

目的 探讨择区性颈清扫术(selective neck dissection)在伴N1、N2期颈淋巴转移头颈部鳞状细胞癌(简称鳞癌)中的疗效.方法 回顾性分析36例伴N1、N2期颈淋巴转移的头颈部鳞癌患者行40侧择区性颈清扫术,16侧行全颈清扫术的临床资料,评价择区性颈清扫术的疗效.KaplanMeier法行累积生存率统计,Log-rank检验比较生存率差异;有无淋巴结包膜外侵犯病例复发率的差异分析采用Fisher精确概率法;采用Cox比例风险模型对可能影响患者生存时间的因素进行分析.结果 36例患者3和5年生存率分别为76.8%和54.3%.N1+N2a组3和5年生存率均为100%,N2b+N2c组3和5年生存率分别为59.4%和32.0%,Log-rank检验两组患者5年生存率差异有统计学意义(P=0.003).有无淋巴结包膜外侵犯分组的复发率分别为36.4%和3.4%,差异有统计学意义(P=0.015);3年生存率分别为45.5%和81.8%,5年生存率分别为39.7%和65.5%,差异均有统计学意义(P值分别为0.0148和0.0423).多因素分析证实淋巴结包膜外侵犯是影响患者生存时间的危险因素(P=0.042,OR=0.328,OR值95%可信限为0.112～0.959).结论 头颈部鳞癌N1期患者采用择区性颈清扫术可有满意的疗效,对N2期病变和伴有淋巴结包膜外侵犯的病例需谨慎处理,必要时扩大清扫范围甚至变更术式为全颈清扫术或改良全颈清扫术以提高术后颈部肿瘤控制率.     

颈Ⅱ和Ⅲ区清扫术治疗cNO声门上型喉鳞状细胞癌

目的 研究择区性即ⅡA、ⅡB和Ⅲ区颈淋巴结清扫术(selective neck dissection,SND)治疗临床颈淋巴结阴性(clinical node negative,cN0)的声门上荆喉鳞癌隐匿性颈转移的可行性.方法 回顾性分析2002年10月至2006年3月在哈尔滨医科大学肿瘤医院头颈外科行SND(ⅡA、ⅡB和Ⅲ区)治疗52例cN0声门上型喉癌的治疗结果.结果 52例cNO声门上型喉癌中32例同期行单侧(ⅡA、ⅡB和Ⅲ区),20例行双侧SND.52例颈清扫标本病理检查发现,颈转移阳性者15例(28.9%).3例首次病理检查阴性者在随访中发生未手术侧颈部转移,总的颈隐匿性转移率为34.6%(18/52),单侧、双侧隐匿性颈转移率分别为28.8%和5.8%.72侧颈清标本共获淋巴结1190枚,其中病理阳性30枚,分布于ⅡA区25枚(83.3%)、Ⅲ区5枚(16.7%).术侧颈部复发率为5.8%(3/52).Kaplan-Meier法统计3年累积生存率为84.6%.淋巴结病理阴性和阳性的颈部复发率分别为0(0/34)和16.7%(3/18),差异有统计学意义(Fisher精确检验,P=0.021),有无包膜外侵犯的颈部复发率分别为50%(2/4)和2.1%(1/48),差异有统计学意义(Fisher精确检验,户=0.002).结论 颈SND(ⅡA、ⅡB和Ⅲ区)治疗cNO声门上型喉癌颈隐匿性转移是可行的,该术式能缩短手术时间、减少并发症且不影响肿瘤治疗效果.     

Neck dissection for non-squamous malignancy

Of 1030 patients who underwent neck dissection (radical, modified or selective) in a 27-year period 103 had malignant neck nodes from a primary site in the head and neck with a histological diagnosis other than squamous carcinoma. There were 71 men and 32 women in this group with a mean age of 55 years. 28 patients had neck dissection as part of their initial treatment and 75 for later nodal recurrence. Five-year survival was 52% (40-63%). Survival was site dependent, best for thyroid tumours and worst for tumours of the major salivary glands (χ2/1 = 6.52, P < 0.05). Histology significantly affected survival, best for papillary tumours and worst for melanoma and undifferentiated tumours (χ2/1 = 3.85, P < 0.05). Survival was worse with advanced N stage but varied little with node level. The number of nodes invaded had a highly significant effect on survival (χ2/1= 23.94, P < 0.001), but extracapsular rupture had no effect. Advanced T stage at the time of surgery had a significant adverse effect on survival using univariate analysis, but this effect disappeared using multivariate analysis. In the 75 patients who had neck dissections for nodal recurrence the presence of a simultaneous recurrence at the primary site had no significant effect on survival. These patients had a better 5-year survival than patients having neck dissection for squamous disease, but the usual predictors of survival in squamous carcinoma do not always apply to non-squamous malignancy. Keywords head and neck cancer non-squamous neck dissection survival     

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Versus Elective Neck Dissection: Long-Term Oncologic Outcomes in Clinically Node-Negative Tongue Cancer

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to compare the long-term oncologic outcomes of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) versus elective neck dissection (END) in clinically node-negative (cN0) tongue cancer.MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort study of patients with cN0 tongue cancer from a single institution, including 91 patients in the SLNB group and 120 patients in the END group.ResultsThe overall recurrence rate showed no significant difference between the two groups. The regional control rate was also comparable between the two groups (P=0.490). The 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) was slightly better in the SLNB group than in the END group (P=0.427). The 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was 89.9% in the SLNB group versus 91.9% in the END group (P=0.737). In a propensity-matched subgroup analysis, the type of neck management did not affect RFS or OS.ConclusionSLNB showed non-inferior oncologic outcomes compared to END in patients with cN0 tongue squamous cell carcinoma.     

Factors Related to Regional Recurrence in Early Stage Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Tongue

Objectives

This study analyzed various clinical and histopathologic factors for patients with early stage squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oral tongue to define a high risk group for regional recurrence and finally to find out the indication of elective neck dissection (END).

Methods

Retrospective chart review was performed for 63 patients with T1-T2N0 SCC of the oral tongue who underwent partial glossectomy with/without END. Clinical and histopathologic factors assessed were age, gender, clinical T stage, tumor cell differentiation, depth of invasion, pathologic nodal status, and intrinsic muscle involvement, perineural invasion, lymphovascular emboli and resection margin involvement.

Results

Five year overall survival rate was 97.1% in stage I and 76.2% in stage II, and 5-yr disease free survival rate was 76.7% in stage I and 43.5% in stage II. Rates of occult nodal metastasis in stage I and II were 15.4% and 42.9%, respectively. Overall regional recurrence rate was 15.9%, which consisted of 10.2% in stage I and 35.7% in stage II. The success rate of salvage treatment was 100% in stage I and 40% in stage II. Higher T stage, higher histologic grade, depth of invasion ≥3 mm, presence of intrinsic muscle involvement were significantly related to regional recurrence (P=0.035, P=0.011, P=0.016, P=0.009, respectively). In stage I, the non-END group (n=36) showed 13.9% of regional recurrence rate, while END group (n=13) did not have any regional recurrence (P=0.198). Five year disease free survival rate of END group was significantly higher than non-END group (100% and 68.7%, respectively, P=0.045).

Conclusion

We recommend to perform END in early stage SCC of the oral tongue if the primary tumor has T2 stage, and T1 stage with higher histologic grade, depth of invasion more than 3 mm, or presence of intrinsic muscle involvement.