Neck observation versus elective neck dissection in management of clinical T1/2NO oral squamous cell carcinoma: a retrospective study of 232 patients

Objective:The management of early-stage (cT1/2N0) oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains a controversial issue.The aim of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of neck observation (OBS) and elective neck dissection (END) in treating patients with cT1/2N0OSCC.Methods:A total of 232 patients with cT1/2N0OSCC were included in this retrospective study.Of these patients,181 were treated with END and 51 with OBS.The survival curves of 5-year overall survival (OS),diseasespecific survival (DSS),and recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were plotted using the Kaplan-Meier method for each group,and compared using the Log-rank test.Results:There was no significant difference in 5-year OS and DSS rates between END and OBS groups (OS:89.0％ vs.88.2％,P=0.906;DSS:92.3％ vs.92.2％,P=0.998).However,the END group had a higher 5-year RFS rate than the OBS group (90.1％ vs.76.5％,P=0.009).Patients with occult metastases in OBS group (7/51) had similar 5-year OS rate (57.1％ vs.64.1％,P=0.839) and DSS rate (71.4％ vs.74.4％,P=0.982) to those in END group (39/181).In the regional recurrence patients,the 5-year O S rate (57.1％ vs.11.1％,P=0.011) and D SS rate (71.4％ vs.22.2％,P=0.022) in OBS group (7/51) were higher than those in END group (9/181).Conclusions:The results indicated that OBS policy could obtain the same 5-year OS and DSS as END.Under close follow-up,OBS policy may be an available treatment option for patients with clinical T1/2N0OSCC.