The relationship of primary tumor thickness in carcinoma of the tongue to subsequent lymph node metastasis.
OBJECTIVE
To study whether primary tumor thickness of stage I/II tongue carcinoma provides information about subsequent lymph node metastasis.


METHODS
Twenty consecutive patients with T1N0M0 or T2N0M0 tongue carcinoma were studied. Primary tumor thickness was measured with post-contrast helical computed tomography or intra-oral sonography. Cervical lymph nodes were evaluated periodically with sonography at intervals of 2-4 weeks. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for subsequent metastasis was calculated.


RESULTS
Positive sonographic findings appeared in nine nodes of nine patients during this follow-up period. Eleven patients underwent neck dissections, and nine had histopathologically positive nodes. Nine patients had no sonographic findings of metastasis during a minimum follow-up period of 20 months. Primary tumor thickness varied from 3-16 mm. Using 5 mm as a cut-off thickness, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for subsequent lymph node metastasis were 64, 100 and 75% respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with stage I/II tongue carcinoma which is more than 5 mm thick are more likely to develop lymph node metastasis.
Hayashi
T
T
Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Department of Tissue Regeneration and Reconstruction, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Japan.
Ito
J
J
Taira
S
S
Katsura
K
K
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary; D003287:Contrast Media; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D009333:Neck; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography
D003287:Contrast Media