[Neck management in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma of stage I: a report of 95 cases].
OBJECTIVE
Cervical lymph node metastasis and recurrence are the most common causes of treatment failure to patients with oral tongue carcinoma. The neck management for oral tongue carcinoma of early stages remains controversial. This study was to evaluate the effectiveness of elective neck dissection (END) in treating oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of stage I.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis of 95 patients with oral tongue SCC of stage I, undergone surgical treatment from 1988 through 1997, was performed to determine the impact of END on patients' outcomes,such as regional recurrence,and overall survival. Of the 95 patients, 24 (observation group) did not undergo END, while the rest 71 (END group) underwent END.


RESULTS
In observation group, the regional recurrence rate was 25.0% (6/24), and the recurrence-related mortality was 20.8% (5/24). END significantly reduced both the regional recurrence rate and the recurrence-related mortality to 7.0% (5/71) and 4.2% (3/71) respectively (Chi(2) test, P < 0.05). The overall survival rate of END group was also significantly higher than that of observation group (log-rank test, P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
END may improve the neck control rate of oral tongue SCC of stage I, reduce the recurrence-related mortality, and increase the overall survival rate of patients.
Deng
Li-Fei
LF
Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, P. R. China. dlfzlyy@126.com
Chen
Fu-Jin
FJ
Zeng
Zong-Yuan
ZY
Wei
Mao-Wen
MW
Yang
An-Kui
AK
Zhang
Quan
Q
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection / Q000379:methods*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*