title: A retrospective evaluation of submandibular gland involvement in oral cavity cancers: a case for gland preservation.
abstract: The key factor mitigating against prognosis in head and neck cancer is nodal metastasis and its management. Neck dissection has been known to play an integral part in this type of cancer management. Submandibular gland preservation during neck dissection and post radiotherapy, have been known to improve subjective symptoms of xerostomia. The authors retrospectively surveyed the involvement of submandibular gland involvement in oral cancer with a view to confirm oncologic safety of submandibular gland preservation, as a first step in a quest to manage radiation induced xerostomia by submandibular gland transfer. The medical and pathological records of oral cancer patients who underwent surgical treatment at the authors' centre were reviewed retrospectively. 194 patients were included in the study. 229 submandibular glands were excised from the same number of neck dissections. 3 (1.3%) submandibular glands were involved with malignancies microscopically. The mode of involvement was by direct infiltration. In conclusion, no metastasis to submandibular gland was observed. This may suggest the oncologic safety of submandibular gland preservation and transfer.
authors.affiliation: Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), Nigeria.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Okoturo
authors.forename: N P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Trivedi
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kekatpure
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gangoli
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Shetkar
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohan
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kuriakose
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D037981:Neck Dissection; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery