title: Survival impact of cervical metastasis in squamous cell carcinoma of hard palate.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evaluate the impact of cervical metastasis on the survival of patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the hard palate.
  
  
  METHODS
  155 cases of SCC of the hard palate hospitalized in Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, from 1964 to 2008 were reviewed retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 5-year DSS rates for N+ and N0 patients were 21.54% and 47.36% (P = .048). The 5-year DSS rates were 47.36%, 27.48%, 15.55% and 0 for N0-N3 lesions, respectively (P = .041). Cervical metastasis was detected in 40% patients for initial consultation. After therapy, those individuals who presented with clinically negative necks had a 9.03% rate of cervical metastasis. Ultimately, 49.03% of patients manifested disease to the cervical lymph nodes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of cervical nodal disease in patients is associated with the decreased survival rates. SCC of the hard palate should be treated aggressively, and elective neck dissection should be considered because of the high rate of cervical metastasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Affiliated Tumor Hospital, Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Quan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Di
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Wei-Wei
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wei-Guo
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Xin-Rui
authors.initials: XR
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhi-Min
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhu-Ming
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Xue-Kui
authors.initials: XK
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality* / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D009333:Neck / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D037981:Neck Dissection; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000401:mortality*; D021362:Palate, Hard / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate