title: Cervical metastases from squamous cell carcinoma of hard palate and maxillary alveolus: a retrospective study of 10 years.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of cervical metastasis in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of hard palate and maxillary alveolus and to define its impact factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective study of patients surgically treated for SCC of hard palate and maxillary alveolus from 2002 to 2011. In situ hybridization was performed to detect high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidences of cervical metastasis and occult metastasis were 17.2% (11/64) and 9.8% (5/51), respectively. The pT classification and vascular invasion were correlated with cervical metastasis. Occult metastatic risk was significantly higher among patients with pT4. Presence of positive nodes impaired prognosis significantly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SCC of hard palate and maxillary alveolus has nonnegligible incidences of both overall and occult metastasis, which were highly associated with pT classification. We recommend routine, synchronous elective neck dissection for T4 lesions, whereas observation is an alternative for T1 to T3 lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Stomatological Hospital Affiliated Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu province, People's Republic of China; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hospital of Stomatology, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zinan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Runzhi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Guowen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Xiaofeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Enyi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008441:Maxillary Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D037981:Neck Dissection; D010157:Palatal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D021362:Palate, Hard / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020390:Tooth Socket / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: cervical metastasis; hard palate; maxillary alveolus; neck dissection; squamous cell carcinoma