title: Long-term outcomes of endoscopic neck dissection in the treatment of early-stage oral cancer: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to investigate the feasibility and safety of endoscopic neck dissection in the treatment of early-stage oral cancer and to evaluate the long-term clinical outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six patients with early-stage oral cancer were enrolled in this pilot study from December 2006 to May 2007. All the patients underwent endoscopic selective neck dissection (levels I-IV) of the ipsilateral neck and partial glossectomy or hemiglossectomy as the primary treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All endoscopic procedures were successfully performed, with important neck structures identified and preserved. All the patients survived with no persistent or recurrent disease during the 76- to 83-month follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our preliminary results indicated that endoscopic neck dissection is a technically feasible and safe technique for treating early-stage oral cancer. The oncologic indications and validation should be further confirmed in patients with clinically positive neck lymph nodes in a future study.
authors.affiliation: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Dai-Qiao
authors.initials: DQ
authors.lastname: Ouyang
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Xiong
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: Attending Physician, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Guang-Sen
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Attending Physician, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Jie
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Si-En
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Professor and Chairman, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. Electronic address: Drliaoguiqing@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Gui-Qing
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Liao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D037981:Neck Dissection / Q000379:methods*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome