title: Tumor Infiltration Depth as Predictor of Nodal Metastasis in Early Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A retrospective longitudinal study was conducted to identify the cutoff value of infiltration depth for predicting the risk of lymph node metastasis of the neck in a well-defined population of surgically treated patients affected by stage T1 to T2 oral squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-seven patients were enrolled in this study. Forty-four patients (65.5%) had pN0 status and 23 (34.5%) had pN(+) status. Thirty-five positive lymph nodes were analyzed. The median follow-up for these patients was 51.4 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean infiltration depth of the N-negative group was 2.4 mm; this was substantially different from the mean value observed in the N-positive group at 5.5 mm. A meaningful cutoff was identified at an infiltration depth value of 4 mm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Infiltration depth was identified as an important predictor for neck nodal status. In this specific population, mortality was associated with increasing tumor infiltration depth.
authors.affiliation: Researcher, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna; Section of Maxillofacial Surgery, Policlinico S Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Achille
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tarsitano
authors.affiliation: PhD student, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Section of Oral Science, University of Bologna, Italy. Electronic address: giacomo.delcorso@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Del Corso
authors.affiliation: Medical Doctor, Pathology Unit, Policlinico S Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Lucia
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Tardio
authors.affiliation: Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna; Section of Maxillofacial Surgery, Policlinico S Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marchetti
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary; D059186:Chemoradiotherapy, Adjuvant; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005544:Forecasting; D005927:Glossectomy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D037981:Neck Dissection / Q000379:methods; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*