Occult level IV metastases in clinically node-negative patients with oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
The present study was conducted to determine the rate of level IV lymph node involvement among node-negative (N0) necks in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue.


METHODS
The study comprised 32 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, with tumour-node-metastasis staging of T1-3N0M0, who were admitted to the Otolaryngology Department at Tehran University of Medical Sciences from March 2012 to March 2014. After a complete diagnostic evaluation, wide primary tumour excision (with 1.5-2 cm margins) and extended supraomohyoid neck dissection (levels I-IV) were accomplished.


RESULTS
Occult metastasis was found in 28 per cent of the patients. Level I, II and III metastases were the most common (18.75, 18.75 and 15.62 per cent, respectively). Level IV metastasis was found in 6.25 per cent of patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Supraomohyoid neck dissection appears to be an appropriate treatment for N0 tongue squamous cell carcinoma and there is no need for level IV lymph node dissection in a N0 patient.
Otorhinolaryngology Research Center,Otolaryngology Department,Tehran University of Medical Sciences,Iran.
M
M
Motiee-Langroudi
Pathology Department,Tehran University of Medical Sciences,Iran.
A
A
Amali
Otorhinolaryngology Research Center,Otolaryngology Department,Tehran University of Medical Sciences,Iran.
B
B
Saedi
Otorhinolaryngology Research Center,Otolaryngology Department,Tehran University of Medical Sciences,Iran.
H
H
Emami
Pathology Department,Tehran University of Medical Sciences,Iran.
F
F
Ensani
Otolaryngology Department,Tehran University of Medical Sciences,Iran.
A
A
Lotfi
Otorhinolaryngology Research Center,Otolaryngology Department,Tehran University of Medical Sciences,Iran.
M
M
Rabbani Anari
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005927:Glossectomy; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck; D037981:Neck Dissection; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult
Glossectomy; Metastasis; Neck Dissection; Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Tongue