Cervical Lymph Node Metastasis of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Tongue and Floor of Mouth

Background and Objectives:Squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity is a well known tumor with frequent nodal meta- stases, but reports on detailed prevalence of nodal metastases by primary subunits and neck level are lacking. Patients and Method:A retrospective review of 63 previously untreated patients (who visited the hospital from 1992 to 2001 with pri- mary squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue and floor of the mouth, were undertaken to ascertain the prevalence of ips- ilateral neck node metastases by neck level; of elective dissection in cN0 neck (n=43, and of therapeutic dissection in cN+ neck (n=20. Results:Overall incidence of neck metastases, cancer of the oral tongue, and cancer of the floor of the mouth were 44.4%, 50% (24/48 and 26.7% (4/15, retrospectively. False negative and false positive rates were 27.9% and 20%, respectively. Neck metastasis was predominantly revealed in levels I, II, and III. Metastases at level IV and V were exclusiv- ely accompanied with metastases to other levels. Conclusion:Squamous cell carcinomas of the oral tongue and floor of the mouth metastasized to the neck frequently and neck metastasis correlated to T-stage. Elective treatment is needed to ipsilate- ral neck level I, II, and III. However, comprehensive neck dissection is needed for cN+ neck. (Korean J Otolaryngol 2002; 45:154-8