INVESTIGATION OF THE METASTASIS IN THE NECK LEVELS IN T1-T3 N0 ORAL TONGUE CANCERS
Ankara Numune Hastanesi II. Kulak Burun Boğaz Kliniği, Ankara Objective: Results of the patients and lymph node metastasis, who had treated with elective neck dissection for oral tongue cancer, are discussed.Material and Methods: Twenty-two patients, who were T1, T2, T3 and neck N0 by clinically and radiologically, included in this study. Partial glossectomy or hemiglossectomy with elective neck dissection were performed according to tumor size. Lymph node number, lymph node localization, number and localization of the metastatic lymph node and presence of metastasis in the level IV and V were determined on the histopathological studies and statistically analyzed.
Results: According to clinically and radiologically four patients (18%) were T1N0, sixteen (73%) were T2N0 and two (9%) were T3N0. While sixty-six lymph nodes were dissected in level 1, one hundred sixty-one in level 2, one hundred thirty-seven in level 3, one hundred eighteen in level 4, and seventy six lymph nodes were dissected in level 5. Seven lymph node metastasis were detected in the elective neck dissection, which revealed 29% rate of occult metastasis. There were statistically difference between level 1, 2, and 3 and, level 4 and 5 on the number of metastatic lymph nodes (p<0.05). There were no statistically difference between each of the level 1, 2, and 3 and, level 4 and 5 on the number of metastatic lymph nodes (p>0.05).
Conclusion: Occult metastasis rate is high in the level 1, 2, and 3 on the clinically and radiologically negative necks in oral tongue cancers and elective neck dissection should be undertaken.
Keywords : Oral tongue cancer, elective neck dissection, occult metastasis, cervical lymph nodes metastasis