SUBMANDIBULAR GLAND INVOLVEMENT IN PATIENTS WHO UNDERWENT LEVEL 1b NECK DISSECTION FOR ORAL CAVITY CANCERS

Material and Methods: The records of OCCs in which we performed elective level 1b neck dissection between 2014 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who underwent revision or complementary surgery or salvage surgery after radiotherapy, who had concomitant secondary primary or synchronous cancers or diagnosis other than squamous cell carcinoma, patients with unknown tumor size, status of SMG and metastasis level in neck were excluded. A total of 44 patients (n: 44) were included in the study. Primary tumor sub-region rates, neck dissection type, neck metastasis rates, metastasis level, excised SMG number and their involvement and tumor stage were investigated.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 64.55 ± 12.053 (range: 32-86) years and 25.0% (n: 11) of the patients were female and 75.0% (n: 33) were male. The most commonly performed neck dissection (75%) was supraomohyoid (9 bilateral and 22 unilateral). Neck metastasis was seen in 11.4% of the patients (n: 5), and all were in the same side at level 1b region. Among those 2 (40%) were located in lower lip, 2 (40%) were in buccal mucosa and 1 (20%) was on tongue. A total of 61 SMGs were examined in 44 patients and involvement was not observed in any of them.

Conclusion: SMG involvement in level 1b dissections performed for OCC treatment is absent or minimal. In view of the increasing importance of organ sparing surgeries in the current cancer treatment, we think that more comprehensive studies are warranted to investigate the sustainability of SMGs. Keywords : Submandibular gland, oral cavity cancer, neck metastasis