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Original Article
Incidence and patterns of regional metastasis in early oral squamous cell cancers: Feasibility of submandibular gland preservation
Article first published online: 27 MAY 2009
DOI: 10.1002/hed.21129
Copyright © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Additional Information
How to Cite
Razfar, A., Walvekar, R. R., Melkane, A., Johnson, J. T. and Myers, E. N. (2009), Incidence and patterns of regional metastasis in early oral squamous cell cancers: Feasibility of submandibular gland preservation. Head Neck, 31: 1619–1623. doi: 10.1002/hed.21129
Publication History
- Issue published online: 9 NOV 2009
- Article first published online: 27 MAY 2009
- Manuscript Accepted: 18 FEB 2009
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- level I;
- submandibular gland;
- regional metastasis;
- early-stage;
- oral cancer
Abstract
Background.
We aimed to study the incidence of metastasis to the submandibular gland (SMG) and to establish the oncologic basis of SMG preservation in early-stage cancer of the oral cavity (OSCC).
Methods.
This was a retrospective study of 261 patients with OSCC treated primarily with surgery at a tertiary medical center. One hundred thirty-two early-stage (T1-2, N0) OSCCs were further analyzed.
Results.
The mean age was 59 years with male-to-female sex ratio of 1.4:1. Two hundred sixty-one neck dissections were performed with SMG removal in 253 patients. One patient with an advanced floor of mouth cancer had obvious infiltration of the SMG. Only 2.5% (3 of 116) patients with early-stage OSCC had level I metastasis; none had SMG metastases.
Conclusion.
SMG preservation in early cancers (T1-2, N0) of the oral cavity should be feasible unless there is evidence of direct invasion of the gland or close proximity of the cancer to it. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2009