Prophylactic neck dissection in early oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma 2.1 to 4.0 mm depth

Abstract

Objective. Regional recurrence is common following surgery for T1/T2 oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Tumor depth >4.0 mm is commonly assigned as an indication for prophylactic neck dissection to improve regional control. Prophylactic neck dissection may detect extracapsular extension, a poor prognostic sign where adjuvant chemotherapy is indicated. The hypothesis in this study is that regional recurrence is a significant problem in 2.1- to 4.0-mm-depth tumors, and detection of extracapsular extension may be important in this group. Study Design. Retrospective chart review. Setting. Australian tertiary referral center. Subjects and Methods. Review of all patients with T1/T2 oral to..