PROSPECTIVE TRIAL TO EVALUATE STAGED NECK DISSECTION OR ELECTIVE NECK RADIOTHERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH CT-STAGED T1-2 NO SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA OF THE ORAL TONGUE

Abstract

BACKGROUND: A prospective study was undertaken to evaluate a policy of selective, single-modality elective neck treatment in T1-2, node-negative oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma. METHODS: Where the primary tumor showed 1 of the 4 key pathological criteria (greater than 7 mm of muscle invasion, less than 5 mm of resection margin, perineural or lymphovascular invasion), radiotherapy was delivered to the primary site and the at-risk undissected neck. Otherwise patients underwent ipsilateral neck dissection within 4 weeks of initial resection. Prospective quality of life assessments were performed. RESULTS: The study was closed after accrual of 25 patients, because the high locoregional recur..