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 under-taken 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 recu..