A Clinical Comparison of the Efficacy of Level I-III Versus Level I-IV Neck Dissection in N0 Early Stage Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

In this study, we compared regional recurrence in patients who had a dissection of levels I-III or levels I-IV. Patients with tongue SCC who were node-negative both clinically and radiologically, and underwent elective supraomohyoid neck dissection (SOHND) or extended supraomohyoid neck dissection (ESOHND) between March 2012, and March 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. The two therapeutic groups were analyzed for the incidence of tumor recurrence and survival. The two groups had statistically similar demographic qualities. Surgery duration and complications were the same in both groups. Complications mainly included internal jugular vein and thoracic duct injury. Tumour size was 46.2% T1, 40.4 % T2, and 13.3% Tx, being statistically similar in both groups. Tumour size had no meaningful correlation with the occurrence of occult neck metastasis in both groups. Local recurrence was more in ESOHND patients, but regional recurrence was similar in both groups. The survival rate was alike in both groups. No significant differences in tumor recurrence and mortality rate were found between patients treated with SOHND versus ESOHND. Thus, SOHND could be considered as a sufficient treatment for early-stage tongue SCC.