LYMPH-NODE METASTASIS IN SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA OF THE LIP - A RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF 105 CASES

During 1975-87, 105 patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the lip were surgically treated. All patients underwent radical resection of the tumor, Only the patients with palpable lymph nodes had a simul taneous neck dissection. All patients were followed up for at least 5 years. Of the 80 patients without palpable lymph nodes, only three dev eloped lymph-node metastasis. Of the 25 patients with palpable lymph n odes who underwent modified neck dissection, four had recurrence of ly mph-node metastasis at a different level. The overall 5-year survival rate was 97%. The survival rate for patients with lymph-node metastasi s was 88%.