CARCINOMA OF THE TONGUE - PATHOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN MANAGEMENT OF THE NECK

In a series of 76 patients with carcinoma of the tongue the occurrence of metastasis was related to the size and histological features of th e primary tumour. 64% of patients with metastasis and 10% of patients with clinically negative neck showed spread beyond the node capsule. F ast tracks (long lymphatic pathways uninterrupted by nodes) seemed to be involved in the spread of metastatic cancer in at least 20% of pati ents with metastasis. With surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy based on the pathological stage, metastases confined to lymph nodes did not app ear to affect short-term outcome.