Correlation between tumor consistency and cervical metastasis in tongue carcinoma

Background. The purpose of this study was to assess the correlation between the tumor consistency and cervical lymph node metastasis in tongue carcino ma. Methods. Fifty-three patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue we re examined with an instrument capable of measuring consistency. These case s were compared in relation to TN classification, pathologic status of node s, and consistency. Results. The mean values of consistency in tongue carcinoma were 19.7 +/- 2 .9 g, 13.6 +/- 3.7 g, 27.4 +/- 4.5 g, and 21.2 +/- 6.7 g, corresponding to pathologically positive node group (PN[+]) in T1, pathologically negative n ode group (PN[-]) in T1, PN(+) in T2, and PN(-) in T2, respectively. Differ ence in consistency between PN(+) and PN(-) was significant (T1: p < .01, T 2: p < .05). In the NO patients, difference in consistency between PN(+) an d PN(-) wets also significant (p < .01). Conclusions. We suggest that quantitative evaluation of tumor consistency w ould be useful in determining whether selective neck dissections can safely be omitted in some patients. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.