T. Hayashi et al., The relationship of primary tumor thickness in carcinoma of the tongue to subsequent lymph node metastasis, DENTOMAX R, 30(5), 2001, pp. 242-245
Objectives: To study whether primary tumor thickness of stage I/II tongue c
arcinoma provides information about subsequent lymph node metastasis.
Methods: Twenty consecutive patients with T1N0M0 or T2N0M0 tongue carcinoma
were studied. Primary tumor thickness was measured with post-contrast heli
cal computed tomography or intra-oral sonography. Cervical lymph nodes were
evaluated periodically with sonography at intervals of 2-4 weeks. Sensitiv
ity, specificity and accuracy for subsequent metastasis was calculated.
Results: Positive sonographic findings appeared in nine nodes of nine patie
nts during this follow-up period. Eleven patients underwent neck dissection
s, and nine had histopathologically positive nodes. Nine patients had no so
nographic findings of metastasis during a minimum follow-up period of 20 mo
nths. Primary tumor thickness varied from 3 - 16 mm. Using 5 mm as a cut-of
f thickness, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for subsequent lymph
node metastasis were 64, 100 and 75% respectively.
Conclusions: Patients with stage I/II tongue carcinoma which is more than 5
mm thick are more likely to develop lymph node metastasis.