Relationship of oral tumor thickness with the rate of lymph node metastasis in neck based on CT scan

Objective: To determine the relationship of tumor thickness of oral lesions with metastasis in neck based on CT scan

Methods: A total of 58 oral squamous cell carcinoma patients having the median age of 46 [39-55] years, with either gender presented with malignant tumor of buccal mucosa and tongue were prospectively enrolled. A CT Scan with contrast was performed on all patients. Correlation of tumor thickness level with metastasis in neck was calculated using spearman's rank correlation coefficient test

Results: Median age of the patients was 46 [39-55] years with preponderance of male gender, i.e. 48 [82.8%]. Strong positive significant correlation was observed in between transverse dimension [TS] tumor size and stages of tumor [rho 0.673, p-value <0.001], Anterioposterior [AP] tumor size and stages of tumor [rho 0.675, p-value <0.001], and Craniocaudal [CC] tumor size and stages of tumor [rho 0.771, p-value <0.001]

Conclusion: CT scan of neck with contrast can be used for predicting the positive presence of lymph node in neck with primary tumors having a size of more than 4 mm

Extensive cutaneous malignant melanoma of head and neck

Management of extensive cutaneous malignant melanomas of head and neck is usually a challenging problem especially if the tumour has nodal metastasis. A young female presented with fungating growth of right side of face extending up to the neck. Two months after surgery, she developed brain and lung metastasis. The oncological control at this advance stage is far difficult with surgical excision. In such cases, reconstruction of head and neck becomes questionable at times