Contralateral Neck Lymph Node Metastasis of Early Tongue Cancer: A Case Report

ABSTRACT

Likely to be the most common oral cancer, squamous cell carcinoma(SCC) of the tongue accounts for about 20% of all oral and pharyngeal cancers. SCC of the tongue frequently arises in the lateral border, and if it metastasize, it occurs on submandibular gland and neck lymph nodes. Location of the primary lesions and neck lymph node metastasis affect the prognosis and decrease survival rate of patients with carcinoma of the tongue. The authors experienced the patient with contralateral neck lymph node metastasis of SCC of the tongue. The patient came to our department with chief complaint of elevated lesion on left lateral border of the tongue. The mass was diagnosed as T2N0M0, Stage II invasive SCC of oral tongue. Computed tomography(CT) & magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) which were taken before the operation showed no significant finding of metastasis. Surgical mass removal and preventive neck dissection on the left side were done. While follow up PET/CT, contralateral neck lymph node metastasis(right side, level II) was detected, and re-operation(Rt. side RND) was done. There are few studies concerning the contralateral neck lymph node metastasis related with SCC of the tongue. The purpose of this report is to introduce the uncommon case of contralateral neck lymph node metastasis occurred in the T2-stage of SCC of the tongue treated by surgical resection.