The relationship between invasion pattern and extracapsular spread in lymph node metastasis from squamous cell carcinoma of tongue / 实用口腔医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective: To study the relationship between different patterns of invasion and extracapsular spread in lymph node metastasis from squamous cell carcinoma of tongue. Methods: Pattern of invasion described by Anneroth was used to evaluate the malignance grade of tongue cancer and immunohistochemical and HE staining were used to detect the extracapsular spread in successive cases of tongue cancer with radical neck dissection. Results: Lymph node metastasis was observed in 0/5 of the cases with pattern I invasion,3/8 pattern II,5/6 pattern III and 1/1 pattern Ⅳ. Extracapsular spread occurred as totally or partly replacement of the lymph node by the tumourcells. The tumour cells infiltrated between lymph nodes, perinodal fibroadipose tissue or sternocleidmastoid muscle in the form of cell cluster or isolated cell. Conclusion: Pattern of invasion is a significant factor for evaluating the malignance grading of tongue cancer. Radical neck dissection should be used to treat the tongue cancer with pattern III or IV invasion.