Cervical lymph node metastases in squamous cell carcinoma of tongue and floor of mouth

ABSTRACT

Oral squamous cell carcinoma has high chances of cervical lymph node metastasis. This case series describes the distribution of cervical lymph nodes in 50 cases of squamous cell carcinoma of tongue and floor of mouth. The mean age was 47.28 +/- 10.5 years. Thirty positive metastatic lymph nodes were found; 90% occurring at level l-ll mostly in T4 size but also in T1 and T2 cases. The distribution of involved lymph nodes in oral cancer affects the neck dissection extent and is, therefore, an important pre-operative feature