Evaluation of some prognostic factors in small squamous cell carcinoma of the mobile tongue: A multicenter study in Sweden

Abstract

In a retrospective study of 58 patients from all over Sweden, treated for small squamous cell carcinoma of the mobile tongue (T1N0M0), different prognostic factors were evaluated. A partial glossectomy was performed as primary treatment in all patients. The cancer recurred in 28 (38%) of 58 patients. One of 7 patients with only local recurrence, and 9 of 14 with recurrence in the neck died of their disease. The relative survival rate was 77%. Of the prognostic factors tested, tumor thickness was found to be the most significant. In patients with tumor thickness was found to be the most significant. In patients with tumor thickness exceeding 10 mm, recurrences occurred in 58% (P less than 0.0048), and 87% (P less than 0.0164) died of their cancer. This represents a statistically significant higher degree when compared with tumor thickness of less than 10 mm. Elective treatment of the neck nodes is recommended in epidermoid cancer of the mobile tongue when tumor thickness exceeds 10 mm, even in stage I tumors (i.e., the surface extension diameter is smaller than 20 mm at most).

Treatment of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity, Oropharynx and Hypopharynx An Analysis of 174 Patients in South Western Finland

“…It has been reported earlier in a study consisting of 95 patients with primary neck nodes treated with RT and neck dissection that 26% recurred in the regional neck nodes during the follow-up period (24). In a Swedish study of early Stage I tongue cancers treated with surgery of the primary tumor 14 of 58 patients had recurrences in the neck region with a mean follow-up time of 33 months (25). In another study among early tongue carcinoma patients, the recurrence rate after elective neck dissection vs. observation was 9% and 47%, respectively (17).…”

Importance of tumor thickness and depth of invasion in nodal involvement and prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma: A review of the literature

“…Although most authors substantially agree that tumor thickness is a significant parameter for predicting nodal metastasis development and for survival, the cutoff thickness is really quite variable, ranging from 1.5 mm 24 to 10 mm. 64,75 It is unclear why the studies have reached such inconsistent results with reference to the cutoff measurement point. A possible explanation could be related to the different measurement techniques and methods that were adopted, as discussed previously.…”

Prognostic Factors for Local Control and Survival of Cancer of the Oral Tongue a retrospective analysis of 230 cases in Western Sweden

“…Most of these patients were treated with excision alone, and did not receive any electrive irradiation or neck dissection, and Nathanson et al (9) found a recurrence rate of 38% in another Swedish study of TINO tumours treated with excision, and several authors have shown a high percentage of conversion from NO to N + even for TI tumours (16).…”