Abstract
One hundred and seventy-eight patients with T1/T2 carcinoma of the tongue were investigated to know the valid indication of the neck disection. Of 60 N0 patients who had undergone prophylactic neck dissection at the initial treatment, 15 (25%) had positive nodes. After all, of 166 patients without local recurrence, 58 (35%) were proved to have had positive neck metastases at the initial treatment. Metastatic lymph nodes were almost confined at the submandibular area and superior jugular area. In addition, depth of the primary tumor invasion had significant relationship with the neck metastasis. These results suggested as follows:(1) The neck dissection would be indicated for patients with T1/T2 N0 carcinoma of the tongue the depth of which exceeded more than 4mm, only when the patients and/or their family approved after detailed explanation about the advantage and disadvantage of this prophylactic surgical treatment.(2) Supra-omohyoid neck dissection would be satisfactory as an initial treatment.
