Abstract
We present cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma followed by neck dissection, including submandibular gland dissection. Cases with metastasis and direct invasion from the primary site and metastatic lymph nodes to the submandibular gland were reviewed. No metastasis to the submandibular gland was detected in all 42 cases (53 sides) in which neck dissection was performed. Direct invasion from the primary site to the submandibular gland was seen in one case (tongue cancer, T4a), and from the metastatic lymph node to the submandibular gland was seen in two cases (parahyoid area lymph node metastasis). Dissection of the submandibular gland is thought to impair QOL in patients undergoing neck dissection and further discussion concerning preservation of the submandibular gland is needed.
