Abstract
One hundred forty-three primary cases of squamous carcinoma of the mobile tongue were treated from 1973 to 1992 by operation in association with radiotherapy. The observed three years actual survival was 79.7% in total (94.1% for stage I, 88.9% for II, 85.1% for III, 40.0% for IV). Retrospective analysis of these patients was performed to assess the value of neck dissection. (1) In N 0 cases, the effectiveness of the elective neck dissections in controlling local diseases and affecting survival was proved, however the selective criteria for elective treatment is still insufficient. The analysis of histopathologic appearance in tongue cancer could not predict the subsequent development of cervical node metastasis . Modified radical or functional neck dissection seemed to be adequate in the patients needed the reconstructi on with flaps to improve postoperative functions even after hemiglossectomy . (2) In N + cases, the local treatment failures were sometimes observed . The radical neck dissection would be adequate to perform en bloc dissection with primary tumor .
