Abstract
A case of squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue with metastasis to the lateral lingual lymph nodes is reported. The patient was a 56-year-old male with a moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of the right lingual margin (T3N0M0) .
Modified radical neck dissection, hemi-glossectomy, and reconstruction with antero lateral thigh were conducted in a combined manner. A solitary lesion 7mm in diameter was encountered on the lateral aspect of the genioglossus muscle upon the local excision.
Histopathologically, the mass had a lymph-node structure with small cancer nests at the margin at some distance from the primary lesion.
It is suggested that the floor of the mouth where lingual lymph nodes are present must be palpated carefully for diagnosis and treatment of cancer of the tongue during operation even if metastasis to the lateral lingual lymph nodes is not detected by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging preoperatively.
