Elective neck dissection versus observation for cN0 neck of squamous cell carcinoma primarily located in the maxillary gingiva and alveolar ridge: a retrospective study of 129 cases.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of elective neck dissection (END) versus those of observation in the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the maxillary gingiva.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a retrospective study of 129 cases.

RESULTS

There were 2 (4.0%) patients in the END group and 19 (24.1%) patients in the observation group who developed nodal recurrence alone. The regional recurrence rate of the observation group was 9.1% for T1 disease, 19.0% for T2, 27.3% for T3, and 40.0% for T4. Patients with stages T2 to T4 who underwent END received more survival benefit than did those in the observation group (P = .048). There were no statistical differences for patients with stage T1 disease between the 2 groups (P = .605).

CONCLUSIONS

This retrospective study suggests that END should be recommended as a preferred management strategy for stage T2 to T4 disease and that observation may be an acceptable alternative to END for stage T1 tumors if strict compliance with a cancer surveillance protocol is followed.