Behavior of squamous cell carcinoma of the floor of the mouth. Is supraomohyoid neck dissection sufficiently safe to manage clinically N0 patients?

AIM

The main aim of the present report is to study the behavior of SCC of the floor of the mouth.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

A retrospective analysis was conducted using the records of patients diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the floor of the mouth between 2000 and 2012 in the HUVN. Ninety-three patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the floor of the mouth treated with tumourectomy and selective neck dissection were included in the study. The pattern of distribution of cervical metastases and numerous histological features such as T-stage, N stage, surgical margins, tumor thickness, ECS (extracapsular spread) and vascular invasion were analyzed.

RESULTS

Level I was the most affected level, followed by Level II. T stage, tumor thickness, and surgical margins showed a strong relationship with the risk of developing a local or cervical failure at follow-up. Overall survival was 52.7%. T stage, tumor thickness, N stage, recurrence, extracapsular spread, and vascular invasion were also associated with a poor prognosis.

CONCLUSIONS

SCC of the floor of the mouth is an aggressive disease even at early stages. Due to the low rate of positive nodes observed at level IV and V in clinically N0 patients, supraomohyoid neck dissection might be considered sufficiently safe in this group.