Tumor Infiltration Depth as Predictor of Nodal Metastasis in Early Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

Purpose: A retrospective longitudinal study was conducted to identify the cutoff value of infiltration depth for predicting the risk of lymph node metastasis of the neck in a well-defined population of surgically treated patients affected by stage T1 to T2 oral squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue.

Patients and methods: Sixty-seven patients were enrolled in this study. Forty-four patients (65.5%) had pN0 status and 23 (34.5%) had pN(+) status. Thirty-five positive lymph nodes were analyzed. The median follow-up for these patients was 51.4 months.

Results: The mean infiltration depth of the N-negative group was 2.4 mm; this was substantially different from the mean value observed in the N-positive group at 5.5 mm. A meaningful cutoff was identified at an infiltration depth value of 4 mm.

Conclusion: Infiltration depth was identified as an important predictor for neck nodal status. In this specific population, mortality was associated with increasing tumor infiltration depth.