Satisfactory 5-year survival in 29 patients following surgery of a small metastasized tongue carcinoma (T1N0M0)
Van der Meer, P.H.; Snow, G.B.; van der Waal, I.
Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde 138(26): 1322-1325
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0028-2162 PMID: 8028677 Document Number: 424433
To determine the five-year survival rate of patients with a small (< 2 cm) squamous cell carcinoma of the anterior two-thirds of the tongue that had not shown evident cervical lymph node metastases at presentation. Follow-up investigation. Free University Hospital, Amsterdam. In the period January 1st, 1970 to December 31, 1986, 36 patients were registered with a T1N0M0 squamous cell carcinoma of the anterior two-thirds of the tongue. Seven patients were excluded from follow-up study for various reasons (multiple carcinoma (4), histological diagnosis doubtful (2), lost to follow-up (1)). All remaining 29 patients were primarily treated by surgical excision with a margin of healthy tissue of approximately 1 cm. In five patients (17%) a local recurrence was observed, in 7 (24%) one or more cervical lymph node metastases developed. Four patients withdrew from follow-up, three died from their tongue cancer, all within two years. Of the 22 patients who did not withdraw from follow-up and who did not die from other causes 19 (86%) were alive and well after five years. Patients with a small squamous cell carcinoma of the anterior two-thirds of the tongue in whom initially no cervical lymph node metastases were palpable and who have primarily been treated by surgery, stand a good chance of cure, in spite of the development of regional lymph node metastases in almost 25% of them.