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Elective neck dissection for the management of the N0 neck in early cancer of the oral tongue: Need for a randomized controlled trial
Author(s) -
D'Cruz Anil K.,
Siddachari Ravichand C.,
Walvekar Rohan R.,
Pantvaidya Gouri H.,
Chaukar Devendra A.,
Deshpande Mandar S.,
Pai Prathamesh S.,
Chaturvedi Pankaj
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.20988
Subject(s) - medicine , neck dissection , tongue , randomized controlled trial , head and neck cancer , perineural invasion , cancer , surgery , head and neck , overall survival , tongue neoplasm , pathology
Background The aim of this study is to determine the need for a randomized controlled trial in order to define the role of an elective neck dissection (END) in the treatment of early tongue cancers. Methods We present a large retrospective analysis of patients with T1‐2 N0 squamous cell cancers of the oral anterior tongue treated at a single institution. A total of 359 eligible patients with early tongue cancers were divided into 2 groups: END and wait and watch (WW). An analysis for survival outcomes and prognostic factors was conducted. Results The estimated 3‐ and 5‐year disease‐free survival for the END group was 76% and 74% versus 71% and 68% for the WW group, respectively ( p = .53). The 3‐ and 5‐year overall survival (OS) rate for the END group was 69% and 60% versus 62% and 60% for the WW group, respectively ( p = .24). Tumor grade and perineural invasion were independent predictors of recurrence. Conclusion END did not impact disease‐free or OS. Current literature still remains divided on this issue emphasizing the need for a randomized controlled trial. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 2009