Background: Carcinoma of the oral cavity presents a high risk for neck metastasis, which reduces the probability of regional control and survival.
Objectives: The main objective of this study is to analyze prognostic implications of the distribution of neck metastasis in 513 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity.
Patients and methods: All patients underwent surgery from 1970-1992. Tumor stages were I, 63; II, 120; III, 173; and IV, 157. Neck dissections were performed in 448 patients (115 bilateral).
Results: By use of multivariate regression techniques the level of lymph node involvement was the most important prognostic factor (relative risks from 1.8 to 2.5). The following variables were also associated with prognosis: mobility of lymph nodes, sex, T stage, age, and tumor thickness.
Conclusions: The level of ipsilateral lymph node involvement was the most significant prognostic factor patients with in oral cancer who underwent surgical treatment. A significant decrease in survival also was seen with regard to the involvement of multiple contralateral lymph nodes. Our results support the indication of elective neck dissections in high-risk patients because among the cases that had metastases at follow-up, 50% were not candidates for salvage treatment.