Neck Dissection Reduces Risk of Recurrence in Early-Stage Oral Tongue Cancer.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Patterns of failure in early-stage oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) managed with surgery alone remain understudied.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study from 2000 to 2022 at a single tertiary care center evaluated pT1-T2N0 OTSCC patients who underwent partial glossectomy with or without elective neck dissection (END), without any adjuvant therapy. Predictors of recurrence were analyzed via multivariate Cox proportional hazards model.

Results

The study included 201 OTSCC patients (131 pT1 and 70 pT2). Eighty patients (40%) underwent glossectomy alone; 121 (60%) underwent glossectomy with END. At a median follow-up of 56 months (IQR 23-82), 63 patients (31%) developed recurrence (21.4% local; 15.9% regional; 1% distant). Positive margins (HR 5.45 [1.

SUBMITTER: Lee J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12796990 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature