Prognostic factors of lymphnode metastasis in sqaumous cell carcinoma tongue

Abstract

Introduction-The most important prognostic factor for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of oral tongue like any other HNSCC is the status of cervical lymph nodes. Objectives- The aim of the present study is to study the clinical and histopathological factors to assess the risk of cervical lymph node metastasis in squamous cell carcinoma tongue. Methods-a prospective clinical study, done at MNJ Institute of Oncology and Regional Cancer Centre, Hyderabad, Telangana, a tertiary referral centre for management of cancer patients in the state. From a period from January 2018-December 2019.Wide local excision with minimum of 1 cm 3–dimensional margin or hemiglossectomy is done depending upon the site of the primary. Analysis was done by SPSS (Version 25.0) and chi-square was used as test of significance. Results- the mean age was 45.44 years. The study was male preponderance where males comprise 69% and most of them belonged to T2 tumour staging but the association was not significant.males showed 31% positive lymph nodes and 69% negative lymph nodes, but the association was not significant. (p>0.05). Females were having 36% of more positive lymph nodes.the most common surgery performed for primary, and neck was wide excision seen in 97% of patients.Though most patient’s has tumour size between 2cm-4cm (71%) but the association was not significant.Clinical stage N0 was the most common seen in 79% of patients followed by N1. But positive pathological node was only 17% in N0, and 57% in N1. Conclusion- The incidence of cervical lymph node spread in carcinoma tongue in our studyis 32.2%. Tumour stage T2 and T3 are significant risk factors for lymph node metastases. Tumour grade is a risk factor for lymphnode metastasis.