Clinical analysis of neck node metastasis in oral cavity cancer

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the neck node metastasis pattern and related clinical factors in oral cavity cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 76 patients (47 males, 29 females) with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) who had no previous malignancies and were not undergoing neoadjuvant concomitant chemoradiotherapy or radiotherapy were selected for analysis. RESULTS: Occult metastases were found in 8 of 52 patients with clinically negative nodes (cN0, 15.4%). Neck node metastases were found in 17 patients (22.4%). There was a statistically significant relationship between neck node metastasis and T stage (P=0.014) and between neck node metastasis and distant metastasis (Fisher's exact test, P=0.019). CONCLUSION: Neck node metastasis was significantly related to tumor size and distant metastasis during follow-up.