Outcome of patients with early stage oral cancer managed by an observation strategy towards the N0 neck using ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration cytology: No survival difference as compared to elective neck dissection

Tumour thickness as a predictor of nodal metastases in oral cancer: Comparison between tongue and floor of mouth subsites

“…Neck dissection has been the modality of choice for treating nodal disease in head and neck SCC's, however management of the clinically and radiologically negative neck continues to be debated [3,[16][17][18]. Although often described as a low-morbidity operation, it should be recognized that even selective neck dissections have complications, particularly spinal accessory dysfunction [4,19] and with improved imaging modalities the outcomes for nodal recurrences that are detected and treated early may be comparable with those treated electively [20]. Despite this, previously published SHNCI data [21] supports a recent meta-analysis, which suggests that elective neck dissection, improves the outcomes in patients with clinically negative necks [3].…”

Predictive Significance of Tumor Depth and Budding for Late Lymph Node Metastases in Patients with Clinical N0 Early Oral Tongue Carcinoma

“…In our institution, END is avoided for patients with early oral tongue carcinoma depending on the progress of diagnostic imaging examination and ultrasound imaging, in particular [20][21][22]. In this retrospective study, we analyzed the association between late lymph metastasis and histopathological factors including tumor budding, as well as the classical risk factors in patients with clinical N0 early oral tongue carcinoma treated by primary surgery without END.…”

Neck observation versus elective neck dissection in management of clinical T1/2N0 oral squamous cell carcinoma: a retrospective study of 232 patients

“…This was consistent with a study performed by Flach et al . (19), which demonstrated that patients treated with OBS and presented with delayed metastases had similar 5-year OS and DSS rates to those treated with END and presented with proven metastases. Some other researches also indicated that END turned out to be unnecessary and was an overtreatment method, as after comparing the two policies in patients with occult metastases, similar OS and DSS rates were observed (16,23).…”

“…However, Flach et al . (19) observed 234 patients with early-stage OSCC using ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration cytology followed by OBS. This study found that these patients had similar survival outcomes as those treated with END.…”