Evaluation of neck metastases in T1N0 lip cancers.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the histopathological features and mid-term follow-up outcomes of patients with T1N0 lip squamous cell carcinoma who underwent or did not undergo neck dissection.

METHODS

A total of 66 patients who underwent surgical treatment for T1N0 lip cancer were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups: those who did not undergo neck dissection (group 1, n = 31) and those who did (group 2, n = 35). The specific characteristics of these two groups were examined histopathologically, and the patients' postoperative follow-up was evaluated in terms of local recurrence and/or delayed cervical metastases.

RESULTS

Group 1 included 16 female and 15 male patients, with a mean age of 69.8 ± 12 years. The mean tumor diameter was 1 ± 0.34 cm. During the follow-up period, no local recurrence was observed in this group; however, one patient developed cervical metastasis 13 months postoperatively. Group 2 consisted of 20 female and 15 male patients, with a mean age of 70.4 ± 10.7 years. The mean tumor diameter was 1.7 ± 0.33 cm. No local recurrence or metastatic lymph nodes were detected in any patient in this group. The mean follow-up duration was 39.9 ± 18.1 months for group 1 and 44.4 ± 18.6 months for group 2.

CONCLUSION

In early-stage T1 lip cancers without clinically detectable cervical metastasis (N0) at diagnosis, treatment may be planned as excision of the primary tumor alone, without performing neck dissection.