A 3-year study of supraomohyoid neck dissection and modified radical neck dissection type I in oral cancer: with special reference to involvement of level IV node metastasis.

The present study was undertaken to determine the pattern and incidence of predictable lymphatic spread and skip metastasis in oral cancer and analyze the prognostic implications of different therapeutic modalities in the neck metastases. The study includes 81 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity with T1-2N0M0 and T1-3N1-3M0 who were admitted to the Department of ENT and Head and Neck Surgery, SMS Medical College and Hospital, Jaipur, from June 2006 to May 2008. After complete diagnostic evaluation (imaging, FNAC), all these patients were operated (wide primary excision with SOHND/Extended SOHND/MRD-I) and followed up periodically till date. Occult metastasis was found in 26% of the patients. Level I, II, III was most commonly involved. We did not find any metastasis or recurrence at level IV in N0 cases. Involvement of level IV node in N0 and N+ neck were 0 and 9%, respectively. We did not find any "skip metastasis" at level IV in oral cancers. We concluded that SOHND for N0 and MRND type I for N+ neck for oral cancers is an appropriate treatment.