Long-term outcomes of endoscopic neck dissection in the treatment of early-stage oral cancer: a pilot study.

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the feasibility and safety of endoscopic neck dissection in the treatment of early-stage oral cancer and to evaluate the long-term clinical outcomes. Six patients with early-stage oral cancer were enrolled in this pilot study from December 2006 to May 2007. All the patients underwent endoscopic selective neck dissection (levels I-IV) of the ipsilateral neck and partial glossectomy or hemiglossectomy as the primary treatment. All endoscopic procedures were successfully performed, with important neck structures identified and preserved. All the patients survived with no persistent or recurrent disease during the 76- to 83-month follow-up. Our preliminary results indicated that endoscopic neck dissection is a technically feasible and safe technique for treating early-stage oral cancer. The oncologic indications and validation should be further confirmed in patients with clinically positive neck lymph nodes in a future study.