OP125: The features of cervical node metastasis in young adults with oral squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the regional metastatic characteristics of oral cancer in younger patients compared with elder patients. Patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma treated in oral and maxillary department of stomatology hospital of Peking University from 2000 to 2011 were entered into the study. They were divided into two age groups: <30 years group (younger group) and ⩾30 years group (elder group). Clinical factors (such as Primary site, growth type, T stage, tumor cell differentiation, incidence of cervical node metastasis, number of unilateral metastatic lymph nodes, Level of metastatic lymph nodes) was compared between the two groups. Under 30-y cut-off, COX regression was applied to analyze the risk factors associated with cervical node metastasis. A total of 1140 cases were enrolled, among them 23 cases were less than 30 years old, and 1117 case ⩾30 years old. Significant difference for the rate of cervical node metastasis was observed between younger group (73.91%) and elder group (41.45%),. The rate of metastatic lymph nodes in level IV–V + I–III was 23.53%(4/17) for younger group compared to 7.36%(34/462) for elder group, and the difference was significant. There was also significant difference for primary site (p0.027), growth type (p0.013), but not T stage (p0.864) and histopathological grading (p0.992) between the two groups. Under 30-y cut-off, multivariable analysis for risk factor associated with cervical node metastasis showed that the p value for age,primary site,growth type,T stage, histopathological grading were 0.004, 0.329, 0.01, 0.000, 0.000, respectively. Age less than 30-y was one of risk factors for cervical node metastasis. Patients younger than 30-y have a greater predisposition to develop regional metastasis in level IV–V, so we cautiously recommend that comprehensive neck treatment is needed for <30-y patients.