PP146: Prognostic predictors in pathological node negative T2 lesions of the oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Objective Locoregional recurrence in early tongue carcinoma after surgical treatment remains a problem and has an impact on the survival. The present study evaluates the predictive factors for the recurrences in patients with pathologically node negative T2 oral tongue carcinoma. Methods Retrospective analysis of 47 patients of oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma treated surgically and pathologically staged as T2N0 with clear margins. The study period was from March 2004 to March 2011. Treatment outcome was evaluated in terms of was locoregional recurrence, disease free survival and overall survival. Kaplan Meir survival curves were used for the analysis. The mean follow up period was 28.3 months. Results Recurrences occurred in 13 out of 47 patients (27.7%). At 5 years the overall survival is 80.5% and disease free survival is 53.9%. Univariate analysis revealed two significant prognostic predictors for disease free survival: perineural invasion (PNI, p = 0.037) and lymphovascular invasion (LVI, p = 0.05). This two factors did not have an effect on overall survival (p = 0.717). Conclusion In oral tongue cancer (pT2N0), PNI and LVI significantly increased the recurrence rate without an impact on survival. Prospective studies with large patient numbers are needed to evaluate this further and to see if adjuvant therapeutic strategies need to be changed.