Assessment of the Effect of Tumor Thickness and Site on Level IV Cervical Lymph Nodes in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Tongue and Floor of the Mouth: A Case Series Study

Regarding oral cavity cancer, the high incidence of neck metastasis along with its impact on survival and prognosis are in favor of elective neck dissection. Moreover, occult metastases could develop at lower levels in the neck (levels IV-V) Regarding the tongue, the rate of skip (occult) metastasis involving unremoved level IV cervical lymph nodes in squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue ranges from 0 % - 11.4 %. However, no data is available or a correlation between the risk of level IV involvement and the affection of specific tongue subsites or a certain cutoff value of tumor thickness.