TABLE 1:

Patient demographic information

Patient No.Age (y)/SexDiagnosisPreoperative Staging*Nodal Status on Conventional Images (CT Scan or MR Image)Postoperative Staging
144/FSCC tongueT3N1CT: negative (N1 based on palpation)T3N2c
259/MSCC floor of mouthT2N0MR: negativeT2N0
356/MSCC buccal mucosaT2N0MR: negativeT1N0
464/FSCC oropharynxT3N0CT:negativeT2N0
553/MSCC oropharynxT3N2aMR: multiple abnormal nodesT3N2a
657/MSCC oropharynxT4N2cMR: multiple abnormal nodesT4N2c
752/MSCC tongueTxN2bMR: multiple abnormal nodesTxN2b
872/MSCC retromolar trigoneT2N2bMR: multiple abnormal nodesT1N2b
972/FSCC nasal cavityTxN1CT: single necrotic nodeTxN1
1063/MSCC tongueT3N0MR: negativeT2N0
1171/MSCC tongueT3N0MR: negative (but N1 based on PET)T3N1
1279/FSCC alveolar ridgeT3N2bMR: multiple abnormal nodesT4N2b
1374/MSCC retromolar trigoneT2N0MR: negativeT2N1
1465/FSCC alveolar ridgeT4N0MR: negativeT4N0
1547/MSCC tongueTxN2bCT: multiple abnormal nodesTxN2b
1683/FSCC tongueT1N0MR: negativeT1N0
1752/MSCC tongueT1N0MR: negativeT1N0
1844/FSCC tongueT1N0MR: negativeT1N0
1966/MSCC alveolar ridgeT4N0MR: negativeT4N0
2085/FSCC buccal mucosaT4N0CT: negativeT4N1
2162/MSCC floor of mouthTxN2bCT: multiple abnormal nodesTxN2b
  • Note.—F indicates female; M, male; SCC, squamous cell carcinoma; PET, positron emission tomography.

  • * All patients were staged as M0. Preoperative staging was based on clinical palpation and conventional anatomic imaging with CT and/or MR imaging, not high resolution MR imaging.

  • Primary site previously excised (hence, the “Tx” designation), but no radiation or other therapy to the neck previously received. Patient evaluated and treated for neck disease.

  • Three patients preoperatively staged as N0 were upstaged to N1 based on pathologic findings.