Does elective neck dissection in early tongue cancer influence survival?

Aim - This is a retrospective analysis to look into the the incidence of neck failure in early tongue cancer, incidence of occult node positivity, & to predict if elective neck dissection can get a better regional control.& hence the survival. Materials and Methods - Between 1993 & 2005, all cases of anterior tongue cancers with T1&T2, NO treated at Cancer Institute (W.I.A), Adyar, India were taken for analysis. Results - In the first group 1993-2002, out of the 271 cases, 204 had complete remission. In which, 64 (31.3%) had isolated neck failure; ultimately 27 were salvaged (42%). In the second group, 101 out of 131 had complete remission. 37 agreed for elective neck dissection, 7(18.9%) had positive disease nodes microscopically. Conclusion - Due to high incidence of occult nodal positivity in tongue cancers, it seems justifiable for considering elective neck intervention though well-conducted studies are required.