OBJECTIVETo analyze the related factors of neck recurrence and regularity of cervical lymph nodes metastasis of pathologically node positive (pN+) tongue squamous cell carcinoma(SCC) and explore the neck treatment strategy for pN+ tongue SCC.

METHODSClinical and follow-up data of 138 patients with pN+ oral tongue SCC from Jan. 1991 to Dec. 2008 were reviewed. Distribution of neck metastatic and recurrent lymph nodes were analyzed. The influencing factors of neck recurrence of pN+ tongue SCC were analyzed.

RESULTSAll patients were followed over two years or until death. Using Kaplan-Meier method, the 3-year and 5-year overall survival rates were 46.4% and 36.2% respectively. Two hundred and three levels of 138 patients had metastasis and the involvement frequency of ipsilateral I, II, III reached to 94.6%. Sixty-six levels of 47 patients had neck recurrences and the involvement frequency of ipsilateral I, II, III reached to 77.3%. pT stage, pN stage, pTNM stage, extracapsular spread (ECS) of cervical lymph nodes were relevant to the neck recurrence of pN+ tongue SCC (all P < 0.05). When ECS of cervical lymph nodes was present, the neck recurrence rate of patients with postoperative radiation was lower than patients without postoperative radiation, but P value failed to demonstrate significant difference (P = 0.076). There were no significant difference of neck recurrence rates between different neck dissection methods (P > 0.05). Multivariate Cox analysis showed that pTNM stage and ECS of cervical lymph nodes were the independent prognostic factors of pN+ oral tongue SCC.

CONCLUSIONSpT stage, pN stage, pTNM stage, ECS of cervical lymph nodes were the influencing factors of neck recurrence of pN+ tongue SCC. Postoperative radiation may reduce the neck recurrence rate when ECS was present. There was no difference of the neck recurrence rate between modified neck dissection (MRND) and radical neck dissection (RND) and when the non-lymphatic structures were not involved, MRND should attempted. Metastatic and recurrent lymph nodes of pN+ tongue SCC were mostly distributed in ipsilateral I, II, III level and selective neck dissection (SND) can be applied to pN+ tongue SCC.