Objective: To investigate the different pattern of neck lymph node metastasis, the choice of surgical methods and prognosis in early tongue squamous cell carcinoma. Methods: A total of 157 patients with early oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma were included in this study. Statistical analysis was performed to identify the pattern of lymph node metastasis, to determine the best surgical procedure and to analyze the prognosis. Results: The occurrence of cervical lymph node metastasis rate was 31%(48/157). Neck lymphatic metastasis was significantly related to tumor size (P=0.026) and histology differentiation type (P=0.022). The rate of metastasis was highest in level Ⅱ [33% (16/48)]. In level Ⅳ, the incidence of lymph node metastasis was 5%(7/157), and there was no skip metastases. The possibility of level Ⅳ metastasis was higher, when level Ⅱ (P=0.000) or Ⅲ (P=0.000) involved. The differentiation tumor recurrence, neck lymphatic metastasis and adjuvant radiotherapy were prognostic factors (P<0.05). Multivariate analyses revealed histology differentiation type, neck lymphatic metastases and adjuvant radiotherapy were the independent prognostic factors. Conclusions Neck lymphatic metastasis rate is high in early tongue squamous cell carcinoma, simultaneous glossectomy and neck dissection should be performed. Level Ⅳ metastasis rate is extremely low, so supraomohyoid neck dissection is sufficient for most of the time. The histology differentiation type, neck lymphatic metastasis and adjuvant radiotherapy are independent prognostic factors.

The pathogenesis of Sjögren's syndrome （SS） was considered to involve external dryness， internal injured essence and blood， yin-deficiency endowment， and abnormal emotion and spirit， and it was believed that SS has the characteristics of dryness and impassability， and the pathogenesis of deficiency-excess in complexity. According to the theory “upper dryness treats qi， and lower dryness treats blood” in YE Gui's monograph “Medical Records for Clinical Guidance”， the dryness was divided into upper dryness and lower dryness syndromes to be differentiated and treated. When treating dryness syndrome， the patient should follow the characteristics of the five zang organs， using soft and cool medicines， avoiding warm and dry medicines， and valuing the animal products. The upper dryness could be treated with Sangxiang Decoction （桑杏汤） to clear the qi and moisten the dryness， Qiaohe Decoction （翘荷汤） to clear the upper with pungent-cool， and Shashen Maidong Decoction （沙参麦冬汤） to nourish yin and promote the production of body fluid. The lower dryness could be treated with Fumai Decoction （复脉汤） to enrich and nourish the five kinds of fluid. Liuwei Dihuang Pill （六味地黄丸） to nourish the kidneys and supplement essence， and Wuren Pill （五仁丸） to moisten the dryness and nourish the blood， which provided a new way of thinking for differentiation of the dryness syndrome.