Functional Surgical Approach to the Level I for Staging Early Carcinoma of the Lower Lip

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The management of the neck in patients with T1-T2 carcinoma of the lower lip (LLC) remains controversial. Suprahyoid neck dissection seems a reliable diagnostic approach, although it sacrifices the submandibular gland and its vascularity. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: This study was a prospective, randomized study. Patients with previously untreated T1 or T2 primary LLC underwent either classical suprahyoid neck dissection (CSHD) or functional suprahyoid neck dissection (FSHD) in continuity with the resection of the cancer of the lip. RESULTS: A total of 48 suprahyoid neck dissections were performed in 36 patients. Among these dissections, 27 were CSHD and 21 were FSHD. The average number of dissected lymph nodes was similar for both classical and functional type operations. The overall follow-up period was 40.5 months. CONCLUSIONS: The end result of this series supports the idea that FSHD is a reliable diagnostic method for the management of level I lymph nodes in LLC. FSHD can avoid undertreatment or overtreatment of the patients with early LLC while preserving the submandibular gland.