Did they find it unusual HPV-16 was in the oral tongue? Most, 90%, is in the oropharynx such as the tonsil, BOT. Did they do an endoscopy to check the tonsil and BOT with biopsy? Also, HPV positive only shows treatment and survival benefit in the oropharynx, not outside this area for some reason. Possibly not enough studies, one maybe more involved with smoking, carcinogens, idk.

Lymph node dissection is controversial in the N0 neck, even with N1, N2 didease and depends on the size, thickness, location of the tumor, margins, pathology, and other factors to treat or not, and each doctor is different. There are NCCN guidelines that may or may not be followed. Also, the key to survival is controll of the primary, and lymph nodes, wether radiated or surgical removed or both. There are no set rules, and every situation is different. Are you the same person that the tumor board were arguing about the clear margins?

NCCN guidelines for Oral T1N0 disease is resection of the primary, and ipsilateral or bilateral neck dissection, based on the tumor thickness or Radiation Treatment.

Good luck with everything.