what is minimum tumor thickness(dept of infiltration) of tongue indicates neck dissection after excision of primary tumor in early anterior tongue cancer?

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Marg,
Yes, depth is considered, but anything can happen when you are talking this type of cancer. Notice the depth of my lesion was nothing--1 mm, supposedly anyway. I've read that if it is a sore they should measure what the mucosa would be if it were covering it, so that would make it thicker perhaps. Mine was fairly flat. After I had a metastatic lymph node, that changed everything. My case was unusual, nevertheless one cannot completely disregard caution. As far as I know there is no accepted minimum depth. The size of your lesion also figures into risk. If there are no apparent involved lymph nodes from whatever screening tools are being used (CT & PET most usual), then most will watch it, but not all doctors as sometimes these tests are wrong.

Hope you are having medical doctors (ENT) looking at it, pathology report made (how aggressive the lesion is matters also), and in general getting the best care you can, for oral tongue cancer can be tricky.

Best,
Anne

Hi there ditto on what Anne said!!! she's right - my belief is if you trust your dr and if he recommends it - do it. They have the most experience and can tell by the reports (biopsy) whether the cancer is agressive - depth is important especially if there's nerve involvement, but if you have no precursors for it and your dr suggests it go for it. Mine was fairly deep. And "well differentiated" but moved very quickly into one node - after my biopsy. I had a neck dissection with 40 nodes removed. My urge on didn't give me the option just said this is what I'm doing... He's the best so I trusted him. if you think you should have one and the dr says no ask why. Good luck and welcome!

Marg,

I had no cancer in the lymph nodes my surgeon recommended having an ND. The reason he gave me is cancer cells start out small and by the time a scan picks it up it's the size of a marble. I'd rather be safe than sorry later. Nothing to an ND he made the cut in the crease of my neck it can't be seen, yes I'm old:)

Take care,
Connie

I wish i had gone with a ND the first time around. My doctors said I would not need one with a stage I minimaly invasive tumor. Well, I did as I am now fighting mets to a lymph node close to the original site.

Thanks for all valuable replies.Find in few sites there is 2% of chance for node metastasis even for below 1.5mm dept, irrespective of size of the tongue tumor and .I can guess even for half mm or 1mm there is a chance 1 or 2% to 5%.If your onco suggests neck dissection(ND) go for it. But If your onco telling you its only 1mm or below 1 mm only or superficial only or only 5%,10% low risk for node metastasis..... ask if he can guarantee that there is no cancer cells in neck nodes..definitely he will say big NO.Then all should go for ND if their primary surgery excluded neck dissection.Why take chance even it is 1% or 2% or half percent?

Marg

I often answer rhetorical questions here on OCF, so I couldn't resist yours. I hope your uncle does listen to his surgeon if the surgeon recommends NOT getting a Neck dissection. While it is true that no one can guarantee that a lymph node is totally cancer free, the OCF newsfeed is replete with plenty of studies that many neck dissections turn out to be unnecessary. The lymph nodes are an important part of the body's immune system and there are plenty of complications and issues from a neck dissection.
That's why an experienced surgeon's opinion is worth taking a chance on. I did the first time around and am glad I did even though the scans did show cancer in my lymph node. The neck dissection I finally ended up with after the cancer came back confirmed that there wasn't any cancer left over in the lymph nodes - the radiation had worked.
Of course everybody's risk tolerance is different, but with a neck dissection, often those who play it ultra safe end up with sorry consequences from unnecessary surgery and the loss of lymph nodes and the lymphatic system's benefits.
This is one area where a surgeon's expertise is invaluable.
Charm

Marg,

That's right why take the chance!! I wasn't going to take any chances, my luck isn't that good. I have no idea or does my surgeon whether small cancer cells were in the lymph-nodes. I went with his advice (ND) I'd rather be safe than sorry later. My tumor on my tongue was growing outward not inward which was a good sign but I still went with the ND. I've had no complications from my ND.

I listened to my Cancer Surgeon he knows a hellva lot more than I do or any website.

Are you going to a Cancer Center? You might want to get another opinion.

Best Wishes,
Connie

Kelly

your tumor stage shows soft palate of oral mouth, stage 1, T3N0M0.
Once it is T3 of soft Palate of mouth cancer, as per NCCN guidelines your onco must perform a bilateral neck dissection (two sides of neck).And also it is not stage 1 but stage 3.
As per NCCN guidelines tumor evasiveness/thickness is not an issue for soft palate /base of tongue/tonsils cancers.It applies for other cancers like Buccalmucosa,Hard palate,Floor of the mouth,Anterior tongue of the mouth.I am not from healthcare, but something wrong with your treatment.
please correct me?