[Variations in the biological behavior of neoplasms of the oral mucosa]

Up to now the biological potencies of a carcinom of the oral mucous membrane cannot be determined metrically in individual cases. Based upon investigations of the frequency of metastase formation of oral carcinoms within regional lymphatic nodes one cannot draw reliable conclusions as to the dependence of regional metastase formation upon the T-stage. Therefore surgical treatment of regional lymphatic nodes is considered necessary also in early stages.