Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2026
Modified Radical Neck Dissection for Cervical Metastasis
Published on: February 20, 2026
Prospective randomized study of selective neck dissection versus observation for N0 neck of early tongue carcinoma
Anthony Po-Wing Yuen1, Chiu Ming Ho, Tam Lin Chow
1Department of Surgery, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. pwyuen@hkucc.hku.hk
Background:
There are controversies on the benefits of elective neck dissection (END) for oral tongue carcinoma.
Method:
This is a prospective randomized study of elective selective I, II, III neck dissection versus observation for N0 neck of stage I to II oral tongue carcinoma. There were 35 patients on the observation arm and 36 patients on the END arm. The main outcome assessment parameters are node-related mortality and disease-specific survival rate.
Results:
There were 11 patients in the observed arm and 2 patients in the END arm who developed nodal recurrence alone without associated local or distant recurrence. All 13 patients were salvaged, and no patient died of nodal recurrence. The 5-year disease-specific survival rate was 87% for the observation arm and was 89% for the END arm; the 2% difference was not significant.
Conclusion:
Observation may be an acceptable alternative to END if strict adherence to a cancer surveillance protocol is followed.
