Practicability of submandibular gland in squamous cell carcinomas of oral cavity

Current surgical treatment for oral cancers includes wide surgical excision of the primary lesion with appropriate neck dissection. Although tumor metastasis to the gland is uncommon, submandibular glands are frequently excised as a part of neck dissection because of their proximity to the primary lesion and afferent lymph nodes. Herein, we have retrospectively investigated the rate of involvement of submandibular glands in oral cavity tumors, and discussed the feasibility about resection of the submandibular glands. 94 patients undergoing 98 supraomohyoid neck dissections for oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma from 1st May 2010 till 31st May 2014 were retrospectively evaluated. Inclusion criteria were histopathologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and surgery as the primary treatment modality, consisting of resection of the primary lesion with additional neck dissection, including at least one submandibular gland. Among the 98 specimens involvement of submandibular gland was seen only in 3 patients (3.06 %). Submandibular gland involvement was due to direct invasion of primary tumors and via the metastatic periglandular lymph nodes. Decision regarding excision of the gland should be done during the operation with the help of visual examination and frozen sections instead of preoperative planned resection. Preserving submandibular gland is both technically as well as oncologically feasible and can achieve potential benefit in preserving the submandibular salivary flow.