Assessment of Lymph Node Metastasis in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Using MRI-Based Learning Model

Abstract

Objective: Lymph node involvement is crucial for prognostic factor for oral squamous cell carcinomas, and understanding nodal metastasis pattern is essential.

Methods: The retrospective study analysed 316 patients with oral cancer, comprehensive assessment of patient data was used to determine the extent and size of the lesion and lymph node involvement. Preoperative staging was confirmed using various imaging techniques, including OPG, CT MRI, and biopsies. Histological examination results were used to categorize carcinomas based on differentiation levels and to identify nodal involvement patterns.

Results: The most common subsite for 316 patients was the tongue (62%), followed by the buccal mucosa (19%), lower alveolus (10.2%), hard palate (3.2%), retro molar trigone (2.8%), floor of the mouth (1.6%), upper alveolus (0.9%), and lower lip (0.3%).

Conclusion: Nodal metastasis in oral cancer are common in Levels II and Ib, with variations based on subsite.