Prognosis of squamous-cell carcinoma of the gums with cytologically verified cervical lymph node metastases

A follow-up study was made of 125 patients with carcinoma of the gums treated from 1958 to 1969. Twenty-one of these patients with cytologically verified metastases of the neck at first visit were specially studied. The primary tumour was classified as T1 in three patients, T2 in one, T3 in nine, and T4 in eight patients. Twelve patients received radiotherapy, nine radiotherapy and surgery. The five-year determinate survival rate was 7 per cent in this group compared with 41 per cent for patients without cervical metastases. The importance of the use of fine-needle biopsy and cytology is stressed in the diagnosis of metastases of the neck for proper judgement of the prognosis and for selection of method for treatment.