Abstract:

Objective:The purpose of this study was to explore a feasible method to detect the micrometastases.Methods:Totally 152 cases of negative cervical lymph nodes (CLNs) from 30 patients with squamous cell carcinoma in tongue were included in this study. The HE-stained slices of the CLNwere reexamined by two experienced pathologists and, conformed that no carcinoma cells were found. Two slices were made from each paraffin specimen and, the sliceswere stained with the microwave immunohistoche- mical technique with monoclonal antibody CK (AE1/AE3) (DAKO Co. Denmark, 1B100).Results:Among these 152 cases 7 (416%) positive lymph nodes were found in 4(1313%) patients, and CLN metastases were found in all the patients before the surgical treatment. Mostof the micro-metastatic nodes appeared in the upperdeep cervical area, exceptthatone of themwasfound in the submandibular triangle.Conclusion:The results suggest thatmicrometastases frequently occurred in negative lymph nodes. The present method may be useful in detecting the micrometastases of lymph nodes and in evaluating clinical stages of patientswith oral cancers.

Key words: squamous cell carcinoma of tongue, micrometastases, lymph nodes