BACKGROUND: For patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) without evidence of nodal metastasis (cN0) on pre-operative evaluation, there are no clear guidelines who should undergo elective neck dissection (END) versus clinical surveillance.
OBJECTIVE: To identify CT imaging characteristics of sub-centimeter lymph nodes that would help predict the likelihood of nodal metastases on pathology.
METHODS: Retrospective review of cN0 OCSCC patients at a tertiary academic medical center was performed. Inclusion criteria included elective neck dissection, pre-operative CT imaging and presence of metastatic disease within lymph nodes. Control group consisted of patients without nodal metastases on pathology. CT features that were evaluated included asymmetric size, disrupted fatty hilum, asymmetric number, presence of cortical nodule, cortical nodule size, and round/oval shape. We evaluated the associations between CT LN features and the presence of metastases using multi-level mixed-effects logistic regression models. Model evaluation was performed using 5-fold cross-validation. The positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated.
RESULTS: 26 patients in each study and control groups were included. Three-level mixed-effects logistic regression models indicated round/oval shape (OR = 1.39, p = .01), asymmetric number (OR = 7.20, p = .005), and disrupted fatty hilum (OR = 3.31, p = .04) to be independently predictive in a 3-variable model with sensitivity = 38.0%, specificity = 92.0%, and PPV = 93.8%.
CONCLUSIONS: In cN0 OCSCC patients undergoing END, round/oval shape, asymmetric number, and disrupted fatty hilum of lymph nodes on pre-operative CT imaging are novel and highly predictive of occult nodal disease.

UNASSIGNED: Metastatic esophageal carcinoma to the oral cavity has been rarely reported, and most cases were adenocarcinoma metastasizing to the mandible. This first report of a case of metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma to the floor of the mouth is crucial due to its rarity and difficulties in diagnosing and managing this condition.
UNASSIGNED: A 53-year-old male had a painful submucosal mass on the left side of the floor of the mouth for 2 months. A biopsy indicated a moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. Six months before the intraoral mass appeared, the patient had a moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus and was treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy. With the previous history and pathological review, the diagnosis of metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma to the floor of the mouth was made. Panendoscopy and an 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography scan revealed no other abnormality or other distant metastasis. The patient underwent surgical resection with postoperative chemoradiotherapy. He was able to take a regular diet and had good speech function. Ten months after treatment completion, he has had recurrent disease at the floor of the mouth with lung metastasis.
UNASSIGNED: Oral metastasis from esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is very rare and should be differentiated from primary oral cancer using clinical and pathological features. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography scanning is the preferred imaging method to exclude primary tumor persistence and other metastases. Treatment is usually palliative; however, function-preserving surgery may be an option for a patient with limited disease in the oral cavity.

Spontaneous regression of a neoplasm is a rare oncologic phenomenon. Certain neoplasms, such as melanomas and neuroblastomas, display this phenomenon. To date, spontaneous regression of oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas has been documented in only a handful of case reports. We present a novel case of spontaneous regression of an oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma following biopsy. We discuss the tumor\'s unique genetic profile, immune response to cancer, and review the literature on possible mechanisms of spontaneous regression. Small-volume persistent cancer in our patient reinforces that tissue confirmation remains crucial to avoid missing remaining tumor. Further investigation is required to understand mechanisms of spontaneous regression and how these may be exploited to improve head and neck squamous cell carcinoma treatment.