Background and objective
Supramandibular facial lymph nodes (SFLNs) are one of the unusual sites of lymph nodes metastases. This prospective study investigated the possible involvement of SFLNs in cases of head and neck carcinoma.
Patients and methods
SFLNS were identified and dissected from 30 neck dissections obtained from 30 patients (22 male individuals and eight female individuals) with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oral cavity without locoregional recurrence or distant metastases.
Result
Histopathological examination of the removed SFLN nodes proved positive for metastases in nine neck dissections, five cases of buccal mucosa SCC (41.7% of the cases) and four cases of alveolar margin SCC (44.4% of the cases).
Conclusion
SFLNs are a probable site of lymph node metastases in SCC of the alveolar margin and buccal mucosa. Careful dissection above the lower margin of the mandible can safely remove these nodes without significant injury to the marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve.