Resectable Sublingual Gland Cancer with Positive Cervical Lymph Nodes (cN+)

This protocol addresses resectable sublingual gland cancer in patients who present with clinically or radiologically positive cervical lymph nodes (cN+) and no evidence of distant metastasis (M0) — a scenario that requires coordinated management of both the primary tumour and the regional cervical disease.

Clinical scenario

Resectable primary sublingual gland tumour with clinically or radiologically confirmed positive cervical lymph nodes (cN+); no distant metastasis (M0). The presence of cervical lymph node involvement is a defining feature of this protocol and directly shapes the surgical approach to the neck.

Treatment approach (partial)

Management centres on surgical resection of the primary sublingual gland tumour — with the open approach being most widely used, though minimally invasive techniques have been described in selected cases — combined with a surgical procedure targeting the involved cervical nodes.

Full regimen detail, including neck dissection extent and level specification, is available in the structured protocol.

Instant Access to Structured Evidence-Based Regimens

References

DOI: 10.1016/j.esmoop.2022.100602

Surgery is the mainstay of treatment for primary resectable disease with the traditional open approach being the most widely used, although endoscopic and robot-assisted approaches have recently been described.
When carrying out therapeutic neck dissection for clinically or radiologically positive lymph nodes (cN+), the recommendation is to carry out a comprehensive neck dissection of levels I–V.

View source ↗