Objective The purpose of this study was to discuss the principle in neck treatment of cN\-0 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of buccal mucosa.Methods 101 patients of squamous cell carcinoma of buccal mucosa at the stage of cN\-0, who had hospitalized in West China College of Stomatology, Sichuan University from 1980 to 2000, were investigated retrospectively. All the patients received a comprehensive therapy consisting of surgical procedures combined with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The combining radical therapy of buccal, mandible and neck was the main surgical method. Lymph nodes were cleared after operation and examined by pathological method. The patients had been followed up for more than 3 years.Results 17 patients had lymph nodes metastasis, the occult metastasis (OM) rate was 16.83%. It increased in the high stage of original lesion, the OM rate of T\-3 and T\-4 was 18 18% and 52.00%, respectively. The metastasized lymph nodes were mainly located in submandible and superior deep cervix lymph nodes, their respective metastasis rate was 41 18% and 29 41%.Conclusion The rate of occult metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma of buccal mucosa is high, and then we should adopt actively selective neck dissection for the cN\-0 patients of squamous cell carcinoma of buccal mucosa.
