Background: Oral cavity cancer has a good survival outcome if detected early and properly managed; however, thorough
investigation is required for cervical lymph node staging, which can delay surgery. The authors examined the accuracy OPD ultrasounds in a number of cases, to try a simpler investigative method.
Objective: Our aim was to investigate the accuracy of OPD ultrasounds for use in cervical lymph node staging in oral cavity cancer.
Materials and Methods: Between January 2015 and February 2016, oral cavity cancer patients at Srinagarind Hospital underwent both manual physical examination and OPD ultrasound for pre-operative cervical lymph node staging.
Results: Fifty patients had oral cavity cancer (23 [46%] males and 27 [54%] females). The respective sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of cervical lymph node staging via manual physical examination vs. staging by OPD ultrasound was 77.3%, 60.7%, and 68% vs. 100%, 82.1%, and 90%.
Conclusion: In cases of oral cavity cancer, adjunct OPD ultrasonography demonstrated high sensitivity, specificity, and
accuracy for pre-operative cervical lymph node staging.

Keywords: Ultrasound, Oral cavity cancer, Cervical lymph node