Clinicopathological parameters and outcome of 245 patients operated for oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Introduction: This report analysed the outcome of patients undergoing surgery for oral squamous cell carcinoma in order to identify the prognostic value of several factors.

Patients: A total of 245 patients were studied who had undergone surgery for oral squamous cell carcinoma between 1989 and 2002, of whom 109 had received postoperative radiation therapy.

Methods: For each patient, personal data, alcohol and tobacco consumption, symptoms, histological findings, treatment, and outcome were recorded and analysed statistically. Survival curves were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier algorithm, and the difference in survival among subgroups was examined.

Results: The overall 5-year survival rate in the 245 patients was 63% (72.5% at 3 years). The differences in the 5-year survival were significant (p<0.05) for the site of origin, N and pN status, TNM stage, grading, status of the resection margins, osseous infiltration, and perineural invasion. Vascular involvement as a discriminator was not statistically significant. In patients undergoing radiation therapy, only perineural invasion negatively influenced the 5-year survival prognosis (p<0.01).

Conclusion: The overall survival rate was within the (previously) reported range. The prognostic value of many parameters is widely recognized; the combined evaluation of 'composite factors' is promising.