A 22 years survival and prognostic factors analysis in a homogeneous series of 64 patients with advanced cancer of the tongue and the floor of the mouth.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate patients with advanced tongue and floor of the mouth carcinoma evaluating clinical and histopathologic parameters as prognostic factors for survival.

Methods: We studied retrospectively 64 patients with squamous cell carcinomas of the tongue and floor of the mouth in stage III and IV, treated by surgery at first and followed them for at least 22 years or until death, with a median follow-up of 67 months (range, 3-290 months). The prognosis factors evaluation included tumor, patient and treatment related factors using univariate and multivariate statistical analysis.

Results: The overall 5-year and 22-year survival rates were 34.4% and 6.3%, respectively; and the specific 5-year and 22 years survival rates 35.9%. Eleven patients (17.2%) had died of a second primary tumor and 8 (12.5%) of intercurrent diseases. Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed node capsular invasion, number of metastatic nodes and malignancy grading as the main factors associated with survival (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: A very long-term follow-up allowed for the observation of the specific and the overall survival, influenced by age and comorbidities. The prognosis was strongly influenced by the ganglionar status and the histopathological characteristics of the primary tumor.