Recurrence in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Associated with Wide Field of Cancerization: Analysis of 93 Cases.

Background: The late presentation of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients in the Sudan, with advanced stages and wide field of cancerization, have a negative impact on both the morbidity and the mortality of these patients. The present study aimed to investigate the clinicopathological behavior of OSCC and predictors of development of recurrence in these patients.

Methods: This a prospective longitudinal study of 93 OSCC patients surgically treated at Khartoum Teaching Dental Hospital. Tumor's associated field of cancerization was identified. The patients were followed clinically on regular basis, for a year, for the development of recurrence.

Results: Out of the 93 patients, 57 (61.3%) were males and 36 (38.7%) were females. 82% of the patients presented with stage IV tumors, and 58 (62.4%) of the cases had nodal metastasis. Twenty-eight (30%) patients developed recurrence. Of them 17 (18.3%) had regional recurrence, eight (8.6%) had local recurrence and three (3.2%) had locoregional recurrence. Multivariate cox regression analysis showed that Toombak dipping (P.value = 0.001), tumor staging (P.value = 0.039) and presence of mucosal filed changes (P.value = 0.001) were independent predictors for local recurrence and positive pathological lymph nodes (P.value = 0.00) and extranodal extension (P.value = 0.040) were independent predictors for regional recurrence.

Conclusion: The present study showed that OSCC patients in the Sudan present with advanced lesions, mostly associated with wide field of cancerization particularly Toombak dippers. Overall recurrences were identified in 30% of the cases, regional recurrence was the commonest type followed by local recurrence.