Abstract
The importance of having tumor-free margins when resecting oral neoplasms has been known for decades. ObjectiveTo correlate clinical and pathology data to surgical margin status in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue and floor of the mouth. MethodThis historical cohort cross-sectional study included all patients submitted to squamous cell carcinoma resection for tumors of the oral tongue and floor of the mouth between 2007 and 2011 at the Head and Neck Surgery service of our institution. ResultsIn the 117 cases included, 68.3% had tongue tumors. The male-to-female ratio was 2.3:1 and patient mean age was 57.6 years. Broad free resection margins were seen in 23.0% of the cases; narrow margins in 60.6% of the cases; and compromised margins in 16.2%. Tumor diameter and thickness were correlated to resection margins. Tumors in more advanced T-stages presented more unsatisfactory margins. Patients operated with broad free margins had their tumors resected more commonly through transoral approaches. ConclusionsTumors of larger volume both in terms of diameter and thickness were more correlated to unsatisfactory resection margins. Higher complexity procedures were not associated with better resection margins.
Highlights
Oral cancer ranks fifth among malignant neoplasms affecting men in Brazil[1]
Broad free resection margins were seen in 23.0% of the cases; narrow margins in 60.6% of the cases; and compromised margins in 16.2%
Tumor diameter and thickness were correlated to resection margins
Summary
Oral cancer ranks fifth among malignant neoplasms affecting men in Brazil[1]. In the past few decades, incidence rates and the number of deaths caused by this disease have increased in Brazil[2]. The importance of obtaining tumor-free margins when treating squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the mouth has been known for decades[3]. Associations between involved margins and factors related to oral cancer patient survival such as T-stage[3,4,5,6,7,8], N-stage[5,6], thickness[9], and pattern of tumor invasion[5,10,11] have been reported. The ability of the surgeon to obtain disease-free margins may be affected by the location of the tumor[6]. Loree & Strong[3] reported significant variations in involved margin incidence for different sites in the mouth
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