The Impact of Close Surgical Margins on Recurrence in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Overview

Journal J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg

Publisher Sage Publications

Specialties General Surgery
Otorhinolaryngology

Date 2021 Feb 13

PMID 33579388

Citations 10

Authors

Joseph Solomon

Ashley Hinther

T Wayne Matthews

Steven C Nakoneshny

Rob Hart

Joseph C Dort

Shamir P Chandarana

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Close margins influence treatment and outcome in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). This study evaluates 187 cases of surgically treated OSCC regarding the impact of close margins on recurrence-free survival (RFS) and disease-specific survival (DSS).

Methods: Predictors of worsened outcome were identified using Kaplan-Meier analysis and multivariate Cox regression analysis.

Results: Tumour size [HR:1.70(0.95-3.08)], nodal status [HR:2.15(1.00-4.64)], presence of extracapsular spread (ECS) [HR:6.36(2.41-16.74)] and smoking history [HR:2.87(1.19-6.86)] were associated with worsened RFS. Similar factors were associated with worsened DSS. Close margins did not influence RFS or DSS.

Conclusions: While most conventional risk factors for OSCC conferred a worsened outcome, close margins did not. One explanation for this would be that close margins (< 5 mm) are equivalent to clear margins and the cutoff definition for a close margin should be re-evaluated. Lack of standardized pathology could also reduce accuracy of reporting of close surgical margins.

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Won N, Bartling M, La Macchia J, Markevich S, Holtshousen S, Jagota A J Biomed Opt. 2024; 30(Suppl 1):S13706.

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Alberto G, Marco R, Michele T, Carlo C, Aurora P, Anna B Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2024; 282(1):417-425.

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