A clinical study of local recurrence after surgery in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral mucosa

A clinical study was made of local recurrence after surgery in 22 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral mucosa between 1980 and 1991, and the following results were obtained. 1. Local recurrence occurred in 9 of 22 patients with carcinoma of the tongue. Recurrence often occurred in those who had locally advanced tumor undergoing hemiglossectomy, semi-total glossectomy or total glossectomy. 2. Local recurrence occurred in 7 of 42 patients with carcinoma of the lower gingiva. Recurrence occurred i n those who had T1·T2 tumor undergoing marginal mandiblectomy with intraoral approach, as well as in those who had T4 locally advanced tumor. X-ray findings and histologic grade of malignancy did not correlate with local recurrence. 3. Local recurrence occurred in 4 of 17 patients with carcinoma of the floor of the mouth. Recurrence occurred in those who had T2·T3 tumor undergoing marginal mandibllectomy. Histologic grade of malignancy did not correlate with local recurrence. 4. Local recurrence occurred in 2 of 22 patients with carcinoma of the upper gingiva. There was no recurrence in T1-T3 patients. 5. Only 7 of 22 patients with local recurrence showed good prognosis. The 5-year cumulative survival rate was 34.1%.