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Squamous cell carcinoma of the buccal mucosa: One institution's experience with 119 previously untreated patients
Author(s) -
Diaz Eduardo M.,
Holsinger F. Christopher,
Zuniga Edgar R.,
Roberts Dianna B.,
Sorensen Douglas M.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.10221
Subject(s) - medicine , buccal administration , buccal mucosa , stage (stratigraphy) , basal cell , cancer , carcinoma , survival rate , head and neck cancer , oral cavity , oral mucosa , lymph , surgery , gastroenterology , pathology , dentistry , biology , paleontology
Abstract Background. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the buccal mucosa is a rare, but especially aggressive, form of oral cavity cancer, associated with a high rate of locoregional recurrence and poor survival. We reviewed our institution's experience with 119 consecutive, previously untreated patients with buccal SCC. Methods. We reviewed the charts of 250 patients who were seen at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center between January, 1974, and December, 1993. Of these, 119 were untreated and were subsequently treated exclusively at our institution. Patients who were previously treated elsewhere or whose lesions arose in other sites and only secondarily involved the buccal mucosa were excluded. Results. Patients with T1‐ or T2‐sized tumors had only a 78% and 66% 5‐year survival, respectively. Muscle invasion, Stensen's duct involvement, and extracapsular spread of involved lymph nodes were all associated with decreased survival ( p < .05). Surgical salvage for patients with locoregional recurrence after radiation therapy was rarely successful. Conclusions. SCC of the buccal mucosa is a highly aggressive form of oral cavity cancer, with a tendency to recur locoregionally. Patients with buccal mucosa SCC have a worse stage‐for‐stage survival rate than do patients with other oral cavity sites. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 25: 267–273, 2003