Squamous cell carcinoma of the lip. Patterns of relapse and outcome: Reporting the Westmead Hospital experience, 1980–1997

Abstract

Australia has one of the highest rates of squamous cell carcinoma of the lip in the world. Despite a high cure rate, many studies report relapse rates of between 5% and 20% with an associated mortality of 5-10%. The aim of this study was to review the patterns of relapse and outcome for patients treated at Westmead Hospital, Sydney. Ninety-three eligible patients were identified in a retrospective review of all lip cancer patients referred to Westmead Hospital between 1980 and 1997. Relevant data were extracted from the treatment files and included contact with referring doctors and utilizing the Cancer Council Registry. Equal numbers of patients were treated with radiotherapy alone or surgery (+/- adjuvant radiotherapy). The majority of patients were male (78.5%) with T1N0 cancers (64.5%) of the lower lip. A minority (5.4%) had nodal disease at diagnosis. Following treatment, 31 (33.3%) patients relapsed, 11 at the primary site, 18 at the regional nodes and two at both sites simultaneously. Patients treated with a combined approach (RTx/Sx) experienced a better outcome. Overall cancer-specific survival at 5 years was 85%. These findings highlight a disturbing relapse rate and mortality for a subgroup of patients diagnosed with a more aggressive form of lip cancer. Treatment and follow up of these patients should accordingly be more aggressive.

Lip cancer in Western Australia, 1982–2006: a 25‐year retrospective epidemiological study

“…Experts in the field of oral cancer feel that although easy to diagnose, these lesions are often diagnosed late, relapse and metastasize which results in difficulties in treatment. 34 In addition, people who die of lip cancer die mainly in the seventh or eighth decade of life, and co-morbidity of other diseases are common in older age groups.…”

Sobrevida en carcinoma espinocelular de labio

“…El carcinoma espinocelular (CEC) es el tumor maligno más frecuente en la cavidad oral 14 con un porcentaje de 94% 8 , siendo su localización más común la lengua 18 . El riesgo de presentar cáncer oral aumenta con la edad y se manifiesta mayormente en personas sobre 50 años, siendo más afectado el género masculino 18 .…”

High-risk Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma

“…Primary RT has been reported to offer similar cure rates to primary surgery for smaller, low-risk cSCC, but may also be considered in elderly patients or those with significant comorbidities. 76,77 Adjuvant RT is proposed for advanced primary lesions (T3, T4), in the setting of recurrence and in node-positive disease. 35,78 Radiotherapy should also be considered in the setting of incomplete excision margins or where PNI is recorded.…”