Extension as a prognostic factor in oropharyngeal cancer: largest mucosal dimension compared with number of (sub)sites involved

We report a retrospective study of 64 patients with primary squamous cell c arcinoma of the oropharynx. The tumours were classified by the UICC (Union Internationale Contre le Cancer) system and a New Tumour Staging (NTS) syst em. Results showed a crude survival of 29% at 5 years. The most important p rognostic factor for survival rate was the tumour (T) stage in both classif ications. NTS recommendations that consider the number of sites and subsite s involved yield a better correlation between survival and T stage. NTS als o discriminates better between the T stages than the UICC criteria.