Outcome of squamous cell carcinoma of the gingiva: a follow-up study of 83cases

Background: Squamous cell carcinomas of the gingiva are relatively rare tum ours, Standard treatment is based on surgery and radiotherapy. The extent o f bone involvement affects mandibulectary indications, Purpose: A retrospec tive review of squamous cell carcinomas of the gingiva was performed to eva luate the incidence of mandibular or maxillary bone involvement. Indication s for marginal and segmental bone resections are specified. Material: From 1985 to 1996, 83 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the gingiva were treated at the Department of Surgery (Institut Bergonie, Bordeaux, France) and at the Department of Maxillofacial and Plastic Surgery (Centre Hospital ier Universitaire, Bordeaux, France), Forty-three underwent surgery plus po stoperative radiotherapy, Twenty-two had flap reconstructions. Clinical eva luation and panorex r ae ntgenography were the means used to evaluate bony invasion and to decide on the extent of bone resection, Methods: A retrospe ctive review of 83 consecutive patients was performed. This series is unusu al in its homogeneity: surgery was performed by only two individuals and th e radiotherapy was the responsibility of just two physicians. Outcome was c alculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: Primary focal control was achieved in 72 patients (87%), Overall survival and rate of recurrence wer e comparable to those of other squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity and oropharynx, Conclusion: Surgical resection continues to be the mainstay of treatment and this study tends to confirm the validity of modified neck dissection and marginal bone resection in suitably selected patients. (C) 2000 European Association for Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery.