Introduction:
The aim of the present study was to identify risk factors for regional recurrences in patients who were pathologically node negative after neck dissection in early stage (T1/2) oral cavity cancer.
Methods:
A retrospective case-control study of a prospectively maintained database of T1/2 oral cavity malignancies in a tertiary referral centre for head and neck malignancy between 2000 and 2022 was carried out.
Inclusion criteria included T1/2 oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) that were pathologically N0 (pN0) treated surgically. The primary outcome was
regional recurrence (RR).
Results:
Of our cohort of 202 patients, 98 patients were identified as being T1/2 and pN0 and were included for analysis. Risk factors for RR on univariate analysis included a non-cohesive invasive front (p=0.048), worst-pattern of invasion (p=0.003), while multivariate analysis demonstrated a significant increase in RR in patients who did not receive radiotherapy at their first occurrence (p=0.019) and worst-pattern of invasion (p=0.015).
Conclusion:
In patients with early stage oral cavity SCCs that were pathologically N0, factors associated with increased risk for regional recurrences included a non-cohesive invasive front, worst-patter of invasion, and not receiving radiotherapy at the first occurrence.
Justin Hintze1, Ryan O’Sullivan1, Deirdre Callanan1, Andrew Dias1, Linda Feeley2,3, Patrick Sheahan1,3
1 Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, Cork
2 Department of Pathology, Cork University Hospital, Cork
3 ENTO Research Unit, College of Medicine and Health, University College Cork, Cork