Close Resection Margins Do Not Influence Local Recurrence in Patients With Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract

The authors advocate that the strategy of using close resection margins as a generic indicator for local recurrence and adverse prognosis might have to be reassessed. The histopathologic evidence of tumor cells within a distance less than 0.5 cm from the surgical margins does not necessarily seem to offer a certain indication for additional treatment. Other prognostic factors, such as involvement of cervical lymph nodes and tumor depth, must be considered in the decision making for further treatment.

The prognostic role of immunohistochemical markers in surgical margins of Indian patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma- a retrospective study protocol

“…2 The surgical resection remains the preferred and prime treatment modality for patients with OSCC regardless of the new advancements. 3 The pathology in the surgical margins have influence over survival rate of patients with OSCC as positive surgical margins increases the risk of local recurrence and poor survival of patients. 4,5 But achieving a cancer clear margin at the primary location of tumor is still a challenge for most surgeons due to tumor biology and anatomic restrictions in the oral cavity.…”

“…4,5 But achieving a cancer clear margin at the primary location of tumor is still a challenge for most surgeons due to tumor biology and anatomic restrictions in the oral cavity. 3 A clear margin is mostly cited as the cutoff distance of 5 mm or more of uninvolved tissue surrounding the tumor mass. 6 The surgical margins are histologically evaluated for presence of tumor cells to check whether adjuvant treatment like chemo/radiotherapy is required by patient since tumor cells found in the margin possess risk of local recurrence.…”