Advanced Stage Buccal Carcinoma: Effect of Local Extension on Prognosis

BACKGROUND/AIMS The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of alveolar mucosa, bone, cheek skin, and lip invasion of buccal carcinoma on locoregional recurrence and survival rates. MATERIALS and METHODS The study included 36 patients with T3-T4a buccal carcinoma. Both T3 and T4a tumors were divided into two subgroups: T3 tumors limited to buccal mucosa, T3 tumors with the involvement of alveolar mucosa, T4a tumors with bone invasion, and T4a tumors with skin and/or lip invasion. RESULTS In T3-T4a tumors, the rates of tumors limited to the buccal mucosa, tumors involving alveolar mucosa, bone of either the maxilla or mandible, and skin and/or lips were 25%, 22.2%, 33.3%, and 19.4%, respectively. The 3-year disease-free survival rate of patients with T3 and T4a tumors was 70.6% and 52.6%, respectively. The 5-year disease-free survival rate of patients with T3 and T4a tumors was 58.8% and 42.1%, respectively. Regarding the 3- and 5-year survival rates, no statistically significant difference was observed between T3 and T4a tumors and between their subgroups. CONCLUSION Despite the lack of statistical significance, there seemed to be a trend toward worse survival among the patients with bone invasion.