Influence of surgical margins on local recurrence in T1/T2 oral squamous cell carcinoma

Background The purpose of this study was to explore the significance of resection margin status on local recurrence and survival for early (T1/T2) oral cancer and to determine if the significance of the resection margin varies with the biological aggression of the tumor as determined by pN status. Methods The influence of resection margin size and local recurrence for 295 patients with pT1/T2 oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) treated by primary surgery, including neck dissection, between 1998 and 2010 was analyzed. Results Overall, there was a trend toward increased local recurrence with close or involved margins. When stratified according to nodal status, there was no relationship between margin size and local recurrence for the pN0 group. Conclusion The size of the resection margin does not seem to influence local control in stage I/II oral cancer. With future advances in preoperative neck staging, this data may help plan personalized therapy in head and neck cancer.