[Diagnostic delay in neoplasms of the oral cavity]

The authors present the results of a study of delayed diagnosis in oral cancer. They report 93 cases of malignant oral tumors collected since 1987 at "Regina Elena" Cancer Institute Rome. The study revealed a very high incidence of advanced stage patients, in spite of the easy clinical examination of these malignancies, because there is a very high delay between subjective symptoms and appropriate therapy. Stress is laid on the importance of diagnostic delay on the prognosis and quality of residual life after therapy, early diagnosis being the best strategy against cancer.