Oral carcinoma of the mandibular region

Of the various oral carcinoma subsites, those related to the mandibular region are associated with the highest rate of recurrence. To try to find out reasons for this, 162 patients with squamous cell carcinoma in the mandibular region treated between 1973 and 1985 in the three major university hospitals in Finland, were analysed retrospectively, with particular emphasis on clinical features and pretreatment evaluation. The analysis showed that 72% of the patients had stage III-IV disease. Primary tumour size seemed to be a major factor governing prognosis. The presence of palpable lymph nodes was merely a further sign. The poor survival statistics were at least partly attributable to inadequate pretreatment examination and tumour evaluation. Few attempts had been made to evaluate mandibular bone infiltration and tumour extension before treatment.