[Oral cavity cancer, an update on behalf of Intergroupe ORL]

Oral cavity cancers are frequent: 6,600 cases per year are diagnosed in France. Age of occurrence is around 60. Tobacco is the main risk factor, especially when associated with alcohol. They occur de novo or by evolution of a precancerous lesion. Diagnosis is late in 70% of cases. They must be treated in specialized centers. Pretreatment check-up has to be done according to national guidelines. Treatment often implies primary surgery. Reconstructive surgery progresses allow for wide excisions and still acceptable quality of life. Radiotherapy, eventually potentialized, is usually performed post-operatively. Induction chemotherapy still needs to be evaluated in oral cancers, especially in an organ preservation purpose.