Evaluation of Locoregional Recurrence Patterns Following Adjuvant (Chemo)Radiotherapy for Oral Cavity Carcinoma

To evaluate patterns of locoregional recurrence following adjuvant (chemo)radiotherapy for oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas.

One hundred and one patients who received adjuvant radiotherapy ± chemotherapy for oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma between 2013 and 2016 were analysed. For documented locoregional recurrence, recurrence imaging was deformably co-registered to the planning computed tomography scan. The volume of recurrence was delineated (Vrec). Vrec coverage by 95% of the corresponding planning target volume prescription dose was determined and the location compared with planning target volumes. Sites of recurrence were classified using a combined volume and centroid-based method: (A) central high dose, (B) peripheral high dose, (C) central low dose, (D) central peripheral dose, (E) extraneous.

The median follow-up was 36 months. Forty-three per cent and 53% of patients received radiotherapy to the ipsilateral neck only and bilateral neck, respectively. Three-year overall survival, disease-free survival, local control, regional control and distant metastases-free survival were 63.0, 65.6, 88.0, 85.1 and 85.3%, respectively. Of 10 episodes of primary site recurrences, five were type A, four type B and one was type E. Of 14 episodes of regional recurrence, five were type A, two type C, two type D and five type E. Five of 21 (24%) patients with oral tongue carcinoma with an undissected/unirradiated contralateral neck had a type E contralateral neck recurrence, including 2/11 with pN0, 1/4 with pN1 and 2/6 with pN2 disease.

Marginal and out-of-field recurrences remain a significant pattern of failure. We advocate generous target delineation postoperatively and, for oral tongue carcinomas, a comprehensive approach with bilateral neck irradiation.