Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 22, 2025

Application of the En Bloc Concept Combined with Anatomic Resection in Laparoscopic Hepatectomy
Published on: March 10, 2023
Surgical resection of oral cancer: en-bloc versus discontinuous approach
Giancarlo Tirelli1, Alice Piccinato1, Paolo Antonucci1
1Head and Neck Department, ENT Clinic, Hospital of Cattinara, University of Trieste, Strada di Fiume 447, 34149, Trieste, Italy.
Objectives:
In the past literature agreed on treating oral carcinomas, using an "en-bloc" resection (EBR) but recently minimally invasive transoral surgery has spread as the preferable treatment for selected cases. This latter technique, which is performed with a discontinuous resection (DR), allows for a satisfactory postoperative quality of life (QoL) maintaining good survival rates.
Materials And Methods:
In this study, we analyzed data about 147 surgically treated patients with oral cancer involving tongue and floor of the mouth. The sample was divided according to the surgical approach: EBR and DR group which were compared in terms of recurrence, overall survival, disease-free survival, and QoL.
Results:
In the DR group, survival analysis showed better results in term of survival, locoregional control, and postoperative anxiety, while the other QoL scores were similar in the two groups.
Conclusion:
The more invasive approach does not correlate to a better outcome. In selected cases, DR is an oncologically safe technique; EBR is still a valid option to treat advanced oral cancers.

