Patterns of recurrence in patients undergoing curative treatment for maxillary alveolus squamous cell carcinoma

The aim of this paper was to examine patterns of recurrence in patients undergoing curative treatment for maxillary alveolus squamous cell carcinoma (MASCC). Clinicopathological data on 41 patients undergoing curative resection for MASCC between February 2006 and May 2020 were retrospectively gathered. Outcomes included local, regional, or distant failure as first site of treatment recurrence. Univariate analysis identified significant clinicopathological variables for type of recurrence. Multivariate regression analysis generated predictive models. Ten of 41 patients developed regional recurrence, and nine manifested contralateral recurrence following ipsilateral neck dissection. In three patients the ipsilateral neck was pN0. Nodal metastasis was predictive of regional recurrence, particularly with extranodal tumour extension (ENE). Multivariate analysis with regional recurrence confirmed that ENE was independently predictive. Nodal disease and ENE in patients with MASCC was found to be predictive of contralateral regional recurrence. Management of the neck in MASCC that extends to the palatal aspect should therefore be considered as midline disease.