Marginal Mandibulectomy in Oral Cavity Cancers - Classification and Indications

Squamous cell carcinoma of the lip and oral cavity (OSCC) is a significant global health issue, particularly in low-income countries, with an estimated 390,000 cases detected annually. Although surgery remains the primary treatment option, complex resections are frequently required to attain clear margins. Traditionally, a part of the jaw bone close to the tumour is resected (segmental mandibulectomy) during the surgery. However, marginal mandibulectomy (MM), involving the resection of the mandibular rim while preserving its continuity, offers a less debilitating alternative to segmental mandibulectomy (SM) in selected cases. This review examines marginal mandibulectomy's oncological safety and efficacy and its current role in managing oral cavity cancers, as indicated by the most recent literature. MM is an effective treatment for tumours, which abut the mandible without bone invasion and provides comparable oncological outcomes to SM, with fewer functional and cosmetic deficits. The authors also propose a classification based on the plane of resection and location within the mandible. We believe this classification will be helpful in reporting the MM series done in various centres in a uniform fashion. However, there is a need for precise surgical planning before doing an MM for obtaining the optimal results.