An interinstitutional treatment outcomes comparison for oral cavity cancers from two tertiary care centers

Oral cavity cancer (OCC) patients are treated with surgery as the primary modality of treatment world over. This study is aimed to compare surgery with adjuvant radiation practiced at center A with Radical radiation practiced at center B in terms of disease control and quality of life (QOL) for OCC patients.

Wide excision and neck dissection with or without reconstruction was followed by adjuvant radiation with or without chemotherapy in selected cases in center A. Radical chemoradiation was used in center B. Their disease status at 2 years of follow-up was assessed along with QOL. The results were compared between the two centers.

A total of 43 patients from center A and 33 patients from center B were looked at and the 2-year survival rate was 66% and 48%, respectively ( P = 0.04). Among QOL scores, pain in the mouth and shoulder was significantly higher in center A, while scores of social contact and weight losses were significantly higher in center B. Lost to follow-up was higher in center B, 52% versus 12%.

Surgery followed by radiation with or without chemotherapy should be considered for operable OCC and provides better tumor control with a lesser QOL of subscales related to surgery. Wherever surgical expertise is not available, radical chemoradiation is preferred for a better QOL compared to palliative treatment.