Cancer of the lip

A retrospective review of 361 patients with carcinoma of the lip seen between 1971 and 1976 was performed. There were 348 squamous cell and 13 basal cell carcinomas. The lower to upper lip ratio was 15:1 and the male to female ratio 12:1. The median ages for men and women were 64 and 71 years. The tumors were not staged but four had regional metastases when diagnosed. The primary tumor was controlled by surgery in 76/85 (89%) patients, by surgery and radiation combined in 65/70 (93%) patients, and by radiation alone in 193/206 (94%) patients. Altogether 24 (6.5%) patients developed cervical node metastases and these were controlled in 20 (83%). Tumor related deaths occurred in 11 (3%) patients and the five year cause specific survival rate was 97%.