Surgical Treatment of Lip Cancer: Our Experience With 106 Cases

• Published in: Journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery Vol. 67; no. 4; pp. 840 - 845
• Main Authors: Salgarelli, Attilio Carlo, MD, DDS, Sartorelli, Francesco, MD, Cangiano, Alessandro, MD, Pagani, Renato, MD, Collini, Marco, MD, DDS
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.04.2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - secondary; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - surgery; Cause of Death; Dentistry; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Lip - surgery; Lip Neoplasms - surgery; Lymphatic Metastasis - pathology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neck Dissection; Neoplasm Staging; Neoplasms, Second Primary - pathology; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures - methods; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Surgery; Lip; Treatment; Malignant tumor; Stomatology; Surgery; Cancer
• ISSN: 0278-2391; 1531-5053
• DOI: 10.1016/j.joms.2008.09.020

Purpose To report our experience with 106 cases of lip cancer. Patients and Methods We treated 106 patients with stages T1, T2, or T3 lip cancer (76, 22, and 8 cases, respectively). For the 34 T1 lesions up to 1 cm in diameter, we used a V or W excision. In the 42 T1 lesions greater than 1 cm and the 20 T2 lesions, we used the staircase technique. In 2 T2 cases, the carcinoma was located on the labial commissure and was treated with the Fries technique. For the 8 T3 cases, we used the Bernard-Freeman-Fries technique. In 28 patients, a lip shave was performed and tumor was removed. The 7 patients who were N+ at diagnosis underwent modified radical neck dissection and radiotherapy. Results Ten patients died during the follow-up period of 11 to 65 months: 8 of unrelated causes and 2 of new upper aerodigestive tract carcinoma. None of the patients died of their lip cancer. Conclusions Lip cancer is a frequent disease of the oral cavity. Although general agreement has been reached concerning stage T and N+ surgical treatment, unresolved questions remain with regard to N0 treatment. We present our experience and suggestions.