Prognostic factors for T1-T2 squamous cell carcinomas of the mobile tongue: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to identify factors predicting poor prognosis at the time of early oral tongue carcinoma diagnosis.

METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was carried out on 70 patients with T1 or T2 squamous cell carcinoma of the mobile tongue treated with primary surgical treatment.

RESULTS: In all, 47% of patients received adjuvant treatment. Local recurrence was observed in 29% and regional recurrence in 26%. With a median follow-up of 7.3 years for living patients, 5-year actuarial overall, disease-specific, and disease-free survival rates were 48%, 61%, and 42%, respectively. The presence of poor histological differentiation increased the overall risk of death. Tumor thickness and posterior lingual location independently increased overall and disease-specific risk of death. Concurrent or previous diagnosis of oral lichen significantly increased the risk of disease-specific death and disease recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS: This study corroborates several known prognostic factors and indicates that diagnosis of oral lichen planus may be a risk factor for disease recurrence.