The impact of positive resection margins on survival requires further study?

Abstract

Squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity is usually treated by surgery followed by adjuvant treatment. In most standard cancer institutions, margin analysis is a key barometer for measuring the quality of surgical resection. Many studies reported that positive margins have at least a 50% reduction in the overall survival. The contributing factors that could improve surgical outcomes have to be explored. Patterns of outcomes in patients with positive margins can be understood better by analyzing the subsites involved. In the past, positive margins have been associated with a poor prognosis. A detailed analysis of the NCDB and other larger databases would aid in revising our practices to optimize oncological outcomes.

Keywords: Head and neck neoplasms; Lymph nodes; Neck dissection; Oral cancer; Squamous cell carcinoma.