Prognostic implications of mucosal and deep margin distances according to T-status in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma: A single-center retrospective study

Head Neck. 2024 Dec;46(12):2926-2934. doi: 10.1002/hed.27844. Epub 2024 Jun 17.

Abstract

Objective: To elucidate the prognostic implications of mucosal and deep margin distances in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC), and to assess a different margin cut-off value in T1-T2 versus T3-T4 tumors.

Methods: This single-center retrospective study included 223 patients who received surgery for a primary OTSCC between January 2017 and December 2021.

Results: Multivariable analysis showed that deep margin distance ≥3 mm in T1-T2 tumors and ≥5 mm in T3-T4 tumors was significantly associated with better RFS and OS. Mucosal and deep margin distances were globally clinically useful for 2-year RFS prediction of T1-T2 tumors, for which deep margins seemed to have more clinical utility than mucosal margins. The influence of margin distances on 2-year RFS seemed greater for T1-T2 tumors than T3-T4 tumors.

Conclusion: Mucosal and deep margin distances were associated with OS and RFS in OTSCC. Shorter deep margin distances may be aimed for in T1-T2 versus T3-T4 tumors.

Keywords: glossectomy; margin; recurrence; squamous cell carcinoma; tongue cancer.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / mortality
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / surgery
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Margins of Excision*
  • Middle Aged
  • Mouth Mucosa / pathology
  • Neoplasm Staging*
  • Prognosis
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Tongue Neoplasms* / mortality
  • Tongue Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Tongue Neoplasms* / surgery