Age and biopsy as predictive factors in the management of oral squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract EN

Clinical observation has shown that the growth rate and regional metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity is more aggressive in younger patients than in patients older than 60 years.

Secondly, any surgical interference, such as incisional biopsy and/or incomplete surgical excision, has been shown to aggravate the clinical behavior of the tumor.

Accordingly, the objective of this study was to examine the effect of patient age and incisional biopsy on outcomes.

This prospective study enrolled 35 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma who were divided into 2 groups.

Group I consisted of patients ≥ 60 years, whereas group II consisted of patients < 60 years.

Clinical comparisons between these 2 groups were made.

Patients in groups I and II were subjected to different treatment plans according to patient age and the presence or absence of neck metastasis.

Patients in-group II presented with a greater frequency of neck metastasis than patients in group I (56% vs.

18%; p< 0.05).

Five years of follow-up after aggressive surgery revealed a survival rate of 67% in group II and 65% in group I (p > 0.99) after conservative surgery.

In group I, there was a trend towards a greater percentage of patients with no initial evidence of neck metastasis developing neck metastasis after incisional biopsy compared with patients who did not undergo biopsy (80% vs.

22%, p=0.09).

In conclusion, age is considered a predictive factor in nodal metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinomas, and incisional biopsy aggravates the clinical behavior of the tumor.