title: The status of the resection margin as a prognostic factor in the treatment of head and neck carcinoma.
abstract: The value of the status of the resection margin as a prognostic factor after surgical treatment was investigated in 80 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, oropharynx and laryngohypopharynx. The relation of locoregional recurrence with the presence or absence of tumour at the surgical margin was analysed together with other indications for postoperative radiotherapy. Locoregional recurrence was observed in 20% and was correlated with tumour thickness over 5 mm, spidery growth and tumour-positive margins. Tumour-positive margin as a single indication for postoperative irradiation was not related to an increased recurrence rate. When however occurring together with other indications for postoperative irradiation, the recurrence rate was higher than in the patient group with the same number of indications for postoperative radiotherapy but without tumour at the surgical margins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, University Hospital, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Ravasz
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Slootweg
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Hordijk
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Smit
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: van der Tweel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007012:Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D037981:Neck Dissection; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D011379:Prognosis; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage