title: [Squamous cell carcinoma of the lip. Retrospective analysis of 42 cases].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To examine to what extent physicians follow a regional guidelines for the diagnosis, staging, treatment and follow-up of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the lower and upper lip.
  
  
  METHODS
  
  
  
  METHODS
  retrospective analysis of data from the medical records of 42 patients diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the lower and upper lip during the period 1990-2000.
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of head and neck pathology, oral cavity and audio-verbal communication of Naples University.
  
  
  METHODS
  the data were collected by this Department.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In accordance with the TNM system, the 50% of cases was in stage T1, 33% in T2, 14% in T3. In few cases (3%) the lesion was in stage T4. All cases were in M0 and only 8% of cases presented nodal disease at diagnosis (N1). The type of treatment in relation to age was in agreement with the guidelines in 34% of cases. Of the 42 surgically-treated patients, only 4 showed, after 12 months, a local recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prognosis is good if squamous carcinoma is diagnosed early.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento Universitario di Patologia della Testa e del Collo del Cavo Orale e della Comunicazione Audio-Verbale, Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli, Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Itro
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santagata
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carotenuto
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nicoletti
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Tartaro
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008048:Lip Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012189:Retrospective Studies