title: The Danish national guidelines for treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: The treatment strategy for oral squamous cell carcinoma in Denmark has traditionally varied between the different head and neck oncology centres. A study group within the Danish Society for Head and Neck Oncology (DSHHO) was formed with the aim of optimising and standardising the treatment strategy. The approach was to use single modality treatment for stage I, stage II and some stage III and combined modality treatment for stage III and IV. Surgery was the preferred treatment when it was considered possible to perform a radical excision of the tumour and possible lymph node metastases with acceptable aesthetic and functional outcome. The implementation of a recognised national guideline facilitates prospective studies on a large well-characterised cohort. This increases the possibility of obtaining valid data on parameters such as morbidity, loco-regional control and survival. In addition the establishment of a reference program facilitates national monitoring of the treatment using defined indicators and standards.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark. bilde@rh.dk
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bilde
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: von Buchwald
authors.forename: Jørgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Johansen
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bastholt
authors.forename: Jens A H M
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Sørensen
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marker
authors.forename: Annelise
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krogdahl
authors.forename: Hanne Sand
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Specht
authors.forename: Jørgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kirkegaard
authors.forename: Elo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bentzen
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hjort-Sørensen
authors.forename: Lisbeth Juhler
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Bengt Agathon
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: Troels
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bundgaard
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Overgaard
authors.forename: Cai
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grau
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D003718:Denmark; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000379:methods; D012955:Societies, Medical