Population-based study of treatment outcomes in squamous cell carcinoma of the retromolar trigone.
BACKGROUND
Carcinoma of the retromolar trigone is relatively uncommon. High rates of local recurrence account for a relatively poor prognosis.


METHODS
A population-based historical cohort of 76 cases with biopsy-proven squamous cell carcinoma of the retromolar trigone were studied as a case series. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and log rank test were used for statistical analysis.


RESULTS
The mean age was 67.2 years. Fifty-six patients were male, 45% had T1 or T2 tumors, and 61% were staged as N0. Treatment included radiotherapy in 35%, surgery alone in 26%, surgery and radiotherapy in 23%, and 16% received palliative treatment. The absolute and disease-specific survivals at 5 years were 51.4% and 67.7%, respectively. In patients treated with surgery, the resection margin status predicted the overall 5-year survival (P = .027), with 75% of patients with negative margins surviving 5 years versus a survival of 0% of patients with involved margins.


CONCLUSIONS
Squamous cell carcinoma of the retromolar trigone has a poor survival rate for early-stage disease. Adequate surgical margins can improve survival.
Binahmed
Abdulaziz
A
Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Nason
Richard W
RW
Abdoh
Ahmed A
AA
Sándor
George K B
GK
D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008339:Mandibular Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D008441:Maxillary Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000401:mortality* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome