title: Prognostic factors in squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity.
abstract: Researchers have been looking for factors that can influence the prognosis of oral cancer, because its outcome is highly uncertain.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate variables that can impact the survival rate of patients with squamous-cell carcinoma of the oral cavity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data analysis of 45 patients from January, 2001 to January, 2006. Survival rate curves have been estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and they have been compared through the log-rank test and the Cox regression standard.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total five-year survival rate was of 39% fpr these patients. Only the neck metastases (p=0.017), postoperative radiotherapy (p=0.056) and diseased margin(p=0.004) variables had statistic relevance. Survival rate was lower in patients with neck metastases, margins involved and those who underwent postoperative radiotherapy, in other words, those with the most aggressive tumors. After adjustment, radiotherapy did not prove to be statistically relevant. It is likely that the survival rate of 39% was due to the high number of patients with metastasis (52%) and because the samples were mostly of tongue and mouth floor diseases (82%), which are the hardest to control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neck metastases and diseased margins of oral cavity carcinomas are the prognostic factors that can most impact the survival rate.
authors: Master"s degree student, assistant physician in Head & Neck Surgery, Otorhinolaryngology Unit, Hospital do Servidor Público Estadual de São Paulo. Graduate student, Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery Department, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto. Electronic address: j.r.montoro@terra.com.br.
authors: José Raphael de Moura Campos
authors: JRMC
authors: Montoro
authors: Doctoral degree, assistant professor, Head & Neck Discipline, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto.
authors: Hilton Alves
authors: HA
authors: Hicz
authors: Doctoral degree, assistant professor, Puericultura and Pediatrics, Department, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto - USP.
authors: Luiz
authors: L
authors: de Souza
authors: Master"s degree. Doctoral student, graduate student, Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery Department, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Livingstone
authors: Master"s degree student, graduate student Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery Department, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto.
authors: Daniel Hardy
authors: DH
authors: Melo
authors: Doctoral student, Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery Department, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto.
authors: Rogério Costa
authors: RC
authors: Tiveron
authors: Doctoral degree, livre-docente (habilitation), full professor, Head & Neck Surgery Discipline Hospital, Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto; Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto - USP.
authors: Rui Celso M
authors: RCM
authors: Mamede
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies