Results of multidisciplinary therapy of squamous cell carcinoma of the buccal mucosa at Srinagarind Hospital, Thailand.
OBJECTIVE
Review the clinical presentation and treatment of buccal carcinoma and compare it to the results of treatment as per survival rate.


METHODS
The authors reviewed the medical records of newly diagnosed seen between 1995 and 2005 at the Division of Plastic Surgery and the Department of Radiotherapy, Srinagarind Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University Patients previously treated elsewhere or those whose lesions secondarily involved the buccal mucosa were excluded.


RESULTS
The authors reviewed the medical records of 107 buccal carcinoma patients (94 females and 13 males) averaging 67 years of age. The 5-year survival rates of patients with Stage I (5.6%), 11 (6.5%), III (12.1%), and IVa (75.7%) were 67%, 43%, 47%, and 26%, respectively. A combined modality treatment (surgery and radiation or chemotherapy) was used to treat the advanced stage (III and IV) patients. The rate of incomplete therapy was high (47.78%). In the group that completed the protocol (i.e., neoadjuvant, surgery, and post operative radiation), there were five patients for whom the 5-year survival seemed higher than the patients who followed the standard treatment of surgery and post-operative radiation but it was not statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
The treatment of buccal carcinoma requires a multidisciplinary team approach because most of the patients are elderly and present with an advanced stage. If treatment continues through to completion of the protocol, the survival rate would increase.
Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand. krijen@kku.ac.th
Kamonwan
K
Jenwitheesuk
Palakorn
P
Surakunprapha
Bowornsilp
B
Chowchuen
Vorachai
V
Tangvoraphongchai
Montien
M
Pesee
Srichai
S
Krusun
Chunsri
C
Supaadirek
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000601:surgery*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D013785:Thailand