title: Influence of surgical margins on local recurrence in T1/T2 oral squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to explore the significance of resection margin status on local recurrence and survival for early (T1/T2) oral cancer and to determine if the significance of the resection margin varies with the biological aggression of the tumor as determined by pN status.
  
  
  METHODS
  The influence of resection margin size and local recurrence for 295 patients with pT1/T2 oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) treated by primary surgery, including neck dissection, between 1998 and 2010 was analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, there was a trend toward increased local recurrence with close or involved margins. When stratified according to nodal status, there was no relationship between margin size and local recurrence for the pN0 group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The size of the resection margin does not seem to influence local control in stage I/II oral cancer. With future advances in preoperative neck staging, this data may help plan personalized therapy in head and neck cancer.
authors.affiliation: Head and Neck Unit, Aintree University Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Conor P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.affiliation: Head and Neck Unit, Aintree University Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ferhan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Head and Neck Unit, Aintree University Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom.|Evidence Based Practice Research Centre (EPRC), Faculty of Health, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Simon N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.affiliation: Evidence Based Practice Research Centre (EPRC), Faculty of Health, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Derek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lowe
authors.affiliation: Head and Neck Unit, Aintree University Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Fazilet
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bekiroglu
authors.affiliation: Head and Neck Unit, Aintree University Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: James S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Head and Neck Unit, Aintree University Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom.|Department of Surgery and Oncology, School of Cancer Studies, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Shaw
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D037981:Neck Dissection; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: margins; nodal metastases; oral cancer; postoperative radiotherapy; recurrence; survival