Journal of cranio-maxillo-facial surgery : official publication of the European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery
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J Craniomaxillofac Surg · Oct 1991
The status of the resection margin as a prognostic factor in the treatment of head and neck carcinoma.
The value of the status of the resection margin as a prognostic factor after surgical treatment was investigated in 80 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, oropharynx and laryngohypopharynx. The relation of locoregional recurrence with the presence or absence of tumour at the surgical margin was analysed together with other indications for postoperative radiotherapy. ⋯ Tumour-positive margin as a single indication for postoperative irradiation was not related to an increased recurrence rate. When however occurring together with other indications for postoperative irradiation, the recurrence rate was higher than in the patient group with the same number of indications for postoperative radiotherapy but without tumour at the surgical margins.