Resumen de Surgical management of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the lower lip: an experience of 109 cases

Wenhao Rena, Yin Lia, Changyang Liua, Cui Qianga, Linmei Zhang, Ling Gaoa, Zhi Wangb, Keqian Zhia

• Objectives: We are presenting our experience collected from a series of 109 cases with SCC of the lower lip focus - ing on clinical features of patients and surgical approach.

  Study D esign: We retrospectively analyzed medical records of patients diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) of the lower lip at the Oral and Maxillofacial surgery at Xi'an Jiaotong University during a period between 1999 and 2008.

  Results: A total of 109 patients with lip cancer were included in the study. When no frozen-section test was per - formed, the neoplasia was removed with a margin of at least 6 mm. Different surgical techniques were used for lip reconstruction after tumor excision. Neck dissection was performed in all patients with clinically palpable lymph nodes. Median follow-up was 38 months. During follow-up, recurrence occurred in 5 patients, 3 patients devel - oped neck metastases, distant metastases developed in 1 patient. Five patients died during observation period.

  Conclusions: The patient-related and defect-related issues must be taken into consideration during reconstruction for surgical defect. For N0 patients, we recommend wait-and-see policy. Early detection, careful follow-up and prompt neck is essential for the successful treatment.