Squamous cell carcinoma of the superior gingivobuccal sulcus: an 11-year institutional experience of 203 cases

Abstract

Objective: The report presents an 11-year Institutional experience of 203 cases with superior gingivobuccal sulcus tumours receiving surgical intervention at a comprehensive tertiary cancer care centre.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients with a confirmed diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma of superior gingivobuccal sulcus was done and data related to patient demographic profile; details of surgical procedure, follow-up and survival were collected.

Results: Infratemporal fossa clearance was performed in 56 patients. The 10-year overall survival and disease-free survival was observed to be 39 and 52%, respectively, with a median follow-up of 15 months. The overall survival was 40 and 36%, respectively, in cases with and without infratemporal fossa clearance. Similarly, the disease-free survival was found to be 58 and 49%, respectively, in cases with and without infratemporal fossa clearance.

Conclusion: Patients with higher stage tumours who underwent infratemporal fossa clearance showed better overall and disease-free survival than those who did not undergo infratemporal fossa clearance.

Keywords: infratemporal fossa clearance; reconstruction; squamous cell carcinoma; superior gingivobuccal sulcus; survival.