10. SQUAMOUS CELL
CARCINOMA(SCC)
Definition- An invasive epithelial neoplasm with
varying degrees of squamous differentiation
and a propensity to early and extensive lymph
node metastases, occurring predominantly in
alcohol and tobacco-using adults in the 5th and
6th decades of life.
Etiology-
Tobacco smoking & alcohol
Tobacco chewing
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection
12. MICROSCOPIC APPEARANCE
• Moderately differentiated SCC.
•Cells formlarge anastomosing
areas in which keratin pearls are
formed.
•Main component consists of cells
with pronounced cytonuclear atypia
•Well-differentiated SCC
•Characterized by abundant
formation of keratin pearls.
13. Poorly differentiated SCC.
Cells with atypical nuclei and a small rim of
eosinophilic cytoplasm form strands and small
nests.
MICROSCOPIC APPEARANCE
14. SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
Small oral and oropharyngeal SCC are often
asymptomatic or may present with vague symptoms
Red lesions, mixed red and white lesions, or white
plaques.
Mucosal growth, pain and ulceration
Referred pain to the ear
Malodour from the mouth
Difficulty with speaking, opening the mouth, chewing
Pain with swallowing
15. DIAGNOSIS
Physical examination- Visual inspection and
palpation of all mucosal surfaces, bimanual
palpation of the floor of the mouth and clinical
assessment of the neck for lymph node
involvement.
Biopsy- Confirmatory test
Fine needle aspiration cytology
Routine pan endoscopy
Three-dimensional imaging with computed
tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI)
16. LYMPHOEPITHELIAL CARCINOMA
Definition- Lymphoepithelial carcinoma (LEC) is
a poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma
(SCC) or undifferentiated carcinoma,
accompanied by a prominent reactive
lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate.
Etiology-Epstein- Burr Virus
Clinical Features - Intra-oral mass, which may
be ulcerated
17. PAPILLOMAS
Definition- Localised hyperplastic exophytic and
polypoid lesions of hyperplastic epithelium with a
verrucous or cauliflower-like morphology
Etiology- HPV infection
19. TREATMENT OF EARLY DISEASE
Surgical Excision
Management of choice
Excellent cure rates with minimum morbidity
Radiotherapy (Interstitial or External)
Equally effective as surgery for the treatment of
early disease
Long-term sequelae including xerostomia,
dysphagia and osteoradionecrosis are major
limitations
Requires daily therapy for 6–7 weeks
Reserved for those patients who are unable to
undergo surgery
20. UICC/AJCC STAGING FOR
ADVANCED ORAL CAVITY
CANCER
Small Tumor with neck metastasis
T1-T2, N2-3
Tumor < 4 cm with 2 or more cervical metastasis,
one or more contralateral cervical metastases, or
cervical metastasis > 3cm
21. PRIMARY SURGERY + RADIATION
INDICATED FOR ADVANCED ORAL
CAVITY CANCER
Low local control for primary radiotherapy for
advanced oral cavity (30-40%) and poor survival
(25%)
Increased local control with surgery +
radiotherapy (60%) and improved survival (55%)
Zelefsky et al, Head Neck. 1990 Nov-Dec;12(6):470-5
Local control significantly improved for locally
advanced T3, T4 oral cancers using surgery +
postoperative radiotherapy vs. primary RT
Fein et al. Head Neck. 1994 Jul-Aug;16(4):358-65
23. SURGICAL APPROACHES
Transoral and Visor Approaches
Cosmetic but may limit exposure
Lip Splitting
Modest cosmetic disadvantage with excellent
posterior exposure for mandibulotomy
Paramedian or midline mandibulotomy
Avoidance of alveolar nerve
24. SURGICAL APPROACHES
CAVEATS
Approach determined before incision and
mandibulectomy or mandibulotomy
Accurate assessment of bone erosion, involvement of neural
structures
25. SURGICAL RESECTION
ADVANCES
Reconstruction
Reconstruction
Free Tissue Transfer
Mandibular reconstruction (fibula, scapula, etc.)
Soft tissue/tongue (radial forearm, rectus
abdominus, lateral thigh, etc.)
Resection is rarely limited by size or extent of
tumor
27. SURGICAL EXCISION
To achieve a complete resection of the tumor with
free margins
In cases where there are positive or close
margins (tumor within 5 mm of the surgical
margin), surgical re-resection is recommended
In cases where a re-resection is performed and
evidence of microscopically positive margins
remains or if resection cannot be reliably
performed, radiation therapy directed at the
primary site should be considered.
28. MANAGEMENT OF TUMORS
INVADING MANDIBLE
A marginal or a segmental resection
Tumor invasion of the periosteum or cortical
bone, without invasion of the medullary cortex,
can be appropriately managed with a marginal
resection.
Tumors that erode into the medullary canal,
however, require a segmental resection
Postoperative external beam radiation is
mandatory for tumors that invade mandible
29. MANAGEMENT OF TUMORS INVADING
THE BUCCAL MUCOSA
Buccal cancer comprises10% of oral cavity
cancers
It commonly arises from pre-existing leukoplakia.
In early disease, surgical excision can usually be
accomplished transorally
Advanced tumors may require a midline
labiotomy incision.
30. MANAGEMENT OF TUMORS
INVOLVING THE HARD PALATE
Superficial lesions of the palatal mucosa are best
managed with a wide surgical resection including
the underlying palatal periosteum
32. Primary Surgical Therapy Followed by
Postoperative Chemotherapy and Radiation
I: EORTC Bernier et al. NEJM 2004
Previously untreated SCC, all head and neck sites,
n=167, 5 year median follow up
100 mg/m2 cisplatinum day 1, 22, 43 during
postoperative irradiation or postoperative radiation
alone
33. Primary Surgical Therapy Followed by
Postoperative Chemotherapy and Radiation:
EORTC Bernier et al. NEJM 2004
pT3 or pT4, any N, except T3N0 of the larynx,
with negative resection margins
pT1 or T2, N2 or N3
T1 or T2 and N0 or N1 with pathological
extranodal spread, positive resection margins,
perineural involvement, or vascular tumor
embolism
Oral cavity or oropharyngeal tumors with involved
lymph nodes at level IV or V
34. EORTC Bernier et al. NEJM 2004
The overall survival rate 53% vs 40%, p=0.02
Locoregional failure 18% vs. 31%, p=0.007
Severe (grade 3 or higher) adverse effects 41%
vs. 21% p=0.001
35. Postoperative Chemoradiation for
Advanced Head and Neck Cancer
Clear advantage in locoregional control
Survival advantage
Difference in enrollment criteria may suggest survival
advantage for locally aggressive tumors without
significant nodal disease
37. CONCLUSIONS
Early disease (stages I–II) is generally curable
with single modality therapy.
Surgery is preferable in most cases
Advanced disease (stages III–IV) is best
managed with multimodality therapy, generally
with surgery followed by radiotherapy particularly
for high-risk primary lesions
Adjuvant chemoradiotherapy to the neck is
indicated for N2 or greater disease.
38. REFERENCES
Genden EM,Ferlito A et al. Contemporary management
of cancer of the oral cavity. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol
(2010) 267:1001–1017.
Cancela M, Voti L, Guerra-Yi M, Chapuis F, Mazuir M,
Curado MP (2010) Oral cavity cancer in developed and
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Hashibe M, Brennan P, Chuang SC et al. Interaction
between tobacco and alcohol use and the risk of head
and neck cancer: pooled analysis in the International
Head and Neck Cancer Epidemiology Consortium.
Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 1999, 18:541–550
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