Carcinoma of the lip. A retrospective study of 70 patients

Clinicopathological study of lip cancer: a retrospective hospital-based study in Taiwan

To evaluate the clinicopathological characteristics, high-risk lifestyle factors (HRLF: chronic exposure to sun, betel quid, alcohol, and tobacco), and prognostic factors of lip cancer. The hospital records of patients with pathologically confirmed lip squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC, n = 112) and lip basal cell carcinoma (LBCC, n = 21) were reviewed. Differences in clinicopathological characteristics between LSCC and LBCC, upper and lower lip, and status of second primary tumors were compared by chi-square test and logistic regression. The prognostic factors for LSCC were analyzed by Cox regression. Compared with LBCC patients, LSCC patients were men-predominant (p < 0.001), had younger ages at onset (p < 0.001), and higher rates of lower lips involvement (p < 0.001) and HRLFs. Patients with second primary tumors were highly associated with lower lip cancer involvement (adjusted odds ratio = 2.91, p = 0.03). Patients with lower lip cancer had more HRLFs with an increasing linear trend (p = 0.004). The poorer prognostic factors of LSCC for disease-specific survival were advanced stage III/IV [crude hazard ratio (CHR) = 11.16, p < 0.001], tumor dimension >4 cm (CHR = 8.19, p = 0.006), lymph node involvement (CHR = 11.48, p < 0.001), and recurrence (CHR = 3.96, p = 0.01); whereas for disease-free survival were moderately to poorly differentiated LSCC (CHR = 4.97, p = 0.002) and alcohol consumption (CHR = 3.13, p = 0.04). LSCC and lower lip cancer were highly associated with HRLFs.

Surgical margins for resection of squamous cell carcinoma of the lower lip

A prospective study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of 3 mm margins of resection with surgical excision of squamous cell carcinoma of the lower lip (SCCLL) in its early stages whereby the margins were checked with the systematic use of frozen-section examination. During the period of 1991-1998, 72 consecutive patients with a primary stage I/II SCCLL underwent surgical excision as the initial treatment. There were 58 males (81%) and 14 females (19%) with a median age of 66.8 years (range 37-91 years). The majority of cases (94.4%) were stage I tumours. Treatment consisted of a full-thickness excision including a 3 mm margin of clinically uninvolved tissue. Intraoperative frozen-section analysis of the margins of the excised specimen was used to confirm tumour-free margins. Clinically determined margins were tumour-free in 89.9% on initial excision. The false-positive rate associated with frozen-section analysis was 1.4%. The minimum follow-up period for all patients was 2 years (median 5.1 years, range 2-9 years). Local recurrence was found in two patients (2.8%). A 3 mm margin with excision of early SCCLL seems to be appropriate, if the margins are controlled by systematic use of frozen-section analysis.

Squamous-cell carcinoma of the lower lip: a retrospective study of 58 patients

The charts of 58 patients with squamous-cell carcinomas of the lower lip, treated at the General Hospital of the University of São Paulo Medical School from January 1980 to December 1989, were retrospectively analyzed. In addition to regular demographic data, all available information was collected regarding: smoking and drinking habits; sun exposure; clinical stage; macroscopic features of the primary lesions; type of treatment; and follow-up. A meticulous pathological analysis, comprising the histologic differentiation grade, maximal tumor thickness, sun elastosis, perineural spread, vascular and muscular invasion, surgical margins, peritumoral inflammatory infiltrate, and positive lymph nodes, with or without extracapsular spread, was undertaken as well. The evaluation of the overall 5-year survival showed significant statistical differences, with prognostic implications, for the following variables: maximal tumor thickness, T-stage and positive nodes.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the lip: the role of electron treatment

After skin cancer, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the lip is the most common cancer of the head and neck. It can be treated in a variety of ways, including both surgery and radiotherapy. Many centres have reported excellent cure and local control rates for their chosen treatment method. Electron beam treatment is recognized as a method of treatment and has theoretical advantages related to its depth-dose characteristics. We report a retrospective study of the treatment with electrons of 26 patients with Stage T1-2 SCCs of the lip. With a median follow-up period of 31 months (range 1.5-60) 100% local control was obtained, although two patients required surgical salvage, one for a geographical miss. One patient presented with metastatic neck nodes, and one relapsed in the neck, but both were treated with a combination of surgery and radiotherapy and were free of disease at follow-up. Patients tolerated the acute radiation reaction well and the long term cosmetic and functional results were good. Two patients experienced minor soft tissue necrosis, one of whom required surgical treatment. Electron treatment for T1-2 SCC of the lip is an effective, well tolerated treatment for these patients, many of whom are elderly and frail.

Perineural invasion by carcinoma of the lower lip

Extension of lip cancer to the mental nerve and perineural spread was found in four patients. The main complaint in all cases was sensory disturbance which preceded the diagnosis of recurrence by perineural spread as well as widening of the mandibular canal. In one patient, two cranial nerves, the trigeminal and the facial were involved and one patient had bilateral neural involvement. Three patients died within 1 year of the diagnosis of perineural spread. Prevention includes the separate examination of specimens at the resection line near the mental nerve, and follow-up by examination of the lower vestible, X-ray of the mandible and monitoring of sensory disturbance.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the lip: analysis of the Princess Margaret Hospital experience

We reviewed 117 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the lip who were treated at the Princess Margaret Hospital between 1976 and 1985. Ninety-eight cancers arose from the lower lip, 18 from the upper lip and 1 from the commissure. Two patients had lymph node metastases at presentation. Sixty-one patients were treated with radiation therapy following a biopsy, 28 underwent surgery followed by post-operative radiation, and 28 had surgery alone. With a median follow-up time of 5.4 years, the 5-year actuarial overall and cause-specific survival rates were 81% and 99%, respectively. Local failure developed in 4 patients after radiation treatment, 3 of whom were salvaged by surgery. Six patients developed regional metastases after initial treatment, 4 of whom were salvaged with surgery and/or radiotherapy. Two patients died from lip cancer. After a univariate analysis, the only factor which predicted for nodal failure was T stage of the primary lesion, with a 4% risk of nodal failure for T1 lesions vs. 20% for T2/3 lesions (p = 0.03). No other patient, tumour or treatment variables influenced loco-regional control or survival in a statistically significant manner. Cosmetic and functional outcome were evaluated in 8 patients whose radiation treatments were administered 13 years ago. No patients had compromised lip function, and the majority had minimal cosmetic sequelae from their radiation therapy. Based on the excellent results of this review, we would continue to recommend radiation therapy as an effective treatment modality for patients with lip cancer because of the ease by which the entire tumour can be encompassed whilst maintaining excellent cosmetic and functional outcome.

The step technique for the reconstruction of lower lip defects after cancer resection. A follow-up study of 165 cases

One hundred and sixty-five patients with localized cancer of the lower lip were excised and reconstructed over a 25-year period using Bengt Johanson's step technique. Eight-eight percent of the tumors were less than 2 cm in size and 65% were of high histopathological differentiation. Fifty-six percent were reconstructed with bilateral step flaps. Nine local recurrences appeared in 5 patients, none of whom died of lip cancer. Eight patients later developed regional metastases and 3 of these patients died of lip cancer. The 5-year survival rate was 98%. The step technique is recommended for reconstruction of lip defects of up to 2/3 of the lower lip and may, in larger resections, be combined with either a fan flap or an Estlander flap. The outstanding functional results are due to the use of adjacent tissue for the reconstruction which preserves the normal arrangement of muscles, vessels and nerves.

The surgical management of lip cancer

The history of surgical reconstruction of the lips is outlined and a series of procedures described, which together enable lip reconstruction to be successfully undertaken in a variety of different circumstances.