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Objectives: This study aimed to identify anatomical areas where resections of oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) are significantly associated with close or positive margins., Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 330 patients with a primary OSCC from 2010 to 2015. Patient and tumour data were categorised into three groups by R-status (R0 [clear], ≥ 5 mm, 185 patients [56.06%]; R1 [positive], < 1 mm, 24 patients [7.27%]; and R0 [close], 1-5 mm, 121 patients [36.67%])., Results: Areas where resections were significantly associated with close or positive margins were the hard palate (p < 0.001), buccal mucosa (p = 0.03), floor of the mouth (p = 0.004), lower alveolar ridge (p = 0.01), retromolar triangle (p = 0.005), and dorsal tongue (p = 0.02)., Conclusions: Anatomical areas were identified in the oral cavity where it is challenging to resect OSCCs with an adequate safety margin., Clinical Relevance: These results may enable surgeons to achieve a postulated safe distance during tumour resection, leading to a survival benefit for patients.

Diagnostic imaging of head and neck cancer has made enormous progress during recent years. Next to morphological imaging modalities (computed tomography [CT] and magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]), there are also hybrid imaging systems that combine functional and morphological information (positron emission tomography [PET]/CT and PET/MRI). The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of PET/MRI in the diagnosis of head and neck cancer with other imaging modalities (MRI, CT, PET/CT). Ten patients (nine male and one female) with histologically proven oral squamous cell carcinoma participated in an 18 F-FDG-PET/CT scan and an additional 18 F-FDG PET/MRI scan prior to surgery. The morphological and functional results were compared with the histological results. Inclusion criteria were histologically proven oral squamous cell carcinoma and no prior surgical intervention, medical therapy, or local external radiation. There was no significant correlation between tumor differentiation and maximum standard uptake values. Functional imaging showed a slightly better correlation with the measurement of the maximal tumor diameter, whereas pure morphological imaging showed a better correlation with the measurement of infiltration depth. Only with PET/MRI could correct lymph node staging be reached; the other imaging tools showed false-negative or false-positive results. In conclusion, we showed in our limited patient cohort that PET/MRI is superior to the morphological imaging modalities, especially for lymph node staging., (Copyright © 2015 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: The Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) frequently metastasizes lymphogenously. Haematogenous dissemination is less common. This report describes a rare case of a metastatic OSCC of the floor of the mouth to the patients' left upper arm. To our knowledge this is the first of such case described in the literature., Case Presentation: Twelve months after R0 tumor resection surgery, including microvascular reconstruction of the lower jaw followed by adjuvant radiotherapy, the patient was admitted for osteosynthesis plates removal. During clinical examination a tumor located at his left upper arm was detected. According to the patient the tumor has demonstrated rapid growth. Macroscopic appearance and conventional imaging led to the differential diagnosis of an abscess. MR-imaging could not differentiate between a tumor of soft tissue origin and a metastasis. A biopsy was taken and the pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of an OSCC metastasis. The postoperative interdisciplinary tumor board recommended radiation therapy., Conclusion: Due to the fact that patients with regional lymph node metastases have a higher probability to develop distant metastasis a more detailed screening might be considered--especially when hemangiosis carcinomatosa was histologically or macroscopically found.