Results of surgical treatment for squamous carcinoma of the lower alveolus: segmental vs. marginal resection.

The records of 53 patients treated surgically for squamous cell carcinoma of the lower alveolar ridge were reviewed and the results of segmental and marginal resections of the mandible were compared. Analysis of these 2 treatment modalities disclosed that marginal resection was effective in controlling lower gingival cancers, with and without apparent bone involvement, if erosive bone defects that did not extend beyond the inferior alveolar canal, or invasive bone defects confined to a superficial area of the alveolar bone, were detected radiologically.