Background: Squamous cell carcinoma of the buccal mucosa is an oral cancer reported as having a poor prognosis. In many patients combined modality treatment incorporating surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy should be considered best practice.
Methods: Patients treated for buccal mucosa squamous cell carcinoma were identified through the computer database in the Department of Radiation Oncology, Westmead Hospital, Sydney. All eligible patients were treated with curative intent. Survival was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier product limit method.
Results: A total of 32 eligible patients were identified. There were 20 males and 12 females. Median age at diagnosis was 67 years (range 44-82 years). Median duration of follow-up was 42 months (6-205 months). More than half (59 per cent) presented with early stage disease (stage I/II) with 35 per cent presenting with advanced (stage III/IV) disease. Most patients (28/32; 88 per cent) underwent surgery with eight patients also undergoing adjuvant radiotherapy. Four patients underwent definitive radiotherapy alone. A total of 15/32 (47 per cent) patients developed recurrence: four locally, eight regionally and three with locoregional recurrence. Patients treated with surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy had the lowest rate of recurrence. Median time to recurrence was five months. The three-year overall and disease free survival was 55 and 47 per cent, respectively.
Conclusion: Buccal mucosa squamous cell carcinoma is an aggressive squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity. Despite treatment patients remain at risk of locoregional recurrence especially in the untreated ipsilateral neck. In many cases patients will benefit from multimodality treatment.