Treatment of oral carcinoma with selective therapy for the individual patient.

A series of 121 patients with carcinoma of the lower oral cavity seen at the British Columbia Cancer Institute during the years 1963 to 1969 has been reviewed. We have evidence of improved treatment results over a previous series of patients treated between 1953 and 1962. The results are as satisfactory as other reported treatment policies in which either surgery or radiation is used exclusively. Careful follow-up of all patients is essential. When recurrence or metastatic disease is recognized early, further treatment can still result in cure. The criteria for case selection of the individual patients are outlined.