A study of squamous cell carcinoma of the lip at West Virginia University Hospitals from 1980-2000.

The goal of this study was to review the patterns of relapse and outcome for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the lip treated at West Virginia University Hospitals, and to assess the tumor factors that may influence the prognosis of patients. A total of 52 patients were identified in a retrospective review of all lip cancer patients referred to West Virginia University Hospitals between 1980 and 2000. Relevant data was extracted from the medical records of each patient, as well as information from the Cancer Registry. Most patients were men (86%) with T1N0 cancers (52%) of the lower lip. Less than 10% had nodal disease at diagnosis. Following treatment, 31% of patients relapsed, 7 at the primary site and 9 at regional lymph nodes. The relapse rate was 15% for T1 lesions, whereas it increased to 44% for T2 lesions. The overall crude 5-year survival rate was 69%. These findings highlight an increased relapse rate and mortality for a subgroup of patients diagnosed with a more aggressive form of lip cancer. Treatment and follow up of these patients should accordingly be more aggressive.