Oral Verrucous Carcinoma: Ten Year Experience from a Tertiary Care Hospital in India.

BACKGROUND

Verrucous carcinoma of the oral cavity (OVC) is an uncommon variant of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The clinical presentation and surgical outcomes of OVC are unique; however, the management protocols for OVC are largely extrapolated from OSCC.

OBJECTIVES

The aim is to study the clinical, histopathological demographics, and outcome of OVC at a tertiary care referral hospital in South India. To study the need for lymph node dissection and the role of adjuvant therapy for close resection margins.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective review of all patients diagnosed to have OVC between January 2005 and April 2015 was undertaken. Data were collected from hospital records and telephonic interview when possible.

RESULTS

Thirty patients were diagnosed to have OVC. The most common site of the presentation was the buccal mucosa. Twenty-three patients had wide local excision of the primary tumor and seven patients had neck dissection as well. None of the patients who underwent neck dissection had node-positive disease pathologically. The margins were considered close in nine patients, only one of these patients received adjuvant radiation therapy; despite among the patients with close resection margins, there was no recurrence or disease-related mortality. Among the thirty patients, there was only one patient who had recurred locally and there was no disease associated mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

OVC is a unique variant of OSCC which has a good prognosis. Routine lymphadenectomy can be avoided.