Oral Cancer Treatment Through the Ages: Part 2.

PURPOSE

Understanding how oral cancer treatment evolved can pave the way for future management. The literature holds an expansive collection of historical findings regarding oral cancer, yet the authors were unable to find a comprehensive review of oral cancer treatment throughout the ages.

MATERIALS

A thorough literature review was carried out using multiple scientific databases and languages, as well as examination of historical archives. Articles were included for their relevance and their findings were assimilated.

RESULTS

Part two of this article considers the development of specific surgical concepts relating to head and neck cancer over the previous two centuries, including neck dissection and reconstruction, as well as exploration of non-surgical cancer therapies.

CONCLUSION

This paper demonstrates historical landmarks made in oral cancer treatment and the prominent figures who pioneered them, confirming that head and neck cancer surgeons of today have valuable lessons to learn from their previous counterparts.