ABSTRACT
The aim of the present study was to investigate the survival of individuals with squamous cell carcinoma of the lower oral cavity who underwent surgical treatment and experienced recurrence, considering the site of the recurrent disease. A retrospective longitudinal study was conducted, comparing the survival rates of patients with and without recurrence and considering the site of recurrence (local, regional, distant). Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS and a p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. The sample comprised 150 patients, 59 (39.3%) of whom experienced recurrence. Local recurrence occurred in 35 patients (23.4%), regional recurrence in 17 (11.3%), and distant recurrence in seven (4.6%). The average survival of participants with local, regional, and distant recurrence was 12, five, and two months, respectively. Patients with recurrent disease had worse survival than those who did not (P < 0.001). Patients with local recurrence had better survival than those with regional/distant recurrence (P = 0.011). All patients with regional and distant recurrence had deceased by the last follow-up. In conclusion, patients with local recurrence of squamous cell carcinoma of the lower oral cavity treated by surgery have a better survival rate than those with regional and distant recurrence. Local recurrence poses the possibility of curative salvage therapy.
