ABSTRACT
The prognostic significance of so-called organ sites was investigated in 585 cases with carcinoma of the oral cavity and lips. For the subsamples studied the numerical distribution of TNM categories, life tables and life table comparisons were computed. This produced the following results: 1. There is no demonstrable difference in prognosis between identical T catagories in the organs of the oral cavity. 2. In some cases there is a significant difference between identical N categories in organs of the oral cavity. In the No category this is, however, attributable to the substantial differences in the numerical distribution of T categories. By contrast, a logical explanation for the computationally demonstrable significant differences in the Nx category is not available. The problem is currently being investigated. 3. An assessment of identical TN combinations in the "organs" of the oral cavity proved to be impossible on account of the inadequate number of cases available. The so-called "organ localization" of primary tumours in the oral cavity need not - at least for the time being - be accorded any prognostic relevance. The findings should, however, be re-examined on the basis of greater numbers.
Subject(s)
Mouth Neoplasms/pathology , Actuarial Analysis , Aged , Carcinoma/pathology , Female , Humans , Lip Neoplasms/pathology , Male , Mandibular Neoplasms/pathology , Maxillary Neoplasms/pathology , Middle Aged , Mouth Floor/pathology , Neoplasm Metastasis , Neoplasm Staging , Palatal Neoplasms/pathology , Palate, Soft/pathology , Prognosis , Retrospective Studies , Sex Factors , Time Factors , Tongue Neoplasms/pathologyABSTRACT
UNLABELLED: The German-Austrian-Swiss Research Team on Maxillofacial Tumours is investigating a series of 585 carcinomas of the oral cavity, lips and oropharynx by biostatistical methods. The aim of the study is the determination of relevant prognostic symptoms of oral cavity carcinomas, classification of the series on the basis of these symptoms, the determination of therapeutic efficacy and the assessment of collective and individual prognosis. PRELIMINARY RESULTS: 1. Factors of prognostic relevance are probably only tumour size and intensity of regional metastases. 2. The classification of the series becomes problematic due to the lack of relevant prognostic factors.
