Anatomical surgical planning for oral and oropharyngeal primary carcinoma combined with adjuvant treatment where indicated is associated with improved local control.

We aimed to find out whether surgical tactics that lead to a reduction in tumour-involved surgical margins also improve local control. We retrospectively reviewed a consecutive case series (n=162) of previously untreated patients who had operations for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oral cavity or oropharynx. Extensive use was made of computed tomographic multiplanar imaging to plan primary resections. Nine patients (6%) had tumour at the resection margin. Local control at 36 months was 96%, disease-specific survival (DSS) was 86%, and overall survival (OS) was 77%. Carefully planned primary operation for SCC of the oral cavity and oropharynx to minimise tumour-involved margins combined with conventional adjuvant treatment where indicated, is associated with a high probability of local control and disease-specific survival.