Verrucous carcinoma of the oral cavity: management by radiotherapy and surgery.

Verrucous carcinoma is a distinct nonmetastasizing variant of well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. It is frequently found in the oral mucosa, often in association with the more common type of metastasizing squamous cell carcinoma. In many centres radiotherapy is not used to treat verrucous carcinoma because this tumour is thought to be radioresistant and because "anaplastic transformation" has been reported following such therapy. In a series of 37 patients, 30 received radiotherapy, either alone or combined with surgery. Anaplastic transformation was not encountered. The best results were obtained with aggressive treatment which included both surgery and radiotherapy.