Management of squamous cell carcinoma of the floor of mouth.

Between 1964 and 1987, 194 patients with previously untreated squamous cell carcinoma of the floor of mouth were managed at the University of Florida. A retrospective analysis was undertaken in order to evaluate the treatment results and associated complication rates. Surgery or irradiation alone was found to result in similar local control rates for stage I and II lesions, whereas more advanced tumors had better local control rates with a combination of surgery and irradiation. Radiotherapy had a higher incidence of minor and moderate complications, whereas a greater number of severe complications occurred after surgery. We recommend surgery for early lesions due to the lower overall incidence of associated complications. Despite a higher risk of severe complications, combination therapy is recommended for more advanced lesions due to improved local control as compared to single modality therapy.