Clinicopathological analysis of local spread of carcinoma of the tongue.

BACKGROUND The aims of the study are three-dimensional analysis of mode and distance of local spread of oral tongue carcinoma. METHODS The glossectomy specimens were examined in the coronal plane in 3 mm thickness section. RESULTS There were 50 glossectomy specimens. The maximum spread was 1.8 cm. Ninety-six percent of specimens had local spread within 1.2 cm. The distance of spread was not correlated with tumor size, including the diameter, depth, and volume. The incidence of local recurrence was 27% with positive histological margin. Perineural infiltration was the most important prognostic factor for local recurrence and survival. CONCLUSIONS A minimum of 1.5-cm surgical resection margin is recommended. A smaller margin is not recommended as it has significant risk of local recurrence. A maximum of 2-cm surgical resection margin is recommended; larger margins will increase the surgical morbidity without a significant advantage of local control.