Management of the neck and regional recurrence in squamous cell carcinoma of the maxillary alveolus and hard palate compared with other sites in the oral cavity.

BACKGROUND The aim of this article was to assess the management of the neck and regional recurrence for squamous cell carcinoma of the maxillary alveolus and hard palate (n = 43) and compare that to the rest of the oral cancer sites (n = 465). METHODS This is a retrospective report through database and case note review. RESULTS The incidence of nodal metastases (pathologic node-positive necks added to regional recurrence for clinical N0 and pathologic N0) was 37% (16/43) for maxillary alveolus and hard palate compared with 40% (187/465) for the oral cavity in general. Regional recurrence occurred in 26% (11/43) in the maxillary alveolus and hard palate compared with 7% (31/465) in the remaining oral cavity sites (p = .001). CONCLUSIONS Squamous cell carcinoma arising in the maxillary alveolus and hard palate has a similar risk of regional metastasis as the rest of the oral cavity, and a lower propensity for selective neck dissection is resulting in higher regional recurrence and lower survival rates.