Do we need a different staging system for tongue and gingivobuccal complex squamous cell cancers?

Oral cavity squamous cell cancer (OCSCC) accounts for 3.8% of all cancer cases and is responsible for 3.6% of cancer deaths worldwide [1]. A unique characteristic of the oral cavity is the presence of multiple subsites within it. Though anatomically congruent, these sites have specific characteristics as far as potentially malignant disorders and tumor spread are concerned [2]. The two most commonly involved subsites of the oral cavity are the oral tongue, more common in North America and Europe, and the lower gingivobuccal complex, more common in Southeast Asia [3].

Source: Oral Oncology - January 26, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Piyush Gupta, Jocelyn C. Migliacci, Pablo H. Montero, Daniella Karassawa Zanoni, Jatin P. Shah, Snehal G. Patel, Ian Ganly Source Type: research