PROGNOSTIC FACTORS IN ORAL CANCER

Abstract

Objective: The present work aimed to present a brief review of literature on the most relevant prognostic factors to the clinical prognosis of patients with oral cancer considering the experience with clinical cases treated at our Oral Center. Method: An analytic and thematic literature review was performed through the PubMed and SciELO database articles. Texts were searched in the English and Portuguese medical literature, which were published from 1980 to 2009. The following key-words were used: prognostic factors, prognostic indicators, oral cancer prognosis, and oral cancer recurrence. Were included articles that addressed squamous cell carcinoma, since it is the most prevalent oral cancer, as well as clinical features, imaging procedures, clinical stage, recurrence rates, and aggressive behavior related to the most significant prognostic factors such as patient age, tumor location, tumor thickness and TNM classification. Were excluded articles whose approaches were related to laboratorial and experimental tests and involving tumor markers or molecular indicators of oral cancer. Results: From a total of 15.542 articles, twenty-three were selected after criteria application, and it was observed that lesions located in areas with difficult surgical access and with greater blood or lymphatic circulation (such as the tongue) have a worse prognosis; greater tumor thickness and TNM staging are associated with worst outcomes. Conclusion: Therefore, each member of the multidisciplinary group which assists OSCC patients must comprehend this pathology and its prognostic factors in order to become able to prevent, recognize and control the oral cancer. DESCRIPTORS: Oral Cancer. Prognostic. Diagnosis.