Some oncologic considerations in the treatment of lip cancer.

We evaluated the treatment and results of 46 patients with lip cancer of commissure origin or extension. The patients were evaluated by clinical stage and pathologic findings. Treatment was predominantly by surgery for T1 and T2 lesions (31 of 37 patients), whereas combined resection and radiation therapy was used for larger tumors. The results showed control of both very large and very small lesions, but T2 lesions had repeated recurrences. We therefore recommended aggressive therapy for T2 and higher classifications of lip cancer with commissure involvement.