[Treatment of squamous-cell carcinoma of the upper gum and the hard palate].

PURPOSE: The aim of this retrospective study was to determine a rational of treatment of squamous-cell carcinoma of the upper gum and hard palate.

PATIENTS AND METHOD: We analyzed retrospectively a series of 34 patients treated over a period of 11 years.

RESULTS

There were 19 women (76%); mean age was 67.3 years; 76% had advanced tumors; 28% had neck nodes. The 5-year survival rate was 33.7%; patients without node involvement had better prognosis (p=0.034). The 5-year rate of recurrence-free survival was 61%; patients without node involvement had better prognosis (p = 0.032). At the end of the study, only 42% of patients were still alive.

DISCUSSION: This type of tumor is different from those of other locations in the oral cavity or oropharynx. At the present time, surgery associated or not with post-operative radiotherapy seems to be optimal curative treatment. The question of whether neck dissection should be performed remains debated for patients without clinically nodes.