EARLY DETECTION, STAGE, AND SURVIVAL IN ORAL SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA: LITERATURE REVIEW OF CLINICAL AND RECURRENCE DATA (2019-2025).

BACKGROUND

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains the most common oral malignancy, with prognosis strongly dependent on stage at diagnosis. Early-stage detection is linked to significantly better survival and reduced recurrence risk. This review synthesizes recent clinical evidence to support early diagnosis and structured follow-up in OSCC.

METHODS

A structured literature review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (2019-2025) to identify English-language clinical studies reporting stage-stratified overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and recurrence patterns in OSCC. Included studies were case series, retrospective or prospective cohorts, and clinical trials. Data were extracted and summarized in tables describing survival by stage and recurrence features.

RESULTS

Earlier stages consistently showed better survival outcomes, with 5-year OS and DSS rates highest in stage I-II cancers. Depth of invasion (DOI) emerged as a critical prognostic factor linked to upstaging and nodal metastasis. Recurrence was most frequent within the first two years post-treatment, especially among patients with high-stage tumors, nodal involvement, or positive margins. Structured follow-up and early intervention strategies were shown to improve outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Early detection remains the cornerstone of improving OSCC outcomes. Clinicians should adopt standardized pathways including risk assessment, clinical examination, biopsy of suspicious lesions, selective use of adjunctive tools, and DOI-based staging to enable earlier diagnosis and effective surveillance.