Long-term oncologic outcomes and prognostic factors related to recurrences in pathologic Stage I/II early oral tongue cancer

ObjectivesThis study aimed to evaluate long-term treatment outcomes and identify prognostic factors affecting survival and recurrence of Stage I/II tongue cancer, with a specific emphasis on early recurrence.MethodsWe retrospectively studied 65 patients with pathologic Stage I/II oral tongue squamou...

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Main Authors: Jin Hye Kwak, Yong Bae Ji, Chang Myeon Song, Young-Jun Lee, Hae Jin Park, Kyung Tae
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Surgery
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsurg.2025.1534274/full
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author Jin Hye Kwak
Yong Bae Ji
Chang Myeon Song
Young-Jun Lee
Hae Jin Park
Kyung Tae
author_facet Jin Hye Kwak
Yong Bae Ji
Chang Myeon Song
Young-Jun Lee
Hae Jin Park
Kyung Tae
author_sort Jin Hye Kwak
collection DOAJ
description ObjectivesThis study aimed to evaluate long-term treatment outcomes and identify prognostic factors affecting survival and recurrence of Stage I/II tongue cancer, with a specific emphasis on early recurrence.MethodsWe retrospectively studied 65 patients with pathologic Stage I/II oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC), who underwent definitive surgical treatment, with or without postoperative adjuvant therapy, from 1997 to 2022.ResultsThirteen (20%) cases experienced recurrence. The 2-, 5-, and 10-year overall survival rates were 91.7%, 88.0%, and 81.5%, respectively. Univariate Cox analyses showed that recurrence and overall survival were significantly associated with Stage II, depth of invasion (DOI) > 5 mm, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), and perineural invasion (PNI). Multivariate Cox analysis identified LVI as an independent predictor of recurrence and PNI as an independent predictor of survival. Second primary tumors in the head and neck region occurred in 10.8%, and both recurrence and second primary tumors significantly decreased survival in univariate and multivariate analyses. Early recurrence (within 6 months post-surgery) occurred in 3 patients (23.1% of recurrences), with no significant predictors identified by Cox analysis.ConclusionsRecurrence and survival of early OTSCC are associated with Stage II disease, high DOI, PNI, and LVI in univariate analysis. Also, in patients with early OTSCC, prevention and proper treatment of second primary tumors and recurrence are crucial for improving overall survival.
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spelling doaj-art-733edfb890404fdf8df140ccf98181b82025-08-20T02:32:55ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Surgery2296-875X2025-05-011210.3389/fsurg.2025.15342741534274Long-term oncologic outcomes and prognostic factors related to recurrences in pathologic Stage I/II early oral tongue cancerJin Hye Kwak0Yong Bae Ji1Chang Myeon Song2Young-Jun Lee3Hae Jin Park4Kyung Tae5Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Radiology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of KoreaObjectivesThis study aimed to evaluate long-term treatment outcomes and identify prognostic factors affecting survival and recurrence of Stage I/II tongue cancer, with a specific emphasis on early recurrence.MethodsWe retrospectively studied 65 patients with pathologic Stage I/II oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC), who underwent definitive surgical treatment, with or without postoperative adjuvant therapy, from 1997 to 2022.ResultsThirteen (20%) cases experienced recurrence. The 2-, 5-, and 10-year overall survival rates were 91.7%, 88.0%, and 81.5%, respectively. Univariate Cox analyses showed that recurrence and overall survival were significantly associated with Stage II, depth of invasion (DOI) > 5 mm, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), and perineural invasion (PNI). Multivariate Cox analysis identified LVI as an independent predictor of recurrence and PNI as an independent predictor of survival. Second primary tumors in the head and neck region occurred in 10.8%, and both recurrence and second primary tumors significantly decreased survival in univariate and multivariate analyses. Early recurrence (within 6 months post-surgery) occurred in 3 patients (23.1% of recurrences), with no significant predictors identified by Cox analysis.ConclusionsRecurrence and survival of early OTSCC are associated with Stage II disease, high DOI, PNI, and LVI in univariate analysis. Also, in patients with early OTSCC, prevention and proper treatment of second primary tumors and recurrence are crucial for improving overall survival.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsurg.2025.1534274/fulltongue cancerearly stageearly recurrenceprognosisdisease-free survivaloverall survival
spellingShingle Jin Hye Kwak
Yong Bae Ji
Chang Myeon Song
Young-Jun Lee
Hae Jin Park
Kyung Tae
Long-term oncologic outcomes and prognostic factors related to recurrences in pathologic Stage I/II early oral tongue cancer
Frontiers in Surgery
tongue cancer
early stage
early recurrence
prognosis
disease-free survival
overall survival
title Long-term oncologic outcomes and prognostic factors related to recurrences in pathologic Stage I/II early oral tongue cancer
title_full Long-term oncologic outcomes and prognostic factors related to recurrences in pathologic Stage I/II early oral tongue cancer
title_fullStr Long-term oncologic outcomes and prognostic factors related to recurrences in pathologic Stage I/II early oral tongue cancer
title_full_unstemmed Long-term oncologic outcomes and prognostic factors related to recurrences in pathologic Stage I/II early oral tongue cancer
title_short Long-term oncologic outcomes and prognostic factors related to recurrences in pathologic Stage I/II early oral tongue cancer
title_sort long term oncologic outcomes and prognostic factors related to recurrences in pathologic stage i ii early oral tongue cancer
topic tongue cancer
early stage
early recurrence
prognosis
disease-free survival
overall survival
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsurg.2025.1534274/full
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