Prognostic value of frozen section in t1, t2 carcinoma of oral cavity

Abstract

Complex anatomy of oral cavity makes it difficult for a surgeon to assess margins of oral cancer accurately and positive margins compromise loco regional disease control, thus surgeon may rely on frozen section assessment for marginal status. We discussed the prognostic value of frozen section in early carcinoma of oral cavity. 90 patients with pT1 and pT2 oral cavity cancer operated from January 2010 to December 2011 under single consultant surgeon were retrospectively evaluated. Log rank test and multivariate cox regression model was used for testing frozen section against the survival and recurrence free status. Survival of patients with positive or negative frozen section was significant (p = 0.037), Survival of patients with positive or negative histology report was significant (p = 0.004), however; prognosis of patients with positive margins despite revision under frozen control was poorer to the patients with negative margin. Frozen section assessment is accurate but their use in the surgery of oral cavity cancer might not improve loco regional disease control or survival when used routinely.

Keywords: Frozen section; Histopathology; Locoregional recurrence.

Fig. 1

Overall survival—frozen section

Fig. 2

Overall survival—histopathology