Spread of squamous cell carcinoma to the nonirradiated edentulous mandible—A preliminary report

✍ Scribed by McGregor, Ian A. ;Gordon Macdonald, D.

• Publisher: Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
• Year: 1987
• Weight: 406 KB
• Volume: 9
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0148-6403
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.2890090305

✦ Synopsis

The changes in the mandible and in its relationship to surrounding soft tissue structures after loss of the teeth are described; the regular presence of deficiencies in the cortical bone along the line of the occlusal ridge is emphasized. Resection specimens of squamous carcinoma of the oral cavity not treated by radiotherapy were examined where there was mandibular involvement by tumor, and showed that the main route of tumor entry into the bone was through the occlusal ridge. Subsequent perineural spread along the inferior alveolar nerve has been found to be a regular occurrence. HEAD & NECK SURGERY 9:157-161 1987

Measured in terms of function and cosmesis, the result achieved after resection-reconstruction of an intraoral carcinoma depends on whether or not it was possible to maintain continuity of the arch of the body of the mandible. This desired result is achieved either by preserving continuity or by restoring it, if it is necessary to resect a segment of the bone. Of the two alternatives, preservation of the arch has the advantage of simplicity, and