A novel tumor: specimen index for assessing adequacy of resection in early stage oral tongue cancer
Publication Date
2014
Journal Title
Oral Oncol
Abstract
PURPOSE: Surgical margin status frequently affects decisions regarding adjuvant treatment; however, reporting and interpretation of surgical margins is subject to considerable subjectivity because of many factors including the adequacy of resection. We developed a novel measure of the adequacy of surgical resection, the tumor: specimen index (TSI), and tested its utility at predicting clinical outcomes in a retrospective cohort study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: An institutional database was queried to identify previously untreated patients with T1 and T2 oral tongue cancer who underwent surgery during 1985-2009 (n=433). The TSI, a geometric mean representing the percentage of the surgical specimen that is occupied by the tumor in average single dimension, was calculated from the largest measured lengths, widths, and heights of the tumor in relation to the entire surgical specimen. Multivariate analyses of locoregional recurrence-free probability (LRRFP) and disease-specific survival (DSS) were performed with commonly accepted prognosticators in addition to TSI and surgical margins status. RESULTS: The mean TSI was 41 (range 11-90; SD 14). Surgical margin status was associated with TSI; margins were negative in 84% of patients with TSI63% of patients with TSI45 (p
Volume Number
50
Issue Number
3
Pages
213-20
Document Type
Article
EPub Date
2013/12/18
Status
Faculty
Facility
School of Medicine
Primary Department
Otolaryngology
PMID
24332395
DOI
10.1016/j.oraloncology.2013.11.009