Disease progression and patterns of recurrence of Oral Cancer to various treatment modalities – an observational study

Background: Oral cancer is a significant public health concern with diverse treatment modalities and high rates of recurrence. Understanding the disease progression and patterns of recurrence is crucial for optimizing treatment strategies and improving patient outcomes. This observational study aimed to investigate the disease progression and patterns of recurrence in oral cancer patients treated with various modalities. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using data from medical records of oral cancer patients treated at multiple health care institutions between March 2022 to February 2023 across Bhopal city. Demographic characteristics, tumor characteristics, treatment modalities, and long-term follow-up data were collected. The rates and patterns of recurrence, including local, regional, and distant recurrences were analyzed..SPSS 25.0 was used to analyse the data Results: The study included 237 patients with oral cancer. The majority of patients were males (64.9%) and presented with squamous cell carcinoma (81.8%). The most common site of oral cancer was tongue. Surgical resection was the primary treatment modality, with adjuvant therapies, such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy, utilized in majority of cases. The overall recurrence rate was 62.4%.  Local recurrence occurred in 27.3% of patients, regional recurrence in 59.1% and distant metastasis in 13.6%. Conclusion: The findings highlight the importance of comprehensive surgical resection, the need for effective adjuvant therapies, and the challenges in achieving long-term disease control. The identified recurrence patterns and prognostic factors can guide treatment decision-making and risk stratification. Prospective studies and multi-institutional collaborations are warranted to validate these findings and advance the management of oral cancer.