Abstract
One hundred and 48 patients over 60 years old with malignant neoplasms in the oral and maxillofacial region were studied retrospectively. All patients were treated in the second department of oral and maxillofacial surgery of the dental faculty of Kyushu University during the 9 year period from 1987 to 1995.
In 143 cases of the carcinomas, 89.2% were pathologically diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma, and most sited on the gingiva. More than 50% of the carcinomas in the oral cavity were clinically advanced cases (stage III and IV).
Multiple primary cancer was discovered in 10 cases. Sixty-eight cases were treated by combination therapy of surgery (S), with preoperative radiation (R) and chemotherapy (C). More than 67.6% of the patients had full or partial dentures, metal crowns and bridges.
The 5 years survival rate in each combination of therapy was 75.0% (S+R+C), 70.7% (5), 38.5% (R), 27.3% (R+C), and the over all 5 year survival rate was 64.6%.
