BACKGROUND: To evaluate the prognostic meaning of tumor thickness in squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth and oropharynx. METHOD: A retrospective study of 112 patients treated between January 1990 and December 1994 was undertaken and 84 cases with tecidual samples were selected. Tumor thickness was measured by optical microscopy, considering the largest perpendicular measure. RESULTS: The incidence of occult metastases was 7% in tumors less than 3 mm and 50% in those 5 mm or more in thickness. Surgical margins were compromissed more frequently in patients with tumor thickness of 5 mm or more, but mesure of tumor thickness was not prone to identify patients with larger risk of local recurrence. CONCLUSION: Tumor thickness aids to identify patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth and oropharynx with higher metastatic risk.
Prognostic; Thickness; Squamous cell carcinoma
