BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to evaluate the real impact of tumor size, on symptoms and evolution of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue and floor of the mouth. METHODS: after 226 neck dissections plus primary resection, were estimated the monthly growing of the medium tumor diameter (square root of surface/number of months) and related with metastasis presence and local recurrence. The free disease survival were analysed in relation to tumor syze and complaints length. RESULTS: 16% of T1 and T2 and 11% of T3 and T4 tumors growth of tumoral diameter were 0,81cm/month, without differences between pN+ and pN0 patients; 30 patients with local recurrence, being 15 with tumoral growing less than 0,82cm/month and 15 with more than 0,82cm/month. CONCLUSIONS: The neoplasia growing were not related with free disease survival in patients with local recurrence, and those with less extensive tumors and complaints time present a greater free disease survival. The time complaints and the tumoral growing were not prognostic in squamous cell carcinoma of tongue and flon of the mouth.
Tumoral growing; Staging; Cancer
