Oral cancer surgery

Oral cancer Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Simrat Sarai, M.D. [2]

Overview

Surgery is the mainstay of treatment for oral cancer.

Surgery

Oral cancer that is detected at an early stage, before the cancer has spread to other areas of the body, is treated with surgery. Surgery is also done for patients with advanced-stage and recurrent cancers, often in combination with radiation therapy, chemotherapy or targeted therapy. Surgical excision of the tumor is usually recommended if the tumor is small enough, and if surgery is likely to result in a functionally satisfactory result. Numerous surgical techniques are available to remove a tumor and restore the appearance and function of any tissues affected by either the cancer or the treatment. Depending on the stage of oral cancer, one or more of the following procedures is recommended:

• Tumor resection
• Mohs micrographic surgery
• Full or partial mandible resection
• Glossectomy
• Maxillectomy
• Laryngectomy
• Neck dissection
• Partial or selective neck dissection
• Modified radical neck dissection
• Radical neck dissection

Other Surgical Procedures for Oral Cancer

• Pedicle or free flap reconstruction
• Tracheostomy
• Gastrostomy tube
• Dental extraction and implants