Squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity: Treatment and distant metastatic behavior

A research perspective was recently published in Oncoscience, titled "Squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity—follow up treatment and distant metastatic behavior."

Up to 90% of tumors in the head and neck region are squamous cell carcinomas (SCC). SCC can develop in different anatomical sections of the head and neck. The SCC of the oral cavity is one of the most common locations.The main risk factors for SCC in the oral cavity are chronic alcohol abuse and smoking. Furthermore, chronic inflammation of the oral cavity and HPV infection predispose in exceptional cases to the development of SCC.

SCC can manifest itself through various symptoms such as burning, pain and changes in the mucous membranes (leukoplakia, erythroplakia). A prosthesis that no longer fits as well as loose teeth can also indicate for SCC. However these symptoms may vary. Within the oral cavity, SCCs often occur in the area of the tongue, the floor of the mouth, as well as the jaw ridge and the palate.

In this research perspective, researchers Florian Dudde, Ina Giersdorf, Filip Barbarewicz, and Kai-Olaf Henkel from Army Hospital Hamburg discuss a recently published case report in which the team was able to associate a symptomatic distant osseous metastasis in the area of the femur with late recurrent SCC in the oral cavity.

"However, distant osseous metastases deriving from SCC of the head and neck region are to be considered a rarity, as we were able to clearly illustrate in a recent publication."