Background
We aimed to determine the patterns of local recurrence after curative resection and reconstruction for oropharyngeal and oral cancers.
Methods
One hundred‐fourteen patients with oropharyngeal and oral cancers underwent resection and reconstruction. The local recurrences were classified as “intra‐flap” (the recurrent tumor was located in the flap tissue), “marginal” (≤5 mm from the flap anastomosis), and “outside” (in the original tissue and >5 mm from the anastomosis) recurrences.
Results
Twenty‐seven patients (23.7%) experienced local recurrence, while 32 (28.1%) experienced regional, and nine (7.9%) recurred distantly. Among those who showed local recurrence, one developed “outside” recurrence and the remaining 26 developed “marginal” recurrences. Age >60 years and lymph node metastasis were associated with poor disease‐free survival and overall survival (OS), while the perineural invasion was related to poor locoregional failure‐free survival and OS.
Conclusion
Most recurrences developed at the anastomosis marginal site, while none developed in the flap tissue.