Treatment for oral squamous cell carcinoma: Impact of surgeon volume on survival

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Liu, T
David, M
Ellis, O
(Hubert) Low, TH
Palme, CE
Clark, J
Batstone, M
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2019
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Abstract

Background: The volume-outcome relationship is a well-known phenomenon in surgical oncology. The aim of this study was to quantify the impact of surgeon volume on the treatment outcome of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients. Methods: All new OSCC cases treated with curative intent between 2008 and 2013 were included. A heterogeneous set of predictor variables was collected, including patient, tumour and treatment factors. The outcomes of interest were recurrence-free survival (RFS), overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS). To investigate the cut-off in surgeon volume, the number of OSCC resections was analysed in multiplies of 5 cases per annum according to DSS, using univariable regression analysis. Results: 534 cases were recruited. Independently, the negative predictors for patient survival were age, perineural invasion, worsening tumour staging, and extracapsular spread. High-volume surgeon was determined to be most significant at 20 cases per annum and significantly associated with improved RFS (HR: 0.67), OS (HR: 0.44), and DSS (HR: 0.39). Conclusions: Results from this study support the rationalisation of OSCC management at high-volume centres and in the hands of experienced surgeons for better patient survival. Head and neck surgeons should perform a minimum of 20 OSCC cases per year to maintain competency in OSCC ablation.

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Oral Oncology

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96

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Subject

Dentistry

Oncology and carcinogenesis

Health services and systems

Public health

Oral cancer

Squamous cell carcinoma

Surgeon

Survival

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Liu, T; David, M; Ellis, O; (Hubert) Low, TH; Palme, CE; Clark, J; Batstone, M, Treatment for oral squamous cell carcinoma: Impact of surgeon volume on survival, Oral Oncology, 2019, 96, pp. 60-65

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