Eity-three patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue (Stage I : 22, early Stage II : 18, advanced Stage II : 13, Stage III : 23, Stage IV : 7) were studied histologically on the resected tumor speciments and the following results were obtained.
1. In the patients with early tongue carcinoma treated with only surgery, 1) the deep surgical margin seemed to be more associated with the postoperative local recurrence than the lateral surgical margins and the tumor-free margin may be necessary to have of at least 10 mm, considering the tissue shrinkage. 2) the maximum tumor size and thickness had their relationship and T1 tumors (<20 mm in size) seemed to be about 5 mm thick. 3) the surgeons should take a prudent attitude to the pattern of tumor invasion in the primary tumor resection.
2. In the patients with advanced tongue carcinoma treated with preoperative chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery, the patterns of distribution of residual viable tumor cells in the primary tumor after preoperative treatment seemed to have a great influence on the local recurrence.