A Comprehensive Survival Analysis of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients Undergoing Initial Radical Surgery

Abstract Objective This study aims to evaluate the five-year overall survival (OS) rate and postoperative survival duration in patients diagnosed with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Additionally, it seeks to scrutinize the clinical and pathological determinants influencing the survival outcomes in OSCC patients. Methods We meticulously gathered data from OSCC patients who underwent their first radical surgical intervention in the Department of Maxillofacial Surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University between April 2014 and December 2016. Follow-up was diligently conducted until March 2022. Results The study encompassed a total of 162 patients. The observed 5-year OS rate was 59.3%. Approximately 45.7% of OSCC patients experienced recurrence and metastasis post-surgery, with the 5-year overall disease-free survival rate being 49.4%. Univariate analysis revealed that clinical stage, tumor size, lymph node metastasis (pN), pathological differentiation, and recurrence and metastasis were significant factors influencing survival duration (p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis further indicated that pathological differentiation and recurrence and metastasis were independent determinants of survival duration (P < 0.05). An intriguing observation was that 11 OSCC patients were diagnosed with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) within 1–4 years following surgery. Conclusion The survival prognosis of OSCC patients is significantly associated with clinical stage, tumor size, lymph node metastasis (pN), pathological differentiation, and recurrence and metastasis. Pathological differentiation and recurrence and metastasis are independent determinants affecting survival duration. Routine clinical screening for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma may be recommended for OSCC patients with a history of alcohol and tobacco consumption.