Oral cavity resection, mandibulectomy predisposes to surgical site infection: Study

Konagalla Karthik and Muthuswamy Dhiwakar from the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kovai Medical Center and Hospital, Coimbatore, India conducted this reported study to identify risk factors for surgical site infection (SSI) and pneumonia following oral cavity tumor surgery.

The study is published in the Journal of the Sciences and Specialities of the Head and Neck.

Cancer of the oral cavity is one of the most common malignancies, especially in developing countries, but also in the developed world. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common histology and the main etiological factors are tobacco and alcohol use.

Although early diagnosis is relatively easy, presentation with advanced disease is not uncommon. The standard of care is primary surgical resection with or without postoperative adjuvant therapy. Improvements in surgical techniques combined with the routine use of postoperative radiation or chemoradiation therapy have resulted in improved survival statistics over the past decade. Successful treatment of patients with oral cancer is predicated on multidisciplinary treatment strategies to maximize oncologic control and minimize impact of therapy on form and function.