Early-stage buccal mucosa cancer (Stage I or Stage II) is managed with a focused, single-modality strategy. The clinical question at this stage centres on which definitive local treatment to apply and how to address margin status after surgery.
This protocol applies to patients presenting with Stage I or Stage II buccal mucosa cancer. At these early stages, single modality treatment is used — either surgery or radiotherapy alone — without requiring combined-modality therapy.
After surgical resection, margin status drives the next decision. Re-excision is the primary consideration when margins are close or positive. For patients who are not candidates for re-excision, post-operative radiotherapy (PORT) becomes relevant — with the specific dose determined by pathological findings at the margin and any nodal features.
DOI: 10.4103/0971-5851.138953