Treatment of Recurrent Buccal Mucosa Cancer
Disease recurrence in buccal mucosa cancer presents a distinct clinical challenge. The appropriate approach depends on two key factors: whether the recurrence is operable, and whether the patient has previously received radiotherapy.
Clinical Scenario
Recurrent buccal mucosa cancer — the tumour has returned following prior treatment. Management is guided by operability of the recurrent disease and the patient's prior radiotherapy history, as these directly determine which treatment modalities remain available.
Approach — Partial Overview
When recurrence is operable and the patient has not previously received radiotherapy, surgery-based strategies combined with post-operative radiation are among the options considered. For recurrences where surgery is not feasible or declined, radiation-based approaches — alone or combined — represent a valid pathway. The complete protocol outlines the specific criteria and sequencing for each scenario.
References
DOI: 10.4103/0971-5851.138953
For recurrent disease, if recurrence is operable and patient is RT naïve, surgery followed by PORT with or without chemotherapy or radical RT (for recurrent T1/T2) may be employed.
Concurrent chemo-radiation or radiation alone is a valid option in these patients, if surgery is not medically feasible or patient is not willing for surgery.
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