Treatment of Early Stage Lip Cancer — T1 or T2 Tumour, 4 cm or Smaller

This protocol addresses lip cancer at an early stage, where the primary tumour is classified as T1 or T2 and measures 4 cm or smaller in its greatest dimension.

At this stage, five-year survival with surgical treatment is approximately 75–80 per cent, and early stage disease can be managed equally well by surgery or radiation therapy. When local failure occurs after initial treatment, the structured regimen below defines the appropriate next step.

Approach in This Scenario

When local failure arises after primary management of an early stage lip tumour, a surgical approach targeting the lip may be indicated — the complete decision algorithm, eligibility criteria, and full regimen are available in the structured protocol.

Instant Access to Structured Evidence-Based Regimens

References

DOI: 10.1017/S0022215116000499

The five-year crude survival rates for surgical treatment are about 75–80 per cent for T1 to T2 tumours, dropping to 40–50 per cent for T3 and T4 tumours.

Early stage cancer can be treated equally well by surgery or radiation therapy.

Even re-excision because of local failure leads to salvage in 75–80 per cent of cases.

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