Survival Rate and Prognostic Criteria in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients: A Retrospective Analysis

Shihab Ahmed Jassim, student for master degree, Faculty of Dentistry, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.Follow
Shadi Awny Hasan, Associate Professor of Oncology, Oncology Center, Mansoura University (OCMU) Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University
Mohamed Mahmoud Anees, professor of Oral Medicine and Periodontology Oral Medicine, Periodontology, Diagnosis, and Oral Radiology Department Faculty of Dentistry, Mansoura University
Jilan Mohamed Youssef, professor of Oral Medicine, Periodontology, Diagnosis, and Oral Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry – Mansoura University

Article Type

Original Article

Section/Category

Oral Pathology

Abstract

Objective:

To evaluate overall survival, disease-free survival (DFS), and associated prognostic factors among patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) treated at a tertiary oncology center in Egypt.

Materials/Subjects and Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at the Surgical Oncology Department, Oncology Center, Mansoura University, Egypt. Medical records of patients with histopathologically confirmed primary OSCC diagnosed between January 2011 and December 2021 were reviewed. A total of 140 eligible patients were included. Data collected included demographic characteristics, selected medical history, tumor site, tumor size, TNM stage, histological grade, treatment modality, and follow-up status. Data were entered, managed, and analyzed using SPSS version 22. Survival outcomes were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method, and univariate comparisons were conducted using the log-rank test.

Results: The cohort was predominantly older than 50 years, with a slight male predominance. Oral tongue was the most commonly affected site, followed by buccal mucosa and gingiva. Although T1 tumors represented the largest T category, most patients presented with advanced-stage disease. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed unfavorable long-term survival outcomes for both disease-free and overall survival (OS). Combined oral cavity and neck surgery was significantly accompanied by better DFS, while radiotherapy was accompanied by shorter DFS, likely reflecting its use in higher-risk and more advanced cases. No evaluated variable showed a statistically significant correlation with overall survival in the present univariate analysis.

Conclusions: Oral squamous cell carcinoma in this retrospective Mansoura cohort showed unfavorable long-term survival outcomes. Most cases presented with advanced-stage disease, confirming that delayed diagnosis remains a major clinical problem. Combined oral cavity and neck surgery was accompanied by better DFS, underscoring the importance of adequate surgical management. Radiotherapy was accompanied by shorter DFS, most likely because it was used more often in higher-risk and more advanced cases. No evaluated variable demonstrated a statistically significant correlation with overall survival in the present univariate analysis. Overall, prognosis in this cohort appears to be influenced by multiple interacting clinicopathological and treatment-related factors, highlighting the need for earlier detection, standardized pathological documentation, and larger multicenter studies to define more reliable prognostic predictors.

Keywords

OSCC: Oral squamous cell carcinoma. SR: Survival rate. PF: Prognostic factor. R: Recurrence. NS: Neoplasm staging.

How to Cite This Article

Jassim S , Hasan S , Anees M , Youssef J . Survival Rate and Prognostic Criteria in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients: A Retrospective Analysis. Mans J Dent. 2026; 13(2):
Available at: https://doi.org/10.61793/2812-5479.1186