P-095. Prognostic factors in patients diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth, in Araçatuba, São Paulo State, Brazil, from 1980 to 1995

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study is to define the prognostic factors estimated by Cox's proportional hazard ratio method in patients diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth. Methods: This study was applied in a cohort of 177 patients diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth, at the School of Dentistry, UNESP, in Araçatuba, São Paulo State, Brazil, between 1980 and 1995. The accumulated survival time probabilities were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier Product-Limit Method. Prognostic factors were estimated by Cox's proportional hazard ratio method, calculating risk ratios. Results: In this study only 4% of the patients were lost to follow-up. Clinical staging of the disease at diagnosis and anatomic localization of the tumor were statistically significant prognostic factors. The estimated risk ratio for death in patients diagnosed in stage III was 3.9; therefore, for these patients the risk of dying is three times higher than for those in stage I. Similarly, the risk of death for cases diagnosed in stage IV is approximately 10 times that for patients in stage I (HR= 10.85). Conclusion: Clinical staging at diagnosis was the prognostic factor with the greatest risk ratio and the site of the tumor was also considered a prognostic factor for oral cancer. The sites: cheek, hard palate, gum and tongue presented higher risk ratios.