Radiographic tumor volume (RTV) of oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is seldom measured in practice. Aims of the study are to estimate RTV of SCC and to investigate its relationship with clinical and pathological stage, tumor margin status, recurrence, and need for chemo/radiation.

The Design is a retrospective cohort study. The predictor variable is SCC RTV. The primary outcome variables are clinical and pathological tumor size. The secondary outcomes are margin status and postoperative chemo/radiation. Tumor dimensions were measured on preoperative maxillofacial or neck computer tomography images with contrast. Information on patient and tumor characteristics was obtained. Pearson correlation, t-test, ANOVA and log rank test were used for statistical analysis. The significance level was set at 0.05.

36 subjects aged 36-86 were included in the study. Positive association was found between clinical T stage and RTV (P=0.0003) and between pathologic T stage and RTV (P=0.002). Mean value of RTV was significantly higher in group with positive margins (p=0.0004). RTV was significantly higher in cancers requiring adjuvant chemo/radiation (p=0.033). Mean RTV for patients with recurrence was 1.86 cm3 as compared to 1.29 cm3 for patients with no recurrence. Higher tumor volumes were more likely to be associated with recurrence.

RTV is a variable that is readily available to head and neck surgeons. RTV is associated with clinical and pathological tumor sizes, margin status, need for adjuvant chemo/radiation and tumor recurrence.