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Cancer of the gingiva

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Abstract

Cancer of the gingiva is a rare disease in the Western World. It most commonly affects elderly population. Because of its rarity, the reporting on the disease is sparse and often grouped with other subsites of oral cancer, which makes conclusions difficult to interpret. The aim of this paper is to review the literature on gingival cancer as a specific subsite of oral cancer and report on published prognostic factors as well as treatment of local and regional disease. We also present differences between gingival cancer subgroups, mandibular and maxillary gingival cancer. In addition, both surgical and oncological treatments are reviewed. It seems that surgery is the preferred initial treatment approach for the majority of patients with gingival cancer, although adjuvant radiation, with or without chemotherapy, is commonly recommended to increase locoregional control.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases, Department of Clinical Sciences, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, S-171 76, Stockholm, Sweden

    Rusana Bark, Eva Munck-Wikland & Lalle Hammarstedt-Nordenvall

  2. Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, S-171 76, Stockholm, Sweden

    Claes Mercke

  3. Medical Device Consultancy, 1219, 18th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94107, USA

    Natalie Ann Wisniewski

  4. Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Karolinska University Hospital, 17176, Stockholm, Sweden

    Rusana Bark

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  1. Rusana Bark
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Bark, R., Mercke, C., Munck-Wikland, E. et al. Cancer of the gingiva. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 273, 1335–1345 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-015-3516-x

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