Abukhder, Munir J;
Hassan, M Shihabul;
Mubarak, Omar;
Payne, Karl F;
Sahovaler, Axel;
Schilling, Clare;
(2025)
A systematic review of prognostic factors and anatomical variability in surgically managed T4b oral squamous cell carcinoma: implications for future classification.
British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
10.1016/j.bjoms.2025.10.280.
(In press).
![[thumbnail of Schilling_A systematic review of prognostic factors and anatomical variability in surgically managed T4b oral squamous cell carcinoma_AAM.pdf]](https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/style/images/fileicons/text.png) |
Text
Schilling_A systematic review of prognostic factors and anatomical variability in surgically managed T4b oral squamous cell carcinoma_AAM.pdf Access restricted to UCL open access staff until 11 November 2026. Download (138kB) |
Abstract
T4b oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a broad umbrella term for advanced oral cancers. Recent evidence points towards a subset of T4b tumours invading the masticator space (MS) that may be amenable to complete resection. Our aim was to evaluate the current evidence and present and discuss the arguments for and against re-classification. A systematic review was conducted of articles published between January 2000 and February 2025 to summarise prognostic factors that influence survival outcomes in MS T4b OSCC patients. Ten studies met the inclusion criteria. Only two reported statistically significant worse outcomes for supra-notch disease. Other established negative prognostic factors common to all OSCC subsites, such as pathological variables or nodal involvement, did not separate T4b disease into survival subgroups. Although several studies highlight the significance of vertical extension in T4b disease relative to the sigmoid notch, the data remain heterogeneous. Future research should adopt a unified system for classifying tumour extension before considering a subclassification of resectable cases, as current evidence is insufficient to justify changes to the staging criteria.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | A systematic review of prognostic factors and anatomical variability in surgically managed T4b oral squamous cell carcinoma: implications for future classification |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.bjoms.2025.10.280 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjoms.2025.10.280 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher's terms and conditions. |
| Keywords: | oral squamous cell carcinoma, T4b tumour, supra-notch, infra-notch, prognosis |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Div of Surgery and Interventional Sci |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10217868 |
Archive Staff Only
 |
View Item |
