Squamous cell carcinoma of the superior gingival–buccal complex

Summary Squamous cell carcinoma of the superior gingival–buccal complex are rare and few English-language data have been published on their biological behaviour. Reported in this paper are the clinical behaviour and treatment outcomes of squamous cell carcinoma of the upper gingival–buccal complex. We reviewed the charts of 110 patients with squamous cell carcinoma restricted to the upper gingiva, superior gingival–buccal sulcus and adjoining buccal mucosa, seen between 1997 and 2001. Separate outcome analyses were carried out among 86 patients who had undergone surgery, and 24 patients treated by radiotherapy or chemo-radiation. Disease-free survival at 2 and 5 years was 48.9% and 36%, respectively, and was independent of epicentre of disease. Five-year, disease-free survival was 48.8% and 0% for surgical treatment and non-surgical treatment groups. T stage ( p  = 0.024) and extra-capsular spread of disease ( p  = 0.036) were independent predictors of disease-free survival on multivariate analysis. Adequate surgical resection and adjuvant treatment, in the first instance, offers the best chance of disease control.