Diagnostics and Treatment Strategies of Early (T1) Lower Lip Cancer

Data from 35 patients were analysed to identify the main factors that may have predisposed the unfavourable clinical course in early diagnosed lower lip cancer. Of 35 patients who were sent to the Oncology Centre of Latvia, Rīga East University Hospital, with the diagnosis of early lower lip cancer, histologically diagnosis was confirmed for 22 patients. Sizes of the primary tumours were less than 2 cm (T1 size tumour). Vermilionectomy was carried out for 17 patients, wedge- or V-shaped resection was performed for 13 patients, and in five cases patients refused to receive surgical treatment and received radiation therapy instead. Review of the reports of the histological criteria for patients with aggressive course of the illness with relapses, regional metastases and also in cases of death, showed that vermilionectomy can be considered an effective diagnostic and therapeutic operation.