Surgical management of hard palate malignancies

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: A variety of surgical procedures can be used to treat malignancies of the hard palate and inferior maxilla. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of alveolectomy, palatectomy, and infrastructure maxillectomy in the treatment of cancers in these areas. METHODS AND MATERIAL: A retrospective review of 50 patients who underwent alveolectomy, palatectomy, or infrastructure maxillectomy from 1971 to 1997 was performed. The pathology of these lesions included squamous cell carcinoma (25), adenoid cystic carcinoma (11), adenocarcinoma (6), and others (8). RESULTS: The 5-year survival rate by Kaplan-Meier analysis for all lesions was 85%. The 5-year survival rate for squamous cell carcinoma was 76%, and that for adenoid cystic carcinoma was 90%. The 10-year survival rate for adenoid cystic carcinoma was 75%. There was minimal morbidity associated with these procedures. DISCUSSION: Alveolectomy, palatectomy, and infrastructure maxillectomy are the procedures of choice for lesions in the region of the hard palate. The differences between these surgical techniques are presented, and indications, contraindications, and results for each technique are discussed.