Lip carcinoma: clinical presentation, surgical treatment, and outcome: a series of 108 cases from Denmark

Objective: Lip carcinomas are among the most common malignant tumours of the head and neck region but reports on the course and outcome of this disease are mainly based on Mediterranean, South American, and Oceanian populations. The aim of the study was to describe the treatment and outcome of patients with lip carcinoma at a Danish department of plastic surgery. Method: We conducted a single institution retrospective cohort study including patients with primary cancer of the lips including squamous cell (SCC), basal cell (BCC), and basosquamous carcinomas (BSC) in a 5-year period. Results: We included 108 consecutive patients. Median age was 72 years (range 28-98) and 58% were male. Seventy patients (65%) were diagnosed with SCC, 36 (33%) BCC, and 2 (2%) BSC. The majority of lesions were stage T1 (84%) and T2 (11%). An unexpected total of 35 (32%) patients experienced wound healing problems; whereof 19 (54%) classified as mild (not demanding treatment), 10 (29%) as moderate (non-functional surgical corrections or medical treatment of infection needed) and 6 (17%) experienced severe dehiscence (requiring surgical intervention for functional improvement). Total defect size >= 20mm and full thickness excision was directly correlated to the risk of early postoperative complications (p-value: 0.03 and 0.04). Three patients (2/36 with BCC; 6% and 1/70 with SCC; 1%) developed local recurrence and five patients with SCC (5/70; 7%) developed regional lymph node metastases. One patient (1%) died from metastatic SCC. Conclusion: This study confirms that lip carcinoma is associated with a risk of recurrence and mortality. However, the risk of wound complications is notable compared to other series.