Distant Treatment Failure and Prognostic Significance of Hypercalcemia in Patients with Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) treatment failure may be locoregional or distant. Unlike locoregional, distant recurrence can not be managed with salvage treatment and signifies a poor prognosis. Paraneoplastic hypercalcemia may result from the production of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) by OCSCC. The aim of the study is to assess OCSCC distant treatment failure pattern and to investigate the prognostic role of hypercalcemia. A retrospective review of the medical records of OCSCC patients who completed treatment with curative intent then developed recurrent disease was done.