Squamous Cell Carcinoma Recurrence Around Dental Implants

PurposeThe role of dental implants as part of functional and esthetic oral rehabilitation after ablative intraoral tumor surgery has been established. The purpose of this article is to highlight the phenomenon of tumor recurrence around dental implants.Materials and MethodsTwenty-one consecutive cases of patients all treated surgically for squamous cell carcinoma of the oral mucosa between January 2003 and December 2007 were reviewed, regardless of staging. Dental rehabilitation was established by means of oral implants. Fifty-six implants were placed either during tumor ablation surgery (16 patients) of afterward (5 patients). Radiotherapy was given according to the guidelines of the NWHNT (Netherlands Working group on Head and Neck Tumors).ResultsIn the group of simultaneous implantation, 3 patients developed local recurrence around one of the implants. No recurrence was found in the group implanted in second stage surgery. Local recurrence around a dental implant is a severe oncological setback that drew our attention.ConclusionInfluence on radiation fields and errors in surgical techniques are discussed, as well as the possibility of inducing changes in sensitized mucosa. Because of the small number of patients, no conclusions can be drawn. Further multicentered examinations should be performed.