Management of Stage III Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Light of the New Staging System: a Critical Review.

TNM8 stratified OSCC into prognostic groups based on overall survival. Extranodal extension, positive or close margins, pT3 or pT4 tumors, pN2 or pN3 nodal disease, nodal disease in levels IV or V, perineural invasion, vascular invasion, and lymphatic invasion are the main adverse features for OSCC, and adjuvant treatment is largely recommended for these patients. Stage III patients should be addressed with caution. So far, there is no significant evidence for recommending or excluding adjuvant treatment for stage III OSCC without adverse features. The authors largely recommend adjuvant radiotherapy for these cases, especially because pT3 without adverse features is rare. Further studies on this topic are necessary.