Second primary tumours in oral cancer

Second primary tumours in patients treated for oral cancer occur at a rate of 3% to 7% per year. The majority of these tumours show up at least six months after the detection of the primary and are often located in the upper aerodigestive tract. Cessation of smoking habits may reduce the risk of the development of a second primary. There is no statistical significance between the oral subsite of the primary and the occurence of a second primary. There are conflicting views in the literature on the survival rate of patients treated for a second primary in the head and neck region.