Background Oral and oropharyngeal cancers can be managed by surgery alone or with any
combination of radiotherapy, chemotherapy and immunotherapy/biotherapy. Opinions on
the surgical treatment, the optimal combinational therapy and the sequence of treatments in
combinational therapy varies enormously. Objectives To determine which surgical treatment
modalities for oral and oropharyngeal cancers lead to the best outcomes compared with
other surgical, radiotherapy, chemotherapy or immunotherapy/biotherapy combinations.

Background Surgery is an important part of the management of oral cavity cancer with
regard to both the removal of the primary tumour and removal of lymph nodes in the neck.
Surgery is less frequently used in oropharyngeal cancer. Surgery alone may be treatment for
early‐stage disease or surgery may be used in combination with radiotherapy,
chemotherapy and immunotherapy/biotherapy. There is variation in the recommended
timing and extent of surgery in the overall treatment regimens of people with these cancers …