The epidemiological and histopathological factors for delayed local recurrence in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a prevalent malignancy in oral cancer. Approximately 26% of OSCC cases recur after initial curative treatment, with over 80% of these recurrences occurring within the first 2 years. Delayed local recurrence (DLR) occurring beyond the 2-year period in cases of OSCC is infrequent. The aim of this study is to investigate the histopathological characteristics associated with DLR.