Table 5.II.

Proposed staging of oral KS according to JB Epstein.

Area affected by tumour *

T1: < ¼ of the oral site

T2: > ¼ and < ½ of the oral site

T3: > ½ of the oral site

Localisation of the tumour

L1: single oral site

L2: multiple oral sites

L3: single oral site and other extra-oral sites requiring treatment

L4: multiple oral sites and extra-oral sites requiring treatment

Symptoms/signs of tumour

S0: no symptom

S1: macular lesion

S2: detected mass

S3: mass interfering with function or causing pain or ulcerous mass

Treatment on the basis of the OKS stage

Stage 1: T1 or T2; L1 or L2; each S; local treatment

Stage 2: T3; L1 or L2; S3; regional treatment

Stage 3: each T, L3 or L4; systemic treatment

* Oral sites: hard palate, soft palate, tonsillar lodge, back of the tongue, lateral margins of the tongue, gingiva, buccal mucosa, floor of the mouth, ventral surface of the tongue; specify right or left and the gingival site related to the site of the tooth