A series of 100 patients affected by primary squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity treated at the Ear, Nose, and Throat Clinic of Ferrara from January 1980 to December 1989 was considered in this retrospective study. Data set was classified according to Union Internationale Contre le Cancer staging system. Results showed a crude survival rate at 5 years of 54%. Tumor site of origin and N, adjusted for sex and age of patients were the most important prognostic variables for survival rate. T stage and therapy did not achieve a significant value in the correlation with survival rate when used as covariates in multivariate analysis. The present study demonstrates that survival decreases the closer the tumor origin is to the inner sites of the mouth and in relation to N status. In cases with these characteristics, multimodality treatment protocols are useful in improving survival.