In 1986, a new follow-up programme for patients with oral cancer was introduced in our department. The follow-up programme included liver function tests, tumour markers and radiological examination. 63 patients were monitored to the end of 1990. The results showed that serum Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) assays were not sensitive enough to detect early cancer, recurrences or metastases. Neither was there any difference between the preoperative CEA levels of patients with and without recurrence during follow-up. The levels of salivary CEA, were similar to those of healthy individuals. Serum CA 19-9 values were consistently normal. In 1 patient, the first sign of liver metastases was a high 5-nucleotidase level. No recurrences were detected by radiological examination. In conclusion, the importance of frequent and careful clinical observation is emphasized; all 20 recurrences at the primary site and in local lymphnodes were detected by clinical examination. For detection of oral cancer recurrences, several laboratory and radiological examinations seem unnecessary. The cost-benefit of those examinations is significantly low.