The route of bony invasion and spread pattem of tumor in the mandible are important in management of gingival cancer. Ten patients with gingival cancer involving mandibular body region were operated by composite resection. The radiographic and histopathologic features of the mandibular invasion and spread were analysed and compared. Our results showed that histopathologic extent of tumor invasion were greater than the radiographic prediction, especially in width of the tumor. And the pattem of bony invasion in the body area was mostly found in trans-medullary spread rather than perineural spread. The vertical involvement in the mandibular body with tumor was evaluated. It indicated that if a oncologic surgeon was to ensure an adequate safety margin for extirpation of tumor, in most cases, the maintenance of the mandibular continuity is difficult. If the mandibular involvement by gingival cancer was identified radiographically and clinically, segmental mandibulectomy was required for the adequate safety margin, in consideration of the spread pattern in the body area.