Radiology, Vol 184, 267-270, Copyright © 1992 by Radiological Society of North America

ARTICLES

Base-of-tongue cancer treated with external beam irradiation plus brachytherapy: oncologic and functional outcome

LB Harrison, MJ Zelefsky, RB Sessions, DE Fass, JG Armstrong, DG Pfister and EW Strong
Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021.

Between January 1981 and June 1990, 36 previously untreated patients with squamous cancer of the base of the tongue were treated with radiation therapy. This therapy consisted of a 5,000-5,400-cGy external beam plus a 2,000-3,000-cGy boost to the base of the tongue with an iridium-192 implant. Necks with negative nodes were only irradiated, while necks with positive nodes were treated with irradiation plus neck dissection. Actuarial local control and survival at 2 years were 87.5%. Neck control was achieved in 35 of 36 patients. When implantation was performed with the nonlooping technique, the injury rate was statistically higher than in patients who underwent implantation with the looping technique (P = .02). Thirty patients participated in a function assessment involving a Performance Status Scale for patients with head and neck cancer. The authors concluded that management of base-of-tongue cancer with external beam irradiation plus brachytherapy is both oncologically and functionally successful.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				W. Steiner, O. Fierek, P. Ambrosch, C. P. Hommerich, and M. Kron Transoral Laser Microsurgery for Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Base of the Tongue Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, January 1, 2003; 129(1): 36 - 43. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. J. Davidson, K. A. Newkirk, K. W. Harter, C. A. Picken, K. J. Cullen, and R. B. Sessions Complications From Planned, Posttreatment Neck Dissections Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, April 1, 1999; 125(4): 401 - 405. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]